Latest Compassion Update

Last updated 27 Apr, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to push millions of children and families deeper into poverty, erasing years of hard work around the world. For the first time in two decades, the global poverty rate has increased. UNICEF estimates that 100 million more children will be living in multidimensional poverty because of the impacts of the pandemic.

For Compassion’s local church partners, this global crisis has had varying effects. In every country where we work, our Compassion staff, volunteers and partners are working diligently and creatively to address immediate needs and to help vulnerable children and their families rebuild their lives. You can read more about the situation in each program country below.

In some countries, delivering and writing letters between sponsors and children has been delayed. But be encouraged—children continue to pray for their sponsors and can't wait to read their letters and write replies.

Watch some heartfelt messages from children to sponsors below.

Country Updates

FAQs

  • How can I get in touch?

    Our Australian staff are working from home and would love to chat with you. If you have any questions or concerns about your sponsorship during this time, please give us a call on 1300 22 44 53 or email compassion@compassion.com.au.

    Please understand that we are currently unable to meet in person.

What you need to know

  • Will I be told if my sponsored child has COVID-19?

    In order to respect and protect the privacy of Compassion assisted children, we do not share health and medical information, including whether a child has contracted COVID-19.

  • Why isn’t Compassion Australia posting out Christmas letter templates to sponsors anymore?

    As part of our commitment to good stewardship and keeping our fundraising and administrative costs to no more than 20 per cent of our income, Christmas letters have now gone digital. This means we will not be posting a physical copy of our Christmas letter template to supporters.

    You can still write a Christmas letter to your sponsored child online, and we would encourage you to do so! There is a beautiful new Christmas letter template now available on My Account.

    We know that some of our supporters would prefer to hand write a letter to their sponsored child. If that’s you, please contact us on 1300 22 44 53 or at compassion@compassion.com.au and we can manually send you a copy of the Christmas letter template.

    Thank you for your words of hope, joy and love to your sponsored child at Christmas!

    You can write a letter today on My Account.

  • Is Compassion still providing Christmas gifts for children during COVID-19?

    Yes! Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Compassion’s local church partners are committed to arranging a special Christmas gift for every Compassion assisted child. This year, there are three different approaches local staff may take to deliver gifts:

    • For church partners that are operating as normal, local staff members hope to provide Christmas gifts the way they normally do. In this case, donations will be used to buy a tangible, thoughtful gift for each child and given to them in person during a Christmas celebration at their child development centre.

    • In other countries and communities where COVID-19 quarantines are still being enforced, Christmas gatherings at the centre may not be possible. Instead, Christmas gifts will be safely and securely delivered to children. For example, a staff member or volunteer may deliver the gift to children’s homes while wearing a mask and gloves.

    • For families facing critical needs or in communities where home visits are not permitted, Christmas gifts may be delivered directly as cash to a child’s verified caregiver. That way, the child's caregivers can decide how best to use the money to provide for their family.

    Even if this year’s Christmas gift is providing for a necessity, like shoes or clothes rather than a traditional toy, your sponsored child will know that they are loved and valued.

    You can set up your annual Christmas donation in My Account.

  • Can Compassion promise that letters received by October 31st will be delivered to children in time for Christmas?

    Our global and local staff and volunteers will make every effort to get letters delivered before Christmas but, because of changing local restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, we can’t guarantee it. Sending letters by the end of October will mean they have the greatest chance of being translated and delivered in time for Christmas.

    While we don’t know when your letter will reach your sponsored child, we do know that when it does, they will be filled with joy and encouragement as they read it.

    You can stay up to date on what’s happening in your sponsored child’s country, including the status of letters, on our country pages.

    Write a letter today on My Account.

  • How can I help my sponsored child during COVID-19?

    You can provide additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic to your sponsored child in a number of ways:

    • Pray specifically for your sponsored child, their family and their community.

    • Write a letter to your sponsored child to offer hope and encouragement during a challenging season. Due to the pandemic, some letters are taking a little longer than usual to arrive, but it’s still worth writing because we know how much letters mean to both sponsor and child!

    • Give a financial gift to your sponsored child, their family or their child development centre.

    Find out more:

  • How will sponsorship funds be used during COVID-19?

    During the global COVID-19 pandemic, many of our local church partners have had to temporarily pause in-person group activities to abide by their government’s restrictions and lockdown measures. In these situations, funds previously used for group activities at the child development centres are now being used to deliver necessities to children and their families, including food, clean water, shelter, clothing, household items, educational supplies, medical care and trauma counselling.

    For example, in Honduras, local church partners came up with an emergency plan to purchase, pack and deliver groceries and other essential supplies to vulnerable families. In El Salvador, church staff members have delivered bottled water, non-perishable food items and hand sanitiser to family members who are unable to obtain or afford these items on their own. And in other countries, those who are ill are being supported with medicine, vitamins and health advice.

    Find out more:

How you can pray

Thank you for lifting up children and families around the world who are impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic—and the local staff and churches who continue to serve them in difficult circumstances.

  • pray With social distancing practised and social events cancelled, pray that God will raise up a new chapter of building meaningful, deeper relationships with each other. Pray that God’s kindness and love will be on display in every nation and every walk of life.
  • pray Pray for nations where food crises are following on the heels of isolation measures, as people lack access to sufficient clean water and food. Ask God to provide their daily bread and meet their needs.
  • pray Pray for the Lord to protect the health of people who live in poverty, as they are the least able to socially isolate themselves or choose alternative work arrangements. Pray for children registered with the program in this season of sickness. Ask the Lord to place a hedge of protection over the children and their families.
  • pray Lift up health workers, hospitals, administrators and decision-makers to God as they respond to the pandemic. Pray for protection, wisdom and hearts of compassion for the most vulnerable.
  • pray Pray for wisdom and resilience for churches across the globe, as they live out His love in faith. May the Lord be their strength and guide as they respond to the challenges of the virus facing their communities and churches.
  • pray Pray for Compassion supporters and sponsors all over the world. May each of them be surrounded by the grace, love and mercy of Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord to hold their hands and lead them.

Thank you for praying with us!