Stories to Connect You With Compassion & Grow Your Faith

This year’s Thanksgiving will look a little different. With the changes that COVID-19 has brought, Thanksgiving may not include a large family gathering. But I’m grateful that the pandemic has helped us learn how to celebrate with those we love, without having to be near them. This inspired my family to consider ways to use what we learned to also celebrate with our sponsored children.

Today, on World Children’s Day, while young people across the globe wait for COVID-19 relief, Compassion continues to support nearly 2.2 million children and youths — by equipping 8,000-plus church partners to meet immediate physical, spiritual and educational needs.

Is it actually possible to give thanks in ALL circumstances … even when those circumstances are 2020? Yep … and these grateful children who live in poverty prove it! Find out what these kids around the world are thankful for, despite the circumstances of poverty.

Rwanda is a stunning landlocked country found in East Africa. Known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” Rwanda boasts towering volcanos like Mount Karisimbi, where mountain gorillas live. Learn some interesting facts about Rwanda and the 99,430 Compassion-assisted children who live there.

When I felt the Holy Spirit’s promptings to sponsor a child through Compassion almost two years ago, something held me back. It wasn’t timing, finances or a need to do more research. It was a fear that I wouldn’t know how to interact well with a child, let alone a child halfway across the world. Although I was eager to exchange words of love and encouragement with someone living in poverty, I’d never closely related with children before.

Many in Grace’s community saw her disabilities as a curse and even suggested to take her life. But her mother would go to great lengths to ensure she was safe, loved and could live without limits.

Ecuador is home to a tropical coastline, Andean highlands and volcanoes, a portion of the Amazonian jungle and the breathtaking Galapagos Islands. Here are some interesting facts about Ecuador that will give you a peek into the culture and traditions of the country.

After her family was evicted from their home, 5-year-old Deneilis shared a two-bedroom home with 11 other people. Her family had to wait for their relatives to go to bed before they could pull out old mattresses and sleep on the living room floor.
Since the pandemic hit their island community in Colombia, jobs had become scarce. Her father looked for work every day but came home empty-handed all too often. Soon, hunger and stress took their toll on the family.

Haiti is found on the western third of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea. With miles of beautiful beaches, striking mountains, impressive architecture and resilient people, this country has much beauty to share. Here are some interesting facts about Haiti – home to over 120,000 Compassion-assisted children.

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.

Learn why Christmas is the most anticipated holiday of the year for 10 children around the world. Their beautiful answers will put a smile on your face!

Sri Lanka is a beautiful island nation off the southeast coast of India. Here are some interesting facts about Sri Lanka that will help you gain a deeper understanding of the culture and traditions in a country that is home to over 10,000 Compassion-assisted children.