It was the election heard around the world. On Dec. 27, 2007, when the results of Kenya's presidential elections were announced, violence, chaos and crisis erupted in this normally peaceful East African country. Thousands took to the streets to protest elections they believed were unfair. Houses were burned. Families were separated. People were killed.

While international world relief organizations mobilized to provide emergency assistance to the 250,000 Kenyans displaced by the violence, Mary Nyaga was desperately searching for one child — 9-year-old Rivaldo Mwemi.

Rivaldo had lived with his mom in Kibera, Africa's largest slum. As director of the Kibera Church of God Child Development Center, Mary knew the boy would be frightened. Even as rioters were burning her church to the ground, Mary's attention centered on Rivaldo and the other children enrolled at the Compassion-assisted center.

A Different Response

Mary's singular focus on Rivaldo and other Compassion children during a large-scale crisis is a classic example of how Compassion's crisis response differs from those of relief organizations. Whenever disaster strikes in any of the 24 countries where Compassion works, Compassion's response is not to the crisis. Instead, Compassion responds directly to the specific needs of children affected by the chaos.

This approach, made possible through our partnership with churches worldwide and informed by Compassion's holistic child development model, results in an emergency response that is locally administered, customized to a child's needs, and long-term.

"Compassion's long-term strategy is holistic," says Sidney Muisyo, Director of Compassion Kenya. "Though we also focus on disaster preparedness, the holistic approach of development ensures that interventions are long-term and deliver maximum impact. This is different from organizations that give a quick response without evaluating the impact on the child and the community. Through the individual child approach, Compassion has a direct link with the families and their communities."

How does focusing on children's long-term needs help to meet the immediate needs of children in crisis?

How is Compassion's response to a crisis customized?

How is Compassion's crisis response long-term?

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