Church World Service

Washington, D.C.—CWS today announced that the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (A.M.E. Zion) had committed to joining Church World Service as a Covenant Member. The A.M.E. Zion Church is the 15th faith-based organization to commit to Covenant Membership with CWS, together representing more than 10 million people of faith across the United States and Canada. CWS celebrates this partnership and ... Read More

Everyone deserves access to clean water, yet for millions around the world, safe drinking water and proper sanitation remain out of reach. From collapsed infrastructure and poor management to conflict and climate change, several factors contribute to families being unable to access their right to safe water. Rising global temperatures and extreme weather events are making clean water scarcer and ... Read More

Today, March 17, 2025, marks the 45th anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980, a landmark piece of legislation that solidified the United States’ leadership in refugee protection. For decades, this legislation has upheld our nation’s commitment to welcoming those in need, providing a vital pathway to safety for the world’s most vulnerable.  However, recent executive orders from the Trump ... Read More

Washington, D.C.—Today, Church World Service decries President Trump’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Last invoked during World War II, it remains a stain on our nation’s history, leading to the detainment of 31,000 Japanese, German, and Italian immigrants based solely on their ancestry. Church World Service calls on President Trump to rescind the invocation of the Act ... Read More

March 17, 2025 marks the 45th anniversary of the day President Jimmy Carter signed the Refugee Act of 1980, enshrining in law a framework for refugee resettlement and the protection of asylum seekers. The Trump administration’s indefinite pause on refugee resettlement and freeze on reimbursements to refugee service providers remain largely in place, and access to asylum at the U.S.-Mexico ... Read More

Murakami Kotomi, a CWS Japan intern, recently interviewed participants in the “Enhancing Resilience of Afghanistan through Integrated Risk Reduction” project. This blog features her interviews with local community members about the impacts that the project has had in supporting disaster risk reduction efforts in Afghanistan. Impacts of Disaster Risk Reduction Projects Disasters can upend lives in an instant, but proactive ... Read More

In January, CWS Japan hosted a hands-on Tunisian chapati cooking class, bringing together newcomers and local residents for a shared cultural experience. Through events like these, the cafe fosters deeper connections, promotes cross-cultural understanding and creates a welcoming space where the community can engage and learn from one another. The new year has arrived, and a month has flown by ... Read More

One year after the Noto Peninsula earthquake, CWS Japan reflects on its efforts to support disaster-affected communities. By fostering local partnerships, CWS Japan continues to address the long-term challenges of disaster recovery while working to build a more resilient and inclusive emergency response system. The CWS Japan team spent the New Year praying that no large-scale disasters would occur—in fact, ... Read More

In November, CWS Japan hosted several events, including a disaster risk reduction walk to inform Japanese language school students about local disaster preparedness resources and storytelling sessions. Through events like these, the cafe fosters deeper connections, promotes cross-cultural understanding and creates a welcoming space where the community can engage and learn from one another. CWS Japan recently opened a café—the ... Read More

CWS Japan works alongside communities in Afghanistan who are most impacted and at risk for disasters. Below, Takeshi Komino, CWS Country Representative for Japan, shares information about the project and future efforts for the CWS Japan team. Afghanistan is a country that has been hit by disasters such as floods and earthquakes many times. As political instability continues, protecting lives ... Read More

CWS Responds to U.S. Government Status Report in Pacito v. Trump Proposal to deny refugee resettlement contracts to long standing partners would strip refugee families of robust established support networks Washington, D.C.—CWS today noted deep concern following news that the Department of State is preparing to issue a request for proposals to identify a new singular service provider to provide ... Read More

For the millions of people around the world who have been forcibly displaced from their homes, resettlement to a new country is often the best hope for building safe, bright futures. Since CWS began its work responding to the devastation of World War II, we have helped refugee families rebuild their lives in the United States. According to the United ... Read More

Last Updated: March 7, 2025 Since CWS began its work in response to the devastation of World War II, we have been dedicated to helping refugee families rebuild their lives in the United States. Through strong partnerships with local communities and congregations, we ensure every arriving family receives a warm welcome and the essential support they need to thrive as ... Read More

Indigenous communities in Paraguay’s Bajo Chaco region are strengthening their resilience through sustainable farming, leadership development, and climate adaptation. With support from CWS and local partners, families are overcoming challenges like drought while building a more secure future. In Paraguay, families are forging a more resilient future. Through the Comprehensive Rural Development Project, nine indigenous communities in the Bajo Chaco ... Read More

In the small Honduran community of Valle Verde, Oscar and his family have embraced new agricultural techniques through the ‘Produce Verde’ project, improving their harvests, securing their food supply and building a brighter future. Sowing Seeds of Faith and Family For Oscar Caballero Benitez, farming is more than just a livelihood—it’s an act of patience, faith and resilience, which all ... Read More

Washington, D.C.— In an unprecedented moment of moral reckoning, Church World Service (CWS) today issues The Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Declaration: Defending Refuge, a bold and urgent call to action from faith communities across the nation. With 45 initial signers—including CWS’ Covenant Members—this declaration is more than a statement, it is a solemn and unshakable commitment by religious leaders and organizations ... Read More

Washington, D.C.— Last week, in response to a court order requiring the Trump administration to reimburse frozen aid funding, the White House instead chose to terminate nearly 10,000 federal contracts, including those with agencies to resettle and welcome refugees. Church World Service unequivocally opposes these actions and expresses deep concern over the impact these decisions will have on the displaced, ... Read More

When flash floods destroyed Maria’s home in Kentucky, her family was left with nothing—no food, heat, or shelter. But thanks to generous supporters, CWS is providing safe housing, warm meals and critical aid to help families like hers rebuild and find hope after disaster. When Disaster Strikes: Families Left with Nowhere to Turn Last week, flash floods tore through Maria’s* ... Read More

For nearly 80 years, CWS has stood for welcome and for dignified, community-centered solutions to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. We’ve never stood alone. Churches and people of faith from across the United States and around the world stand shoulder to shoulder with us in vision and mission every day.   On Ash Wednesday, CWS launched The Ash Wednesday Ecumenical ... Read More

For decades, the United States has been a beacon of hope for those fleeing violence and persecution. Since 1975, more than 3.7 million refugees have found safety and a new home in America, where they have contributed to the nation’s culture, workforce and economy. Welcoming refugees is deeply rooted in U.S. values, and history shows that when refugees integrate and ... Read More