Church World Service

World Refugee Day—held annually on June 20th—is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the resilience and courage of those fleeing violence and persecution globally. It serves as a call to action for governments and communities to strengthen their efforts in providing safe haven, resources, and opportunities for refugees and other displaced people to rebuild their lives. Despite multiple court orders, ... Read More

This World Refugee Day, we honor the courage, resilience and humanity of people forced to flee their homes by uplifting the stories that reflect their lived experiences. From memoirs to films, these powerful works offer intimate, eye-opening perspectives on displacement, identity and the search for safety. Books Highlighting the Refugee Experience: Those We Throw Away Are Diamonds by Mondiant Dogon ... Read More

At the Diamond Day Center in Telenesti, Ukrainian refugees and local Moldovan families are coming together to create a welcoming, supportive community through small acts of kindness—from building a children’s mini-library to delivering homemade treats to elders.  At the Diamond Day Center in Telenesti, Moldova, community isn’t just a word—it’s a way of life. From its beginning, the Center, which ... Read More

After fleeing danger in their home country and enduring a painful separation, Roseline and her son Emmanuel reunited in the U.S. with support from CWS. As Emmanuel faced challenges adapting to his new community, Roseline was there to offer support and advocate for social, emotional and academic interventions with his school—helping him rediscover joy and belonging. From Separation to Safety  ... Read More

After war stole her sense of safety and silenced her joy, Violetta found healing and hope through group sessions offered by the “Support for Women and Children During the War in Ukraine” project. With support from CWS and Positive Women Odesa, she’s rediscovered her voice, her confidence and her passion for dance.  A Bright Future Interrupted  With natural curiosity and ... Read More

*Trigger Warning: This story contains descriptions of war, loss, trauma and death that may be distressing for some readers.  The Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims, known as Memoria, is a CWS local partner in Moldova which serves Ukrainian refugees and Moldovan gender-based violence survivors to access life-saving medical and psychosocial support. The following is written by a program participant whose ... Read More

U.S. Government Ordered to Comply with Court Orders in Refugee Ban Lawsuit or Face Sanctions  Government Must Process Around 12,000 Refugees Stranded by Trump Administration   (Seattle, WA) – CWS, HIAS, LCSNW, and IRAP welcomed the compliance order issued yesterday in Pacito v. Trump, reaffirming that the government must process and provide resettlement support to refugees who were conditionally approved ... Read More

It’s a fact: Refugees around the world have made innumerable contributions to the communities that welcome them. When individuals seeking safety arrive in their new homes, they bring their skills, experience and knowledge with them. Across decades and borders, these contributions have led to many of the daily  But what if history had played out differently? What if, instead of ... Read More

Forced to flee Ukraine in 2022, Elvira rebuilt her life in Serbia through creativity, community and determination—turning her sewing skills into a source of purpose, income and empowerment for herself and other refugee women. With support from CWS and partners, her family is now charting a path toward independence and stability. Stitch by Stitch: Reclaiming Purpose Through Creativity Before the ... Read More

After arriving in Serbia as a teenager from Iraq, Ahmed has spent over a decade building a life in Belgrade—overcoming language barriers, legal hurdles and housing challenges with determination and grace. Now on the path to Serbian citizenship and pursuing his dream of becoming a pilot, Ahmed’s story reflects resilience, belonging and the quiet hope of starting anew. From Baghdad ... Read More

After fleeing violence in Niger, Adamou found safety and hope in Serbia with support from CWS and the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights. Now rebuilding his life with resilience and optimism, he continues to pursue his dreams while inspiring others with his kindness. From Tragedy to Triumph: Adamou’s Journey to Safety Adamou once led a carefree life in a small ... Read More

Washington, D.C.—In response to a recent heinous proposal in the House of Representatives by Republican lawmakers, Christine Lemonda, Senior Director Children’s Services, issued the following statement “The proposal to levy massive fees on potential sponsors of unaccompanied children is nothing less than a policy of family separation. These kids are fleeing violence, persecution, and desperation and should be swiftly released ... Read More

After fleeing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Seluwa Said and her family faced extreme hardship in Tanzania’s Nyarugusu Refugee Camp—until joining the CWS Sustainable Vegetable Farming Project, which empowered her to grow nutritious food, start a business and build a more secure future. From Struggle to Survival in Nyarugusu Refugee Camp Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, ... Read More

After fleeing Afghanistan, Afghan allies Abed and Hafez found hope with the support of CWS Fort Collins and Immigration Staff Attorney Rona Schank, whose own immigrant journey fuels her fight for justice and welcome. Their stories highlight the power of persistence, community and the transformative impact of compassionate legal advocacy.  In the wake of Kabul’s fall, Colorado became a new ... Read More

New York City– CWS today announced that the organization will be closing 11 program offices across the United States following sweeping actions taken by the Trump Administration terminating or suspending federally funded programs supporting refugees and immigrants. The office locations in the process of closing include: Georgetown, DE; Jacksonville, FL; Orlando, FL; Grand Rapids, MI; Kalamazoo, MI; Burlington, NC; Charlotte, ... Read More

The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is under unprecedented threat, as is the humanitarian infrastructure serving forcibly displaced people worldwide and here in the U.S. The indefinite refugee ban remains in place, blocking funding for resettlement agencies and stranding thousands of refugees without basic support. Resettlement offices around the country are struggling to stay open and serve vulnerable individuals who ... Read More

After more than ten years of separation, Mr. Khan finally reunited with his wife and daughters in Texas—thanks to his unshakable determination, the support of Church World Service and a community ready to welcome. Their story is a powerful reminder of the resilience of refugee families and the transformative impact of welcome. A Journey Marked by Separation and Strength Imagine ... Read More

 Trigger Warning: This story contains descriptions of war, loss, trauma and death that may be distressing for some readers.   Brothers Faheem, Samir and Mohamed* were children when in 2004 they fled genocide in Darfur, Sudan, making the arduous trek across the Kaja Valley border to Chad on foot and by donkey. Their pursuers, the Janjaweed (which means “devils on horseback” ... Read More

For decades, Palestinians have lived under occupation, facing violence, human rights abuses, systematic violations of international humanitarian law, and denial of their right to self-determination. After over a year of Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians in the aftermath of the October 7th, 2023 Hamas attack against Israelis, Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip have been subjected to one of the ... Read More

For decades, Palestinians have lived under occupation, facing violence, human rights abuses, systematic violations of international humanitarian law, and denial of their right to self-determination. After over a year of Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians in the aftermath of the October 7th, 2023 Hamas attack against Israel, Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip have been subjected to one of the ... Read More