STORIES
Kutupalong Refugee Camp, Bangladesh // photo: Paul Jeffrey/ACT Alliance
"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. 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. 2024 Year in Review2/5/2025 responding with compassion around the world Dear Church,
During the month of February, many congregations across the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will take up a special offering, joining in the mission and ministry of Week of Compassion. For over 80 years, Week of Compassion has been the Church’s relief, refugee, and sustainable development ministry, working with partners to alleviate suffering throughout the world. As your church participates in this offering, I also invite you to join in prayer for our partners and the people we serve across the globe. Now more than ever, the work of Week of Compassion is urgently needed. "God's love made visible" In late 2023, the National Government of Argentina undertook a complete reorganization, significantly reducing the number of national ministries and almost entirely eliminating social services and community provisions. In December of that year, the national currency was devalued by 54%, leading to increased prices, particularly for food. At the same time, soup kitchens and community food services stopped receiving any kind of products or money, exacerbating hunger. Pensions and salaries were reduced, funds were cut to provinces and municipalities, public offices were closed, and more than 11,000 employees were dismissed from their jobs.
For the families of those incarcerated, these changes intensify their crisis. The Hidden Cost of An Ongoing War9/23/2024 caring for people with disabilities in regions in crisis When the war reached their front yard in 2022, Liudmila and her son had to flee their home in Bakmut. Liudmila recalled her beloved small town in eastern Ukraine, a place filled with roses, and numerous schools for the town’s children. “The best city on Earth. That’s how the local people often called it,” she said. In May 2023, President Zelenskyy said, “Bakmut is only in our hearts. There is nothing left in this place.”
Luidmila’s adult son, Dmytro (38), is one of 261,000 people with intellectual disabilities living in Ukraine. National health and governmental organizations estimate some 2.7million people there live with at least one, and often multiple, disabilities. Humanitarian organizations and advocates consistently note that it is the sick, elderly, and disabled – those who are already challenged to get information and receive equal and adequate care – who are disproportionately affected by war and natural disaster. |
