The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. —John 1:5

Together we rise. During a time of darkness and despair, we rise as the Church to shine the light of Jesus around the world. We rise to help vulnerable children and their families. We rise against the devastation of COVID-19. We rise against poverty. Together, we rise as one.

 

Your response in a time of crisis

The devastation of COVID-19 will be felt around the world for years to come. For those living in poverty there's no quick fix. There's no simple solution. But there is hope. As a global community, local churches and Compassion supporters have united to help meet the urgent needs of vulnerable children and their families in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

At the end of June, Australians raised more than $2 million, contributing to a global total of over $11 million. In June and July alone over $9 million of the money raised will provide food packs, hygiene kits and rent assistance for families of Compassion assisted children.

There is still more to be done. Your gift today will help continue this crucial work and help release children from poverty in Jesus' name.

Children need urgent support now

donate

Hygiene support

Those living in extreme poverty often lack the resources and supplies for even basic hygiene practices like washing their hands.

$40

can help  supply an entire household with critical hygiene supplies.

$230

can help provide essential hygiene and protective items to 20 children.

Donate now

Food support

With global supply chains breaking down causing food prices to skyrocket, malnutrition, starvation and chronic health issues are a serious and potentially life-threatening reality for children living in poverty.

$60

can help supply an entire household with a two-week food package.

$85

can help support a family suffering from malnutrition for two weeks with food essentials plus special nutritional supplements.

Donate now
donate
donate

Housing support

When parents are left without work and have no safety net, they are unable to pay rent and face eviction and homelessness during this pandemic.

$140

can help keep a family in their home by assisting with rent for one month during a time of economic hardship caused by COVID-19.

Donate now
Sidney Muisyo

Sidney Muisyo

Senior Vice President of Global Program,
Compassion International

“For millions of people in low-income nations, the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to undo over a decade of developmental and humanitarian efforts in regions of the world that—even in the best of times—have to contend with economic crises, inequality gaps between the few rich and majority poor, child exploitation and abuse, health challenges and compromised healthcare systems, and food insecurity, just to name a few.

If there was a perfect storm in the worst possible way, this is surely it. At a time when the high-income nations of the world are facing significant challenges themselves, I cannot overemphasise the urgent need to support the countries we work in—first to weather this crisis and then to rebuild resiliency. As with most crises, I fear that vulnerable children are yet again going to pay the highest price.”

The global response

You  are  part of a  global  community united by Jesus—millions of supporters, pastors, churches, staff and volunteers  rising for vulnerable children.

Global response

“Children are unique, they are God’s creation. They are vulnerable and defenseless. We have to take care of them and support them."

—Claudia, centre director of BO0338 Nueva Jerusalen Child Development Centre in Bolivia

Global response

“The centre helps the most vulnerable families by donating food and non-food items. This is a sensitive time when economic activity is slowing down and the parents of our children, who are already vulnerable, find themselves even more vulnerable. This act of distribution was essential to relieve these families, most of whom are in distress.”

—Mr. Vignon, centre director of TG0514 CDE de Baptiste La Moisson d'hedzanawe Child Development Centre in Togo

Global response

“We remain at their side. Our workers continue to volunteer to distribute food and essentials to the children in their community … I am so thankful for our staff and I always pray for them. It is our call of duty.”

— Reynesto Garcia, centre director PH0323 Good News Child Development Centre in the Philippines

Read more

12 JUNE, 2020

Why it’s Important to Help those in Developing Nations

With the global pandemic affecting the livelihood of many Australians, Compassion Australia’s CEO Clare Steele shares why it’s important to continue to look beyond our own shores and love our neighbours... READ MORE

25 JUN, 2020

Four Ways COVID-19 Will Undo Child Development Progress

Millions of children have escaped poverty in the past few decades, but the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to undo much of that progress. So what are the risks that children face—and how can we respond?... READ MORE

23 JUN, 2020

Three Ways COVID-19 Will Impact Girls and Young Women

We’ve all heard about the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on the world in the coming years—but some of the greatest impacts for girls and young women have remained unseen... READ MORE

FAQs

  • What are critical hygiene supplies?

    Critical hygiene supplies include essentials like hand sanitiser, soap, vitamins and supplements, household cleaning supplies, protective masks or materials to make them, and information on how to prevent infection.

  • Doesn’t sponsorship cover the most urgent needs of children?

    The effects of poverty are devastating and affect every area of a child’s life. Compassion’s Child Sponsorship Program sets the foundation for life-changing opportunities, but every Compassion assisted child will, at some point, require care beyond sponsorship’s reach.

    As many families living in poverty are already struggling daily, when a crisis hits—like the COVID-19 pandemic—they can be left without any income and are unable to put food on the table. Their living conditions make even basic hygiene practices difficult, which are essential to limiting the spread of the virus and maintaining good health.

    During this time when most child development centres are closed to group activities, local staff are striving to provide a basic level of the Child Sponsorship Program to children in their homes. But additional support is also needed to provide children with stability through hygiene, food and housing security.

  • How will my donation to the Disaster Relief Fund be used?

    All donations to the Compassion Overseas Aid and Development Fund of $2 or more are tax deductible in Australia. Funds will go towards the Disaster Relief Fund and will be delivered through local churches around the world to meet the most critical needs of Compassion assisted children, their families and communities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. If funding exceeds COVID-19 response needs, gifts will be used in similar ways to respond to other disasters or where it is most needed.

    All suggested gift amounts are based on early indications of the identified needs in our field countries. Costs for urgent support can vary depending on a child’s needs and the country they live in.

    Approximately 20 per cent of all donations is used for administration and fundraising.

  • Can my donation be directed to my sponsored child?

    While your sponsored child may receive support through the Disaster Relief Fund, it is not possible to give directly to an individual child through this fund. By giving to the Disaster Relief Fund, you help empower local churches to address the most urgent and critical needs of Compassion assisted children, their families and communities in response to the devastation caused by poverty and COVID-19.

    If you’d like to give to your sponsored child directly, you can give a gift. Read more about gifts during the COVID-19 pandemic here.

  • What is included in a food package?

    A food package can include essentials like rice, eggs, meat, milk and corn.