A horrific attack by fire: One year later

Warning: This account contains disturbing details of violence. Along the riverside one Sunday afternoon, Steven’s life took a radical turn. 11-year old Steven grew up on the Pacific coast of Ecuador, in the coastal city of Esmeraldas—a unique community surrounded by lush jungle and beautiful beaches. For a city with eternal summer temperatures, the Esmeraldas […]

Does child sponsorship empower youth to get jobs?

Through child sponsorship, children in Compassion’s program are developed in so many ways—physically, emotionally, cognitively and spiritually. But does sponsorship actually equip children to get jobs once they graduate? As we have developed our program over the years, we have moved to put an even greater emphasis on equipping young people to provide for themselves. […]

5 strong women of the Bible and their modern counterparts

Strong women inspire me. From young girls using their voices to grandmothers raising up the next generation to be confident in themselves, it’s amazing to witness courageous women in action. And in a time where equality is still fiercely fought for, we want to honour some of the great women of the Bible whose strength […]

Miss Wheelchair Canada: God will restore what was lost

Trigger warning: This interview includes content about miscarriage which may be triggering. When you talk to Vahen King, who became the first ever Miss Wheelchair Canada in 2017, you immediately sense her unwavering confidence and her fiery grit. You become accustomed to her shared nuggets of wisdom, treasures from a shelf of lived truths. Her […]

After genocide: An astonishing story of forgiveness and redemption

Warning: This account contains disturbing details of violence. Jean Claude, a Compassion alumnus, forgave the one who tortured and murdered his family—and even provided for his son’s education.*  I was born in the country of Rwanda in Kigali City, but I was born in a poor family where getting food was a problem. Where going […]

How are you uniquely wired to respond to poverty?

In 1 Corinthians 12, we are told that each person has different gifts with different functions. These gifts are each vitally important in coming together to form the Body of Christ. We’re not called to do everything, but we’re each called to do something. When it comes to responding to poverty, the same is true. […]

Shakul: The story behind the striking face

His sparkling blue eyes first capture your attention, drawing you in. Then you notice the bold streak of light-coloured skin on his forehead and his lighter hands. His appearance is striking. You may recall a photo that we shared of this boy on Instagram. Meet Shakul Born in rural Uganda to young, unmarried parents, Shakul’s […]

Faces of dignity: Why people in poverty don’t want handouts

One thing we all share in common as humanity is a God-given desire to contribute to the world at large and God-given abilities to do so. That’s why most people living in extreme poverty don’t want a handout—they want a sustainable way to provide for themselves and their families. They want the pride of hard […]

Where are they now? 10 child sponsorship success stories

Do you ever wonder what sponsored children will become when they grow up? Or reflect on your own childhood dreams? At Compassion, we believe in dreaming big. We refuse to let poverty steal hope: our hope for the children in our programs, our hope for tomorrow and our hope to end extreme poverty in the […]