Hi, neighbour! We’re refreshing our site to make your visit better. As you move around, you may see a mix of old and new designs.

Where Most Needed

Where Most Needed

In times of immediate need, Compassion steps in to help children

Give to the current greatest need

keyboard_arrow_left BACK TO DONATE

Poverty leaves children without any safety net or protection, so when unforeseen circumstances arise, there is often little hope for recovery.

Why giving to Where Most Needed is so important

Over 3 billion people

Over 3 billion people live on less than $2.50 a day

About 16,000 children die each day

About 16,000 Children die each day before celebrating their fifth birthday, mostly from preventable causes

  860 million people

860 million people worldwide continue to live in slums

663 million people

663 million people — one in 10 people — rely on unimproved sources of drinking water

Sources: UNICEF; UNDP; APPS

Through generous supporters, Compassion church partners work effectively to address the most pressing needs of children in our programs.

The Where Most Needed fund is used to meet a variety of needs that have been identified by our local church partners. It will bring resource and empowerment to every nation we work in.

Compassion’s Where Most Needed fund can be distributed between other Critical Needs and respond in circumstances where additional help for those funds is needed. This includes:

  • Water and Sanitation
  • Income Generation
  • Health
  • Education and Training
  • Mums and Babies
  • Infrastructure
  • Disaster Relief
  • Highly Vulnerable Children
  • Indigenous Initiative in Australia
  • Support for children waiting for a sponsor



See your latest impact through Where Most Needed

See how your generosity changed the lives of children this year.
Download our Where Most Needed Impact Report.

See my impact

Where Most Needed Stories

Feature Story
11 Apr, 2024

Blessed in Christ by Grace: David’s Story

“One day, I was reading the Bible, the book of Ephesians, and there is a verse there that says, ‘Some are called to become pastors and teachers’ [Eph. 4:11]. And the Lord spoke to me: ‘You will become like that someday.’”.. Read more

28 Oct, 2020

17 Questions Most New Sponsors Ask, Answered

What can I send to my sponsored child? Can I sponsor their sibling? Can I visit my sponsored child? Here are 17 frequently asked questions from new sponsors. .. Read more

02 Mar, 2020

Four Things You Didn't Know About Poverty

We’re used to hearing about the well-known effects of poverty—but are we missing the less-visible ones?.. Read more

FAQs

  • How much does it cost to support Critical Needs?

    The recommended amount to give to one Critical Need is $12 per month. However, you can give any amount of your choosing through either options of one-off or monthly giving. The giving options are flexible, so you have the freedom to support the areas you are most passionate about through Critical Needs.

    You can:

    • Give to Critical Needs
  • Can I give to Critical Needs if I do not sponsor a child?

    Yes, you can give to Critical Needs if you do not sponsor a child. Critical Needs is essential to overcoming obstacles for children living in poverty and your donation to Critical Needs will go towards helping thousands of children. Choose an area of need that you are most passionate about meeting, and then all you need to do is decide whether your donation is a once-only or a recurring gift. Thank you for your partnership to share a hope more powerful than poverty!

    You can:

    • Give to Critical Needs
    • Sponsor a child
  • Where does Compassion Mums and Babies operate?

    Compassion Mums and Babies works in over 25 developing countries to prevent premature death, secure good health and enable positive development in the youngest, most vulnerable children.

    Mums and Babies always operates through a survival project at the Compassion centre in local communities. It is the first phase of our holistic child development model. From age one, children will transition from Mums and Babies into the Child Sponsorship Program.

    You can

    • Give to Mums and Babies
    • Learn more about the Child Sponsorship Program
  • What is Compassion's Highly Vulnerable Children fund?

    Compassion's Highly Vulnerable Children fund offers a lifeline to children in Compassion's programs facing unthinkable hardship and living in high-risk situations.

    This includes: children who have been orphaned (or youth-headed households), children whose primary caregiver is incapacitated, children who have suffered abuse or exploitation, and children with special needs.

    Together with the local church, Compassion identifies children in highly vulnerable situations and provide them with specialised care and assistance to ensure they are stabilised and can continue to participate in Compassion's program.

    Examples of help given to these children can include: immediate housing arrangements, trauma counselling, nutritional support and provision of every day needs, legal assistance and renovations to structures and shelters.

    The Highly Vulnerable Children fund goes beyond the response of sponsorship to ensure children are kept safe and continue to be given opportunities to grow and develop without facing immediate risks to their safety and well-being.

  • How does Critical Needs work with Child Sponsorship?

    Critical Needs and the Child Sponsorship Program work side-by-side to equip Compassion's local church partners with the resources to provide holistic support and long-term, customised solutions for children, their families and communities. While the Child Sponsorship Program connects one child with one sponsor, Critical Needs giving is not directed to one child, but provides essential support to thousands of Compassion registered children when they need it most. Every child will benefit from Critical Needs during their time in Compassion’s program, as sponsorship funds alone are not sufficient to cover the varied and often urgent needs of the children we support.

    You can choose to support children globally through Critical Needs or fund an entire project in a specific community. These projects are both reactive and proactive and could include water filters to provide safe water to a community, reconstruction of homes after natural disasters, or income generating activities for adolescents and children's caregivers. The right assistance is identified and provided by the local church in partnership with Compassion.

    You can:

    • Give to Critical Needs
    • Sponsor a child