Church World Service

Indigenous communities in Paraguay’s Bajo Chaco region are strengthening their resilience through sustainable farming, leadership development, and climate adaptation. With support from CWS and local partners, families are overcoming challenges like drought while building a more secure future. In Paraguay, families are forging a more resilient future. Through the Comprehensive Rural Development Project, nine indigenous communities in the Bajo Chaco ... Read More

In the small Honduran community of Valle Verde, Oscar and his family have embraced new agricultural techniques through the ‘Produce Verde’ project, improving their harvests, securing their food supply and building a brighter future. Sowing Seeds of Faith and Family For Oscar Caballero Benitez, farming is more than just a livelihood—it’s an act of patience, faith and resilience, which all ... Read More

Washington, D.C.— In an unprecedented moment of moral reckoning, Church World Service (CWS) today issues The Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Declaration: Defending Refuge, a bold and urgent call to action from faith communities across the nation. With 45 initial signers—including CWS’ Covenant Members—this declaration is more than a statement, it is a solemn and unshakable commitment by religious leaders and organizations ... Read More

Washington, D.C.— Last week, in response to a court order requiring the Trump administration to reimburse frozen aid funding, the White House instead chose to terminate nearly 10,000 federal contracts, including those with agencies to resettle and welcome refugees. Church World Service unequivocally opposes these actions and expresses deep concern over the impact these decisions will have on the displaced, ... Read More

When flash floods destroyed Maria’s home in Kentucky, her family was left with nothing—no food, heat, or shelter. But thanks to generous supporters, CWS is providing safe housing, warm meals and critical aid to help families like hers rebuild and find hope after disaster. When Disaster Strikes: Families Left with Nowhere to Turn Last week, flash floods tore through Maria’s* ... Read More

For nearly 80 years, CWS has stood for welcome and for dignified, community-centered solutions to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. We’ve never stood alone. Churches and people of faith from across the United States and around the world stand shoulder to shoulder with us in vision and mission every day.   On Ash Wednesday, CWS launched The Ash Wednesday Ecumenical ... Read More

For decades, the United States has been a beacon of hope for those fleeing violence and persecution. Since 1975, more than 3.7 million refugees have found safety and a new home in America, where they have contributed to the nation’s culture, workforce and economy. Welcoming refugees is deeply rooted in U.S. values, and history shows that when refugees integrate and ... Read More

The Nehemiah Mission of Cleveland is dedicated to rebuilding hope and transforming communities by providing meals, temporary housing, and support for displaced families. During a visit, CWS’s Nick Gliha witnessed their powerful work firsthand—from serving warm meals to offering CWS Blankets and Kits to those in need. Below is his blog written about the recent experience. Providing Hope Through Meals ... Read More

Seattle, WA—Today, three national and local faith-based refugee-serving agencies and nine individuals won a preliminary injunction in the case of Pacito v. Trump. The ruling came in the first lawsuit challenging President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) suspending the U.S. refugee resettlement program (USRAP), as well as the efforts by the Trump Administration to decimate USRAP by withholding critical, congressionally-appropriated funding ... Read More

Despite the suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, CWS remains committed to supporting refugee and immigrant families. Through essential services in CWS local offices—ranging from legal aid and housing assistance to medical support—CWS continues to provide a lifeline for newcomers in need. For more than 75 years, CWS has stood alongside refugees and newcomers, working in partnership with communities, ... Read More

On February 25, the Western District of Washington heard oral arguments in Pacito v. Trump, the first lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s refugee ban executive order. Following the hearing, the judge issued a preliminary injunction from the bench blocking the administration’s indefinite refugee ban and funding freeze. In the ruling, U.S. District Judge Jamal Whitehead said that the administration’s refugee ... Read More

New York City–Church World Service today decries the Trump administration’s decision to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 500,000 Haitians living in the United States. The decision – which goes into effect in August – will place Haitians who have found safety in and worked in our communities for decades at risk of deportation back to a country experiencing devastating ... Read More

As Serbia becomes an increasingly crucial waypoint for refugees and migrants—including those fleeing Ukraine—urgent challenges such as lack of shelter, healthcare, and legal protections continue to put thousands at risk. With limited institutional support and growing migration complexities, CWS and its partners are stepping in to provide emergency relief, legal aid, and long-term solutions to help displaced individuals find safety, ... Read More

In 2024, CWS launched operations in Ukraine’s Odesa Oblast province to provide essential services such as food distribution, medical and psychosocial support and protection for vulnerable groups, in partnership with local organizations. As part of this work, CWS and local partners visited communities in January 2025 to assess winterization needs. The following blog is a testimony from one of the ... Read More

Nearly every year, floods hit Makassar City, disrupting the lives and livelihoods of those who call it home.  For 56-year-old Pak Sampara, each flood brings a new wave of uncertainty. The rising water damages crops, making them impossible to sell, and in 2020, the situation became even more devastating when he lost his cleaning job in a local hotel due ... Read More

When Fathiya joined her brother in an animation workshop, she had no idea how profoundly the training would change her life. Originally from Palestine, Fathiya had been living in Indonesia for several years after she was forced to leave her home, when her brother Jamal signed up for the Animation for Humanity project, led by CWS local partner Yayasan Cita ... Read More

Appeal Name: CWS’ Emboldened Commitment in the Face of Adversity   Date Issued: 14 February 2025  Appeal Code: 6210  Appeal Amount: $5 million over 18 months  Church World Service was born in the wake of the devastation of World War II. People of faith came together “to do in partnership what none of us could hope to do as well alone.” ... Read More

For years, CWS Thailand has been at the forefront of child protection, implementing programs designed to foster inclusive, safe and supportive learning environments. Through initiatives at three schools—Wat Sao Thonghin School, Radburana School and Chumchonmoobanpattana School—CWS has empowered students with essential life skills, emotional resilience and social awareness. Each program is uniquely tailored to address the needs of children from ... Read More

For more than 20 years, hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers from Myanmar have lived inside Thailand along the Thai-Myanmar border—next to their country yet far from their homes. Below are first-hand testimonials of participants in our youth empowerment project along the border. Htet Lin Thu: Educating and Empowering Migrant Youth My name is Htet Lin Thu, and I am ... Read More

Wajdi Al-Mowafak, CWS’ Director of Finance Business Partners, was on the verge of reuniting with his parents in the United States when President Trump’s executive order indefinitely suspending refugee admissions upended their plans. Now, like thousands of others, his family is trapped in limbo, facing uncertainty as their dreams of safety and stability vanish overnight. On January 20, 2025, President ... Read More