Waardenburg Syndrome: Shakul & His Striking Blue Eyes
![Shakul – Feature Image An up-close photo of a Ugandan boy with blue eyes and a white stripe of skin down his forehead.](https://blog.compassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Shakul-Feature-Image-930x687.jpg)
Shakul’s unique beauty seems to have struck a chord, so we wanted to share his incredible story with you.
Continue Reading ›The Tear-Jerking End to Norah’s Search for Her Sponsors
![IMG_20210814_165559593_HDR Two women and a man stand closely together, smiling.](https://blog.compassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_20210814_165559593_HDR-rotated-930x697.jpg)
A graduate of Compassion’s program gets the surprise of her life when she meets the people who sponsored her as a child.
Continue Reading ›![Jeff-and-Bonnie](https://blog.compassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Jeff-and-Bonnie-400x300.jpg)
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.
![woman-brushing-a-girls-hair A mother brushes a daughter's hair. They are inside their home.](https://blog.compassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/woman-brushing-a-girls-hair-400x300.jpg)
Tough Questions: “What Don’t People Understand About Life in Poverty?”
In Uganda, Olive smiles as a neighbor invites her to a family member’s wedding. But secretly, her heart sinks. She doesn’t own clothes nice enough for the occasion. These days, food is more important than fashion. She hates that her absence will make her look rude. It’s too embarrassing to explain, though.
![mother-and-daughter-walking-down-a-dirt-road](https://blog.compassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/mother-and-daughter-walking-down-a-dirt-road-400x300.jpg)
From Hunger to Hope: A Brave Girl Named Norah
Norah’s mother, a hairdresser, and her father, a soldier in the Rwandan army, worked hard to provide for their daughter. But when war and genocide tore through Rwanda in 1994, it also ripped a hole straight through Norah’s heart.
![smiling-man-carrying-a-young-boy-on-his-shoulders Man carrying a young boy on his shoulders](https://blog.compassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/smiling-man-carrying-a-young-boy-on-his-shoulders-400x300.jpg)
Watch: A Compassion Storyteller’s 4 Favorite Videos
Ryan Johnson, Creative Manager for Global Marketing at Compassion, is an award-winning documentary director and humanitarian photographer who has worked in six continents and 40-plus countries, telling stories in some of the most remote and challenging environments on Earth.
Recently, we asked Ryan to choose a few favorites from films he’s worked on since joining Compassion in 2012. Watch his top picks and read why he chose each.
![children-dancing-in-a-dirt-field-surrounded-by-apartment-buildings Group of children dancing in a dirt field in a city.](https://blog.compassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/children-dancing-in-a-dirt-field-surrounded-by-apartment-buildings-400x300.jpg)
Facts About Uganda: The Pearl of Africa
Uganda is home to bustling cities, breathtaking national parks and unique wildlife. And amid all its natural beauty, you’ll find even more beautiful people and culture. Learn some fun facts about Uganda that will help you get to know this vibrant and diverse country where nearly 126,000 Compassion-assisted children live.
![Shakul – Feature Image An up-close photo of a Ugandan boy with blue eyes and a white stripe of skin down his forehead.](https://blog.compassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Shakul-Feature-Image-400x300.jpg)
Best of the Blog 2020: Your Favorite Stories of the Year
As you might expect during an incredibly challenging year, your favorite stories on the Compassion USA blog were inspirational ones. The most popular blog posts we shared during 2020 were those that showed the resiliency of the human spirit and the ability for God to redeem the most desperate situations. Here they are — your five favorite stories on the blog during 2020. May they inspire you all over again — or for the first time if you missed them before!
![Web_Version-CC-UG080500481-11-1911 A young boy wearing a red T-shirt holds a black and white goat. He is standing in front of a structure made of mud and wood.](https://blog.compassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Web_Version-CC-UG080500481-11-1911-400x300.jpg)
See How Lives Can Change When You Donate Livestock
In 9-year-old Derick’s village in eastern Uganda, fathers have passed on poverty to their children for generations. Joseph, Derick’s father, was not going to be any different. It took a gift in the form of livestock to break the cycle.
![Grace outside her home Grace outside her home in Uganda](https://blog.compassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/this-is-how-grace-lives-without-limits-featured-400x300.jpg)
This Is How Grace Lives Without Limits
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.
![ET Drought Food Insecurity Boy sitting in a dirt field while a man with oxen plows in the background](https://blog.compassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/boy-sitting-in-a-dirt-field-with-oxen-plowing-in-the-background-400x300.jpg)
How Does the Environment Affect Children in Poverty?
How do changes in the environment affect children and their families on the front lines of poverty? Here are two stories from Uganda that reflect the devastating impact that climate events can have on the well-being of our sponsored children, and the hope that can be provided by Compassion through the local church.
![Birthdays Around the World – DR 1 A group of children through confetti in the air, standing in front of a table with a birthday cake on it.](https://blog.compassion.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Birthdays-Around-the-World-DR-1-400x300.jpg)
11 Sweet Photos of Birthdays Around the World
A birthday is more than gifts. It’s an opportunity to show children that they are valued and loved — and children in poverty shouldn’t have to miss out. Each culture might have its own unique traditions surrounding birthdays, and our staff ensures children feel celebrated within that tradition. Enjoy these sweet photos of children celebrating their birthdays around the world!