STORIES
Kutupalong Refugee Camp, Bangladesh // photo: Paul Jeffrey/ACT Alliance
What It Means to Show Up10/6/2026 a summer of listening, learning, and accompaniment in the Philippines Rain fell softly on the tattered tarp overhead as fisherfolk began, one by one, to tell their stories. For Week of Compassion summer fellow Amelia Richter, it would become one of the moments she carried home from her time in the Philippines. Two years earlier, a dredging company had begun mining sand from the seafloor in areas along the Manila Bay. The community organized and eventually succeeded in stopping the dredging—but not before damage had been done to the marine ecosystem on which their livelihoods depended.  Photo provided by Amelia Richter. She is riding with the rice and food packets for distribution on the island of Balut after an earthquake.
"Communities are not just facing one shock at a time." First held on April 22, 1970, Earth Day marks an annual focus on environmental protection, global climate concerns, and the work of climate justice and peace. As climate shifts continue across the globe, Week of Compassion pays close attention to the impact in already-vulnerable communities, working with our domestic and global partners and local leaders to increase the effectiveness of disaster response, humanitarian aid, and sustainable development efforts.
Yayasan Cita Wadah Swadaya (YCWS) is a long-standing Week of Compassion faithbased partner in Indonesia, dedicated to transforming communities through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. Indonesia’s journey toward climate resilience represents a critical response to its position as one of the world’s most vulnerable nations to climate change impacts. Including more than 17,000 islands with more than 50,000 miles of coastline, Indonesia faces compound challenges from rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and ecosystem degradation. Here, Dino Satria, Chairperson and Executive Director at YCWS, shares insights and opportunities rooted in local leadership, climate impact, and hope. a letter from the Executive Director Dear Church,
Grace and peace to you in this season of uncertainty. In recent days, we have watched with deep concern as the conflict involving Iran has escalated. While headlines often focus on political and military developments, I write to you today from the perspective of Week of Compassion – and from the voices of our partners across the region – about what this means for the people we accompany. What we are witnessing is not an isolated crisis. Mobile Medical Clinics in Pakistan4/7/2026 compassionate action brings dignity to health care Sindh province in Pakistan is widely known for its vibrant craftsmanship and rich cultural heritage. The region paints a serene picture of its desert landscapes and a myriad ofcolors seeping through the fabric of local clothes. Yet, behind this cultural richness, many of its communities continue to struggle against years of inadequate infrastructure and harsh climatic conditions. Communities live at the mercy of recurring droughts, limited sanitation, and a growing hunger crisis. Livelihoods remain fragile, poverty widespread, and education and health care are both scarce and costly luxuries.
In a place where choosing between livelihood and health is a constant dilemma, Community World Service Asia, a long-standing ecumenical partner with Week of Compassion, stepped in to offer something unprecedented: accessible medical assistance without the burden of sacrifice, a mobile health unit. Special Offering 2026 : A NEW WAY Hello Disciples! Week of Compassion is in our Special Offering season and we want to say THANK YOU.
Your gifts continue to serve the most vulnerable people across the world. Every day, we witness the growing impacts of climate-driven disasters across the United States and Canada. We see our neighbors navigating escalations in immigration enforcement and increased restrictions to refugee protections. We watch international conflicts disrupt national and community life. The needs are deep, the impacts are lasting, and in many places recovery will take years – often unfolding in ways we cannot yet imagine. And still, you show up. 2025 Year in Review2/3/2026 responding with compassion around the world Dear Friends,
“Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” - Isaiah 43:18–19 As we reflect on 2025, these words feel especially true. This has been a year marked by profound challenge and deep disruption across the world — and yet also by unmistakable signs that God continues to make a new way, even through uncertainty, loss, and change.  In recent weeks, a series of catastrophic storms has devastated communities across the globe — from the Caribbean to the Pacific — testing residents’ resilience and faith, and the strength of our shared compassion.
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