Church World Service

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, CWS has expanded its support to reach some of the country’s most vulnerable populations. Through the Caring Hearts project, we’re partnering with local organizations to provide essential aid and emotional support to older adults living in remote villages of Odesa Oblast.  On February 24, 2022, the world watched in horror as Russia ... Read More

In Tanzania’s Nyarugusu Refugee Camp, Matisho Justina transformed her family’s future by planting fruit trees through the CWS Wezesha Project. Her success not only brought fresh food and self-reliance to her household but also inspired a wider movement of sustainable agriculture in her community. What if a fruit tree could change everything? For Matisho Justina, a refugee living in Nyarugusu ... Read More

Washington, D.C.—The month of June calls upon Americans to reflect on who we are – and what we hold dear. In celebrating PRIDE, Immigrant Heritage Month, Juneteenth and World Refugee Day, we are invited and compelled to recognize the complexity, strength, tension and beauty of what it means to be American.   This June, however, the stakes feel especially high. ... Read More

Then Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”  Mark 12:31   Your Church Is Helping CWS Bring Comfort, Dignity and Hope to Our Neighbors  So far this year, thanks to your compassion, CWS Blankets and Kits have been shared from Grand Rapids to Chicago, Dallas to Cleveland, Annapolis to Poughkeepsie—reaching neighbors in ... Read More

 Last updated: Thursday, June 12, 2025  This resource provides daily updates from the CWS policy team in your inbox on the latest policy changes; the morning’s headlines on key issues impacting refugees and immigrants; and updated tools to take action. Subscribe now to receive daily updates on the latest developments and ways to support impacted communities. State of Play The ... Read More

Hadijah Tsisti Mbugita, a single mother in Tanzania’s Kigoma Region, received support through the CWS-supported Giving Machine Project. By learning poultry farming, she built a sustainable livelihood that now supports her children’s education, provides clean water at home, and empowers her as a community leader and changemaker. A Mother’s Struggle and a Turning Point In the heart of Muganza Village ... Read More

Zelda Steward Mupengu, a mother of five in Muganza Village, Tanzania, transformed her life through the Giving Machine Project. By gaining essential training in chicken farming, she turned a struggling livelihood into a thriving business—improving her family’s nutrition, income, and future while mentoring others in her community. From Struggle to Support: The Start of Zelda’s Journey In Muganza Village, Tanzania, ... Read More

Washington, D.C.—Church World Service today condemns the Trump administration’s proclamation that establishes a new travel ban for individuals from 19 countries. The ban includes sweeping travel restrictions for 12 countries, and partial restrictions for 7 other countries. The proclamation bans people, based on their nationality, from traveling to the United States with few narrow exceptions. The administration justifies this latest ... Read More

When war forced Diana and her family to flee their home in Ukraine, they arrived in Moldova with little but hope for a safe future. Thanks to the CWS winterization project and the resilience of a mother’s love, they’re building a new life—one step and season at a time.  A Family Uprooted by War  When war broke out in Ukraine, ... Read More

On May 22, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a multibillion dollar reconciliation package that dramatically expands funding for immigration detention and deportation and slashes funding for key benefits and services that strengthen families, communities, and local economies. If signed into law, the bill would restrict access to health care benefits and food assistance for many otherwise-eligible humanitarian arrivals. ... Read More

Washington, D.C.—Church World Service today marks the beginning of Pride by celebrating our LGBTQ+ neighbors and calling for equal protections under the law for all. The organization stresses that as the Trump administration eliminates protections for asylum-seekers and refugees, the global LGBTQ+ community will be particularly impacted. Many people who are displaced are persecuted, ostracized, or under threat simply for ... Read More

In Paraguay’s Lower Chaco, Indigenous communities are advancing justice and leadership through rights training and women-led gatherings—fostering a future rooted in dignity, advocacy and collective strength. Weaving Networks, Sharing Knowledge: A Gathering of Indigenous Women In Pozo Colorado, Paraguay, a powerful gathering of Indigenous women from the Enxet Sur people offered a chance to learn through shared stories, identity and ... Read More

After severe floods devastated Kenya’s Tana Delta in 2024, CWS launched a recovery effort through the Mwanga Project, helping nearly 1,800 people rebuild their livelihoods with tools like livestock, training and agriculture support. Through that support, the Kipini Disability Fellowship emerged as a model of resilience—turning poultry and goat distributions into a sustainable, community-driven path to recovery and empowerment. In ... Read More

After fleeing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Aimerance Bosco found hope and stability through the Wezesha Project, transforming from a struggling mother into a thriving farmer who now nourishes her family and empowers others in her community. From Displacement to Determination: Aimerance’s Path to Empowerment Aimerance Bosco spends her days caring for her four children, tending to her ... Read More

Congress is currently in the midst of debating a budget reconciliation bill that seeks to divert massive funds to immigrant detention, deportation, and border militarization and strip access to programs that connect immigrant and U.S.-born families, children, and communities to basic resources. As of May 19, House Republicans are negotiating and “marking up” the package, which they hope to move ... Read More

Maria Bahati, a young refugee in Tanzania’s Nyarugusu Camp, transformed her family’s future through CWS’s WEZESHA Project—overcoming gender barriers, gaining farming skills, and inspiring her husband and community to embrace gender equality. Her journey highlights how empowerment and collaboration can lead to lasting change. Breaking Barriers: Maria’s First Steps Toward Empowerment Forced to flee her home at a young age, ... Read More

Daria, a courageous 14-year-old from Ukraine, was forced to leave her home and family behind as war threatened her safety and peace of mind. In Moldova, she found not only refuge but a renewed sense of purpose at the CWS partner-led Anastasis Educational Center—a place where she could learn, grow and dream again without fear.  A Childhood Interrupted by War  ... Read More

Across the United States, communities are stepping up to combat period poverty by assembling CWS Period Packs and providing essential hygiene items to those in need. From disaster relief to youth activism, these efforts are restoring dignity and meeting a critical yet often overlooked need. Everyone has the right to access safe, sanitary hygiene products, but for many people around ... Read More

As First Group of Afrikaners Prepares to Travel to the United States, CWS Urges Administration to Comply with Court Order to Resettle All Eligible Refugees    New York City– CWS today expressed deep concern over news that the Trump Administration will soon admit Afrikaners and other racial minorities from South Africa to the United States as refugees, while simultaneously delaying ... Read More

  Like us, you know that refugees are ordinary people who have been forced to leave their homes behind in search of safety. But with misinformation on the rise, how can you share the facts with your family, friends and loved ones? Here is a conversation guide to answer any questions your community may have about refugees and other newcomers. ... Read More