Chalice Testimonial
By Lisa Noronha
“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required…” (Luke 12:48)
This quotation from St. Luke’s gospel is one of the many things that motivated me initially to adopt a child from the Chalice organization. Plus the knowledge that Chalice has consistently scored the highest-rating in MoneySense Magazine’s charity listing under the International Aid and Development category.
I was born in Kenya, and even in my childhood there, I knew I was very blessed to be raised in a middle class family – unlike so many children I encountered on a daily basis. But it wasn’t until decades after immigrating to Canada, that I truly began to understand just how blessed I was. As an adult I began to read, see and hear more stories of the incredible challenges the people in third world countries face. As a result, I felt compelled to give back, not only to the country of my birth, but most particularly to women and children.
I heard about Chalice and “adopted” Viola. Soon I was delighted to receive letters from her that went into personal detail about her life in Kenya. I read about her best friend and the things they enjoyed doing together: what she liked and disliked about school: even about some of the seminars she had attended. Since then Viola and I have exchanged letters, photographs and a few small gifts which has helped each of us gain a better understanding of life in our respective countries.
For the little that I have done or given to Chalice and to Viola, I have gained so much more in return. While I initially saw adopting a Chalice child as my duty because of all the blessings I’d been given – I now know, rather than a duty, it is one more blessing.
This quotation from St. Luke’s gospel is one of the many things that motivated me initially to adopt a child from the Chalice organization. Plus the knowledge that Chalice has consistently scored the highest-rating in MoneySense Magazine’s charity listing under the International Aid and Development category.
I was born in Kenya, and even in my childhood there, I knew I was very blessed to be raised in a middle class family – unlike so many children I encountered on a daily basis. But it wasn’t until decades after immigrating to Canada, that I truly began to understand just how blessed I was. As an adult I began to read, see and hear more stories of the incredible challenges the people in third world countries face. As a result, I felt compelled to give back, not only to the country of my birth, but most particularly to women and children.
I heard about Chalice and “adopted” Viola. Soon I was delighted to receive letters from her that went into personal detail about her life in Kenya. I read about her best friend and the things they enjoyed doing together: what she liked and disliked about school: even about some of the seminars she had attended. Since then Viola and I have exchanged letters, photographs and a few small gifts which has helped each of us gain a better understanding of life in our respective countries.
For the little that I have done or given to Chalice and to Viola, I have gained so much more in return. While I initially saw adopting a Chalice child as my duty because of all the blessings I’d been given – I now know, rather than a duty, it is one more blessing.

Viola, and Viola's mother, opening a gift package that Lisa sent.