A brighter future starts with survival
2.3 million babies won't make it to their first Christmas.
While we celebrate, many mums like Erna face a very different Christmas: one where survival is the miracle. Without access to healthcare, good nutrition or ongoing support, their life—and the life of their baby—is at risk.
This Christmas, your generous donation is needed to help a give a mother and her child a brighter and safer future.
Erna and Ethan, Philippines
Erna and Ethan's Christmas miracle is simply surviving.
Without support, a baby’s first Christmas isn’t guaranteed. Ethan’s wasn’t.
After spending 14 days in hospital with sepsis, at just two weeks old, Ethan needed surgery because of fluid in his brain. Then he developed pneumonia, struggling to breathe, requiring another six days in hospital.
And while Erna was caring for her sick baby, she was facing her own health challenges. She experienced four months of bleeding after giving birth, while caring for four children.
Through Compassion's Mums and Babies program, her local church came alongside her with practical, emotional and spiritual support. Staff monitored Ethan's health, provided food packs and baby supplies, helped with medical expenses and even walked the difficult, muddy road to Erna's home so she didn't have to make the journey to the centre with her children.
But Erna didn't face those days alone.
A brighter future isn't built alone. It is built by mothers who hope, communities who care and people who choose to show up. People like you.
See what changed in 2026 through support like yours
44,169+
babies and 43,822+ mums were nurtured to lay the foundations for lifelong wellbeing (That's 6,000 more than in 2025!)
77.7%
of women had skilled birth attendants support their safe delivery
16,621
babies were welcomed safely into the world, with 93.1% born at a healthy birthweight (That's over 2,000 more than in 2025!)
Every baby carries the possibility of a future. And every mother dreams of what that future could be.
That brighter future starts with survival.
Christmas Appeal FAQs