Author: Willow Welter

Your Top 5 Compassion Stories of 2021

As editor of the Compassion USA blog, I always love looking back over the previous year to see which articles resonated with you the most. It gives me a chance to reflect on the powerful stories and photos that come from our photojournalists around the world and writers in the U.S. I also get an idea of what type of content to gather and share with you in the year to come. In case you missed them, here were the top stories of 2021 on the Compassion USA blog.

The Moment When 2 Sponsors Saw “Behind the Scenes”

It was 1995 when 20-year-old Bonnie picked up a child sponsorship packet from a table at church. She looked down at the photo of a girl in Uganda who was waiting for a sponsor. It would be 26 years before Bonnie realized the magnitude of her decision to become part of Norah’s amazing story by sponsoring her that day.

Haiti Earthquake: To Weep and To Hope

How do we weep WITH our Haitian neighbors and show them true compassion?

Sponsors Share Their Best Letter Writing Tips

For the best letter writing tips, go straight to the experts: sponsors! Recently we put out a call on our Facebook page asking for the best advice about writing to children in Compassion’s program. From practical to unique, their letter writing tips will inspire you to send a note the child you sponsor — and remind you that your words of encouragement make a world of difference!

7 Strong Mothers Whose Love Is Fiercer Than Poverty

These strong mothers would do anything for their children. Living in poverty with limited access to health care, food and education, many of them have experienced devastating loss and pain. But they persevere for their families.

So this Mother’s Day, let’s celebrate all the strong mothers around the world! Meet six women who work hard for their children and nurture them fiercely. And when that wasn’t quite enough, they sought the help they needed.

17 Gorgeous Photos of Gardens Around the World

In these photos of gardens around the world, you’ll see more than just plants. In these gardens are vegetables — but also opportunities. Fruits are flourishing — and so are small businesses started by families living in poverty. A fledgling sprout peeking up from the soil can signify a whole new future for a child. Because people in poverty who can grow successful gardens have not only a source of nutritious food, but also a source of income.

We Stopped Sharing Sponsored Children’s Full Names. Here’s Why.

If you sponsor a child, you’ve probably noticed some updates this fall. The most obvious one: Compassion has stopped sharing the full names of beneficiaries in our program. It’s part of our ongoing efforts to protect child privacy in a digital world.

Behind the Scenes of a Compassion Christmas Celebration

Giddy anticipation ripples through the crowd of children arriving for the Compassion Christmas celebration. I watch from the window of a barn-turned-church in Uganda, which sits uphill from a child development center where the kids are gathering. I’m recalling Christmas mornings as a child in Colorado, my siblings and I sitting on the staircase waiting for our parents to let us come down and open presents. The excitement I felt back then must be nothing compared with what these kids are feeling, knowing they will soon open presents and eat cake.

3 Ways to Write to the Child You Sponsor

Paralyzed by the thought of mailing anything? Tired of technology? There’s a writing method for you. Here are three easy ways to make writing the child you sponsor a breeze!

How Your Sponsorship Is Key During a Health Crisis

Here are three ways child sponsorship becomes more important than ever during a health crisis such as COVID-19.