Latter-day Saints Around the World: December 2024

Newsroom features stories from its dozens of websites worldwide to show what members and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are doing to serve their communities. Today, we feature news from Bolivia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, South Korea, Peru and Tonga.

Bolivia: Bottle Caps Benefit Children with Cancer

On Saturday, November 30, nearly one ton of bottle caps was collected by several congregations in the Santa Cruz area. They were then donated to the Tapitas por los Chicos Foundation, which sells the caps to help children fight cancer.

South Korea: Service Project Provides for Local Community

More than five tons of kimchi were prepared and distributed to those in need in South Korea following a service project organized by the Busan stake of the Church.

“The cooperation between the Church and the Green Volunteer Group has been a great strength to our residents,” said Jeon Eun-hye, head of the Yeonji-dong Community Center, where the kimchi was delivered.

Read more about how the volunteers came together on the South Korea Newsroom.

Ghana: Church Renovates Orphanage

On November 28, 2024, children of the Tamale Children’s Home for Orphans in Ghana celebrated the completion of their new kitchen and boys’ dormitory. In addition to the renovation, made possible by funding from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a food donation was given.

Read more about how the children celebrated on the Africa Newsroom.

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Democratic Republic of the Congo: Government Donates Food to Church Health Initiative

Following a child nutrition screening event conducted by the Kinshasa Democratic Republic of the Congo Kimbanseke Stake earlier this year, the Congolese government, through the National Nutrition Program, donated 200 boxes of Plumpy Nut therapeutic foods. Thanks to the collaboration with the Church, 22 screened children were given packets of food and vials of amoxicillin.

The Relief Society–led initiative, which launched in June 2024, aims to strengthen health and nutrition programs impacting women and children around the world.

Peru: Latter-day Saints Remove Five Tons of Waste

On Saturday, November 16, members from local congregations in Lima, Peru, cleaned up more than five tons of solid waste from the creek of the San Antonio de Pedregal Human Settlement in Lima. The volunteers were supported by the municipality of Chosica as they worked to prevent future flooding in the area.

Read more about how the project brought the community together on the Spanish Newsroom.

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Tonga: Church Donates Van to Vision Nonprofit

The Tonga National Visual Impairment Association (TNVIA) has a new 16-passenger van, office furniture and computer following a donation from the Church of Jesus Christ.

“I am so thankful for [the Church’s] support,” said Ofeina Leka, founder of the TNVIA. “We needed a new van. On that day I went home, and when we had our family devotional, I could not stop my tears. … When I thought back over this process, I remembered how hard it was to get the first van, and this one came without any fundraising. I told my board members that this is a blessing for us.”

South Korea: Family Center Services Expand Following Church Donation

A donation by the Church of Jesus Christ contributed to the expansion of the Ganghwa-gun Family Center. The donation included support for South Korean language teachers for multicultural families, snacks for children participating in the program and five laptops.

“This donation will greatly help expand the center’s resources and enhance its ability to support the community,” said Park Woo-seok, director of the center.

Read more about how the center provides for the community on the South Korea Newsroom.