Church World Service

In the rural village of Sala Visai, located in Cambodia’s Kampong Thom province, the delicate balance between people and nature has been nurtured for generations. The community, made up of smallholder farmers, indigenous groups such as the Kouy people and forest-dependent families, has long depended on the land’s resources to survive. From agriculture and fishing to forest-based livelihoods, their way ... Read More

Church World Service is a 78-year old humanitarian organization representing 37 Protestant, Anglican, and Orthodox communions, as well as refugee resettlement, home study and post release services, and asylum seeker case management offices and affiliates across the United States. As we prepare for a presidential administration that promises to deport immigrants en masse and restrict access to safety and legal ... Read More

“I remember that day, as if it was a dream… like a drama…” Margaret Kitheka states, as we begin a conversation about her unexpected ascension to the leadership position of her self-help group, where she now sits as the group secretary. The following text is Margaret’s retelling of her experience becoming a leader in this program: With the CWS project ... Read More

In the vibrant hills of West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, Mama Sardina tends to her crops with care and determination. Mama Sardina Malafu is a 40-year-old woman from Camplong, a dedicated farmer, and a member of the Ester Dinar women’s farming group. This group of 18 women is committed to their farming practices and to learning and adopting sustainable agricultural methods. ... Read More

Church World Service Comment on the Final Rule by Departments of Justice and Homeland Security on Securing the Border; USCIS Docket No: USCIS-2024-0006; A.G. Order No. 6053-2024 Church World Service (CWS) submits this comment in opposition to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s final rule on Securing the Border (“STB Rule”), published on October ... Read More

Contact: media@cwsglobal.org Following Election Results, CWS Reaffirms Commitment to Immigrant and Refugee Neighbors, Vulnerable Families Worldwide Washington, D.C.– In response to the news that Donald Trump has been elected for another term to the office of President of the United States, Church World Service President and CEO Rick Santos issued the following statement: “As we prepare to usher in a ... Read More

Donald Trump has won the presidential election. The incoming Trump administration has stated plans to diminish or dismantle the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, end crucial alternative humanitarian pathways, and separate families via mass deportation. During Trump’s first term, his efforts to target newcomer communities were slowed by Congress, courts, and effective organizing efforts by people across the country committed to ... Read More

The presidential election has been called for Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated on January 20. The incoming Trump administration has stated plans to diminish or dismantle the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, end crucial humanitarian pathways like parole, and separate families via mass deportation. As occurs after every election cycle, Congress will now return to Capitol Hill for a special ... Read More

November is National Children’s Month, started to honor and recognize the importance of children and their well-being.  This year it’s important to remember unaccompanied children – children who arrive in the U.S. without a parent or guardian – as we celebrate the beauty of childhood and the resiliency of immigrant children and youth. One important way to honor children this ... Read More

Turning 18 was more than just a milestone for me—it was the beginning of my journey into civic engagement, deeply inspired by my parents’ immigration story. My mom, a naturalized citizen from Mexico, had been voting since she was eligible. But my dad, a Legal Permanent Resident, had contributed to the U.S. in many ways—paying taxes and building a life ... Read More

Washington, D.C.—In response to yesterday’s announcement by the Israeli government  banning the nearly 8 decade old United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA), Church World Service reaffirms the critical importance of this vital program that assists Palestinian communities living across the Middle East, including in Gaza and the West Bank. The move from Israel’s parliamentary body, the Knesset, ... Read More

If your home was on fire and staying meant you would likely die, what would you do? If your children were there with you, would you keep them inside, or push them to leave? This hypothetical scenario is the reality for many families who have had to flee their country. It is also the reality for children like Isabella and ... Read More

Last summer, as I stood on a ferry deck cutting around the Hudson River, I saw the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island come into view—symbols of hope, refuge and opportunity for newcomer families arriving in the United States. This experience marked the beginning of a trip that I took to New York City as part of the Monitoring & ... Read More

For Immediate Release: October 24, 2024 Church World Service Celebrates New Covenant Members 14 New Covenant Members Represent more than 9 Million People of Faith Across the U.S. and Canada New York City – Church World Service today announced that 14 leading U.S. churches and faith-based organizations have renewed their commitment to our joint work and mission by becoming Covenant ... Read More

As natural disasters grow in frequency and intensity, the devastating effects of climate change are becoming impossible to overlook. While some may still manage to turn a blind eye, the most vulnerable among us often face the brunt of these impacts. This is certainly true for migrant workers who nurture the land and are also on the frontline when witnessing ... Read More

Imagine you’re living in an area reeling from the aftermath of a hurricane. You don’t have electricity or a way to contact loved ones. The food in your refrigerator has expired after a few short days, and you’re unsure where to go for the critical supplies your family needs. How would you navigate the uncertainty with limited resources and no ... Read More

Tools and Resources to Take Action Civic Engagement and Get Out The Vote Explore the CWS Civic Engagement Landing Page, which includes tools to learn more about naturalization, voter registration, voter education, and voter mobilization — providing paths for new Americans and others to get engaged in the voting process and build a plan to vote. The page also includes ... Read More

King Rukiranya’s journey began in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After fleeing conflict in 2005, he spent four years in Burundi before moving to Kenya in 2010, where he was granted asylum through the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). In August 2015, he was resettled in the U.S. through the UNHCR program. The path was long and difficult, ... Read More

If you invest in one potato, can you double that investment? How about triple it? One of CWS’ program participants in Tanzania, Charles Dzombo, has the answer to this question.  Charles is a program participant in CWS’ sweet potato project and was excited to share his story after receiving support from the food security program in 2023. He is a ... Read More

In the dry and parched lands of Laisamis in Marsabit County, Kenya, life appeared to depict sorrow and hopelessness. People were living one day at a time, reeling from drought and flash floods, confronting cattle rustling and banditry, facing poverty and early marriages, and struggling with illiteracy and political exclusion. For many years, residents of Korr/Ngurunit in Laisamis hung on ... Read More