Church World Service

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

Living out their mission of service, the Southern Ohio Brethren Disaster Ministries recently assembled 500 CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets in a community effort that continues their long-standing tradition of supporting those affected by disasters. Inspired by the scripture “Serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13), the group, led by Burt and Helen Wolf, works year-round to organize fundraisers and rally ... Read More

The following blog was written by a program participant of CWS’ local Moldovan partner, Healthy City. Healthy City, also known as Zdorovii Gorod, supports Ukrainian refugees by providing comprehensive services including food and non-food items, social inclusion and psychosocial support. My name is Zinaida, I am 71 years old. I am a refugee from Ukraine, from the village of Donetsk, ... Read More

The following blog was written by a program participant of CWS’ local Moldovan partner, Healthy City. Healthy City, also known as Zdrovii Gorod, supports Ukrainian refugees by providing comprehensive services including food and non-food items, social inclusion and psychosocial support. My name is Natalia, and I am from Odesa, a city that breathes sea and sun. Until February 24, 2022, ... Read More

When the war broke out in Ukraine in February 2024, Uliana’s sense of security was replaced with shock and panic. “I feared for my children and my husband,” Uliana recalls, reflecting on the overwhelming fear that consumed her. Though many around her did not initially grasp the severity of the situation, Uliana felt paralyzed by anxiety. Her son, Maxim, was ... Read More

The day Sofia saw her mother cry for the first time is etched in her memory; March 3, 2022 was the day their lives changed forever. At just 13 years old, Sofia was forced to leave behind the comfort of her home in Ukraine’s Nikolaev region, along with her mother and brother, as the war closed in around them. While ... 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 wake of two devastating hurricanes—Helene and Milton—communities across the southeastern United States are grappling with unimaginable destruction. Entire neighborhoods have been leveled, roads washed away, and families are left facing the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. The damage began with Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida, leaving a trail of ... Read More

Before the war in Sudan began, 32-year-old Mrs. Amna* was living with her husband and two young children, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their new baby. But when conflict erupted, Mrs. Amna faced an unimaginable choice: to leave the only home she had ever known, seeking safety for herself and her children, while her husband remained behind. Six months into ... Read More

Odesa, Ukraine—Church World Service today proudly announced the launch of a new office in Odesa, Ukraine to aid in support of internally displaced Ukrainians, those returning back to their country, and the proud network of community support in the Odesa Oblast. The organization will operate under the name CWS Ukraine in tandem with its program and office in Moldova. As ... Read More