Moments for Mission

Sudan
People in Darfur, Sudan, continue to endure grave suffering. Several hundred thousand have been killed by ethnic violence, hunger, and disease. More than two million people have been driven from their homes by the fighting.

Your gifts to Week of Compassion are helping Church World Service and coalition partners provide families with food, water and sanitation, healthcare, shelter, and other much-needed assistance. And, even in the midst of hardship, education is important. A Week of Compassion-supported program helps Abdul Hayrat Mohammed Zachariah and other youngsters continue their studies and regain some sense of normalcy in their lives.

Beyond meeting urgent humanitarian needs, U.S. churches continue to support efforts to bring peace for the people of Darfur.
Photo credit: Gillian Sanford, ACT/Caritas

Chaco Region of South America
The indigenous people of the Chaco region of South America — which includes parts of Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay — have lost much of their ancestral lands, and endure longstanding racism and discrimination within the broader society. Together with five local partners, Church World Service is working to empower these families and communities to reclaim their heritage and reshape their future.

By working together, indigenous communities are gaining access to their lands and working to develop sustainable livelihoods and agricultural practices. With leadership training, traditional and innovative agricultural practices, and a strong focus on education, parents are building a better future for themselves and their children.

Clara Quirino, president of her community in Argentina, is teaching the native Guarani language, handicrafts, and training in natural medicines to 120 youngsters. Your gifts to Week of Compassion are helping Clara and her people preserve the knowledge of the elders and pass these valuable skills to another generation. Photo credit: CWS

Pakistan
Water systems in parts of Pakistan were damaged or destroyed during the October 2005 earthquake. With support from Week of Compassion, Church World Service is helping communities to gain or regain access to clean water. Here, 14-year-old Sania Sawati carries safe water home to her family.

With support from Week of Compassion, the CWS Water for Life/Water for All initiative is supporting sustainable, community-based water projects and helping communities learn how to be actively involved in regional and national water and sanitation policies. Your gifts are helping to provide universal access to water. Together, we are working toward clean, safe water for all.
Photo credit: Paul Jeffrey/ACT

Humanitarian assistance in part of the Middle East
Hana, 26-years-old and pregnant, was forced to flee her home when she was caught in the midst of violence in one part of the Middle East.

Week of Compassion helps local partners like the Middle East Council of Churches work with families affected by violence in the region. Food, water and sanitation, and medical care are helping families trying to survive in uncertain times. Young adults are learning valuable trade skills, people are opening businesses thanks to starter loans, and children are beginning the healing process in welcoming community centers.

A just and lasting peace in the Middle East is the only way Hana and others will know true security — joining other peoples of faith, let us work and pray toward peace in the Holy Land and the entire region. Photo credit: Hege Opseth, NCA-ACT

Laos
Laos is landlocked and mountainous, and one of the least-developed countries in Asia. Education for children is key to helping the small country prosper. Your gifts to Week of Compassion help Church World Service provide much-needed teacher training and educational enrichment opportunities for children.

Some 400 children in Vientiane, Laos, are participating in CWS-sponsored programs. And, in more remote areas, ethnic minority students are gaining improved education as schools are built, restored, or resourced, and teachers become better equipped. With better education comes development, as well as the promise of brighter futures for these children and their families. Photo credit: CWS