Making a Difference: How One Woman is Bringing Hope to Refugees Worldwide
In 2019, Wendy Huffman made a promise. Shortly after, her husband passed away. Her promise became his legacy. The story behind Let's Make the Difference.
Let's Make the Difference
In 2019, Wendy Huffman made a promise. Her husband was mentoring teachers in Zambia at a school for disadvantaged children, and she agreed to raise funds to support his work. Shortly after that request, he passed away unexpectedly from a stroke, and the promise she made to him became his legacy. With a heart full of purpose, she founded Let’s Make the Difference (letsmakethedifference.org), an organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of those striving to create a better world. Today, her mission is to be both a spotlight and a megaphone for organizations making an impact in marginalized communities in Africa.
The event of COVID-19 was a game-changer, as the explosion of online seminars opened access to rural areas and refugees in settlements, and the word spread that there were people who cared. “Teaching People to Fish” is how she describes it, by sponsoring people in leadership and entrepreneurial courses in over 11 countries.
With 6.5 million people currently living in refugee camps around the world, the challenges are vast. Hunger and violence are among the most pressing issues. Governments are scaling back food support, and conflicts continue to erupt within camps. Wendy and her team work tirelessly to combat these issues by instilling hope, leadership, and practical solutions.
One of the organization’s major initiatives was the planting of over 600 seedlings in 2023. These trees, planted near water sources to ensure their growth, now provide shade to the refugee camps. But then came the escalation of violence, so they are addressing violence head-on. Last September, Let’s Make the Difference launched a Peace and Conflict Resolution Campaign, an educational program that teaches individuals about nonviolence and conflict resolution. Since its inception, 1,500 people have completed the course and committed to becoming peace ambassadors, bringing the message of reconciliation to communities worldwide.
Honore Ebengo, the author and founder of the Peace and Conflict Resolution Campaign, is at the heart of this initiative. Refugees often wait up to 14 years before being relocated to a new home so creating a peaceful community is a long-term effort. Many leaders have returned to their home countries to bring conflict resolution skills to areas blighted by war. This expands the program's reach and equips refugees with skills they can carry with them wherever they go.
To combat food insecurity, Let’s Make the Difference is working on a program to equip refugees with baking skills. By securing grants to build bakery schools, and providing ovens and supplies, Let’s make The Difference plans to enable refugees to start local businesses throughout the settlements, baking and selling bread, and creating sustainable income opportunities within the camps. It’s a step toward self-reliance, reducing dependence on dwindling government aid.
For Wendy, success is about more than just numbers—it’s about hope. Many refugees feel forgotten, believing that the world has turned its back on them. Wendy wants them to know they are seen, valued, and supported. Her vision is to transform the camps from places of confinement into communities of growth and resilience.
While Let’s Make the Difference currently operates within the camps in Kenya, the organization is beginning to extend its efforts to help refugees integrate into new communities. Wendy drove to meet a refugee who had been relocated to the United States, a graduate of the Landmark Forum, and an earlier program Let’s Make The Difference provided. Now the courses they sponsor are taught by refugee Leaders, who are getting paid to teach the course to others, ensuring that the message of peace spreads even further and providing an income for those dedicated to self-development and leadership.
The next project on the horizon is a reproductive education initiative set to launch in June. Women in the camps will receive bracelets and training that help track their menstrual cycles, providing vital reproductive health information. This is just one of many steps toward ensuring refugee women receive the education and support they need to navigate their circumstances with dignity.
Despite these incredible initiatives, one of the biggest challenges remains funding. Currently, most donations are from a small group of committed friends, but she hopes to gain exposure to expand donor participation to keep these life-changing programs running. The organization is working to update its website, making it easier for businesses and individuals to contribute and get involved, but funding is ending March 31. Grants have been applied for, and they are looking for corporate sponsorships. They will not give up hope that the money will come because of the impact it is having.
Wendy also wants to dispel misconceptions about refugees. She admits that, before she began this work, she was ignorant about refugees, assuming they were similar to the homeless population in the United States—uneducated with a victim mentality. But after meeting them, she realized how wrong that assumption was. Many refugees are educated professionals who have fled war and persecution, now confined in settlements guarded by armed security. In Kenya alone, over 500,000 refugees live in camps, with some families now in their third generation of displacement.
The need is vast, but so is the potential to help. Every act of kindness, every donation, every effort to spread awareness contributes to transforming lives. If you want to be part of this movement, visit letsmakethedifference.org to learn how you can contribute or join the community at https://facebook.com/groups/letsmakethedifferenceglobalcommunity.
Together, we can bring hope where it is needed most. Together, we can make a difference.
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Jenny is a business insurance broker with Waypoint Insurance. She can be reached at 604-317-6755 or jhansen@waypoint.ca. Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-holly-hansen-365b691b/. Connect with Jenny at BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jennyhollyhansen.bsky.social
Jenny Holly Hansen is a cohost with Chris Sturges of the Langley Impact Networking Group. You are welcome to join us on Thursday’s from 4pm to 6pm at: Sidebar Bar and Grill: 100b - 20018 83A Avenue, Langley, BC V2Y 3R4
Tags: #Jenny Holly Hansen #Lets make the Difference #Wendy Huffman #Refugees #Food Scarcity #Violence #Honore Ebengo
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