An estimated 42-66 million children could fall into extreme poverty as a result of the crisis this year, adding to the estimated 386 million children already in extreme poverty in 2019.

At Tearfund, child development and protection runs through every cause we fight against and advocate for. This approach ensures children are known, loved and protected. Despite the injustice we witness and the overwhelming negative statistics, we refuse to accept that poverty is an inevitable part of our broken and hurting world. Rather than seeing poverty as something that’s too complex, or insurmountable, we focus on fighting it one child at a time. Therefore, Compassion International’s model of linking one child with one sponsor is a perfect fit with our child development goals.

Compassion International started in 1952 with 35 children orphaned by the Korean War. Everett Swanson, an evangelist from Chicago, was ministering to troops when he saw children dying in the streets. He made a promise to do something about it and today, Compassion International works in 25 countries and has more than two million children in its programme.

Why does Tearfund partner with Compassion International?

Children are transformed! They develop holistically: physically, socially, cognitively, and spiritually. They are equipped to avoid preventable disease. They engage in learning. They experience and express love. They are lifted from poverty and released from hopelessness. They are free to discover who they are in Christ and grow into all that Jesus has for them.

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Rather than seeing poverty as something that's too complex, we focus on fighting it one child at a time!

CHRIST-CENTRED, CHURCH-DRIVEN AND CHILD-FOCUSSED

THE CHURCH

Like Tearfund, Compassion believes that the local church is God’s hope for a hurting world. Compassion’s heart for the local church and children is evident in everything they do. It might be through praying with the 12 fundraising countries on a Zoom call or showing love to the more than 8,000 frontline churches, where children gather to learn about Jesus and have their basic needs met.

With deep roots in their communities, local churches are often one of the most reliable, stable and accessible institutions in countries where governance is weak, and infrastructure is lacking. They are well placed to understand the real plight of people and best able to make strategic decisions about the needs of their communities. By partnering with local churches, Compassion provides training and empowers local workers to identify and address each child’s specific circumstances.

Compassion’s approach to reaching the poorest through the local church is one of the reasons we have been partnering with them for 25 years. God makes it clear that all children are precious to him and should not be harmed. As Tearfund, we have a responsibility to take up the mandate of Jesus and care for children, especially those living in poverty. Compassion’s programme focusses on interventions that enable children to reach their full potential in a caring environment. This helps them to become self-supporting adults who can influence generational change in their communities.

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Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy - Proverbs 31: 8-9



 

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If only you knew: Owen’s story

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