London, Ontario. (May 28, 2025) – As the world faces the worst hunger crisis in 70 years (FAO et al., 2024), Compassion Canada is marking World Hunger Day by highlighting its commitment to building long-term resilience in communities most affected by food insecurity. Through church-led initiatives and strategic partnerships, Compassion is working to ensure that families not only survive today’s crises but thrive in the future.
“Building resilience means equipping churches to support their communities not just to recover from crisis or adverse events, but to adapt, grow and thrive in the face of future challenges,” says Faith Magadi, Senior Manager of Program Design—Disaster, Response, Recovery and Resilience at Compassion International. “Resilience is not just a response—it’s a strategy.”
“Resilience is not just a response—it’s a strategy.”
“We hear from churches that they are overwhelmed by the need around them, especially in countries experiencing conflict, displacement of people and insecurity,” adds Magadi. “The need is great, and churches are eager to serve, although the resources are limited.”
A groundbreaking approach to food resiliency in Kenya
“Life Gardens” help women like Beatrice overcome food insecurity and provide nutritious food for their families.
These realities continually compel Compassion to invest in long-term, sustainable solutions. At the forefront of Compassion Canada’s food security efforts is the groundbreaking Food Resiliency Tripartite Project (FRTP), launched in partnership with Compassion Kenya and Thrive for Good. This 18-month pilot project represents a revolutionary approach to combating malnutrition and food scarcity.
The FRTP centers on “Life Gardens”—small plots using bio-intensive agriculture that maximizes yields while regenerating soil and conserving water. These gardens utilize specific plant and herb combinations alongside regenerative agriculture practices, allowing community members to grow nutrient-dense, disease-fighting foods year-round with scarce rainfall.
The project reaches four regions in Kenya—Vihiga, Embu, Machakos and Taita Taveta—training 2,800 garden members who will impact over 11,200 participants. Twenty-eight Life Garden Champions receive intensive one-month, hands-on training before returning to their communities to conduct workshops and support garden members throughout the pilot growing term.
The results of this “growing health” approach are visible and undeniable: participants report more vibrant energy and focus, with greatly reduced incidence of malaria and other ailments. The experienced garden members become equipped to teach others the same methods, creating a low-cost, organic solution that can exponentially spread from community to community.
Church-led innovation sparks resilience in Uganda
Lucia and Elizabeth live in Karamoja in northern Uganda, an area stricken with hunger due to insecurity, poor climate, inflation and crop failure.
Another example of this approach is in Karamoja, Northeastern Uganda, where six consecutive failed rainy seasons from 2020 to 2023 were followed by devastating floods. Communities that have traditionally relied on cattle keeping as a livelihood were pushed into severe food insecurity. In response, Compassion Uganda partnered with local churches to co-design the Karamoja Integrated Resilience and Community Action Project (KIRAP).
“When local churches lead the way, the solutions become locally bred and consequently, locally owned,” Magadi further shares. “They understand the needs, the culture, the context and the challenges therein. The insights they provide are a crucial component for building lasting change.”
“When local churches lead the way, the solutions become locally bred and consequently, locally owned.”
Launched in 2023, KIRAP is a two-year pilot with four church partners, reaching 608 community members organized into 16 farmer groups. The initiative integrates a multi-faceted approach that focuses on climate-smart agriculture practices, savings and lending groups, disaster preparedness, adult literacy, improved water access and vocational training to reinforce a positive cycle of food security and resilience.
Promising results emerged from the midline evaluations conducted in 2025. All groups reported improved food security and income. While reliable rainfall in 2024 helped, internal factors—such as committed staff, strong coordination and organizing the caregivers in groups—were identified as essential to success. A notable initiative includes irrigation systems that enabled dry-season farming, giving farmers a market advantage. In another instance, a participant used a savings group loan to open the first grocery store in her community.
A growing movement: Compassion’s global approach to food resilience
“Life Gardens” in Kenya are a revolutionary approach to combating malnutrition and food scarcity and represent fruitful partnerships that bring lasting change.
Compassion’s resilience and food security efforts extend beyond Uganda, reaching communities in Guatemala, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia and beyond. Since July 2022, Compassion has provided food aid to more than 1.3 million individuals in 15 countries around the world.
Compassion’s global food security strategy is powered by strong partnerships with like-minded organizations that share a commitment to sustainable, community-driven solutions. Among these are World Renew, which prioritizes food security through asset-based community development across the globe; Plant With Purpose, which tackles hunger and builds resilience through a blend of agroforestry and savings groups; and Convoy of Hope, a key partner in coordinated feeding initiatives in the Philippines and El Salvador. Together, these collaborations amplify Compassion’s reach and deepen the long-term impact in vulnerable communities worldwide.
As the hunger crisis persists, the need for resilient, community-led solutions has never been more urgent—or more possible. From Kenya to Karamoja and beyond, local churches are not only responding to immediate needs but driving long-term transformation through innovation and trusted partnerships.
You can help fuel this momentum.
Advance lasting, community-led solutions for food security through local churches and trusted partners.
Be part of the global movement to end hunger.
ABOUT COMPASSION CANADA – A leading child development organization, Compassion is helping more than 2.3 million children and youth in 29 countries access the resources and relationships they need to overcome poverty. Compassion was named by Charity Intelligence Canada as one of Canada’s Top 100 Charities in 2024. Learn more at compassion.ca.
