“You are welcome here.”
With these beautiful words from the families who Compassion serves, come with us on a journey as we step into the homes of children living in poverty. Whether it’s a corner of their family’s home or a simple hammock, these children’s rooms offer a precious glimpse into their daily lives.
While these families may have stories of loss and hardship, the children’s rooms are still places of learning, dreaming, laughter and hope.
22 Powerful Photos of Children’s Rooms Around the World
Brothers Marcos Alexandre, Marcos Winicius and Kauan share a room in Northeastern Brazil, though occasionally one of them sprawls out at night in a hammock instead.
Baby Sathinee takes a peaceful snooze in a hammock in her home in northern Thailand. Here, hammocks are common and comfy places to sleep.
Maindi and her family are part of the Rendille tribe in eastern Kenya. She lives in a traditional domed home built out of animal hide, sticks and dung. Workbook propped up on her knee, she completes her homework before the light fades.
With Compassion’s support, Maindi is able to go to school — the only child out of her five siblings to attend.
Isaac from Brazil loves to play with his toys, all rescued from a nearby landfill where his father once worked. His bed is a soft place to enjoy his cars and blocks.
Little Jasper was born without arms in an impoverished community in the Philippines. On his bed, he demonstrates how he can use his toes to take photos on his mother’s phone. He often says, “Don’t worry, mama, I can do this.”
When mother Tigist fell sick and could no longer work, she worried her daughter, Yeabsera, would end up on the streets of Ethiopia. How could she pay the rent? Not only did Compassion’s local church partner cover the costs, but they also provided them with this bed in the room they share.
“Their help gave me a reason to thank God every day, because I can see God’s help through people.” — Tigist
Ydania sweeps the floor of the bedroom she shares with her siblings in Cúcuta, Colombia. Her family fled the spiraling economic crisis in neighboring Venezuela. As migrants, they arrived with nothing but the clothes on their backs. In their new town, they’re grateful for a safe place to sleep, even if it’s a bit crowded.
In 2018, Benson’s home in Solai, Kenya, was engulfed by a wave of water from a collapsed dam. While he lost all of his school uniforms, shoes and books, his home withstood the wave. Benson gives thanks to God that his family is safe.
Ana reads one of her sponsor’s letters on the bed she shares with her older sister each night in Fortaleza, Brazil.
“When I read my sponsor’s letters, I feel so loved. She makes me feel so special.” — Ana
Jearvee’s family lives in an impoverished neighborhood in Manila, Philippines. The family of seven shares a two-room home, where the main living quarters double as a bedroom. Despite her family’s circumstances, Jearvee feels blessed when she looks at the community around her.
“We are happy all the time. I have everything that I need: my loving parents, my younger brothers and sister, my school and my church.” — Jearvee
Kalkidan proudly holds a photo of her sponsors in her new bedroom in Ethiopia. Before moving into her new home, the house she and her single mother lived in doubled as a communal kitchen, where neighbors cooked at all hours.
After seeing Kalkidan’s reality, her sponsors rented a safe, new home for the little family. Her smile says it all.
Sisters Yosaira and Ilsa learned how to pray at their Compassion center in the Dominican Republic. Now, they pray every morning and night. They sleep in a bed that’s elevated, ensuring it stays dry if the nearby river floods. Yosaira and Ilsa store their sponsors’ letters under their mattress.
In Bangladesh, Shakib shares this bedroom with his father and older brother. While it’s the perfect place to sleep, it’s also a great place to learn — one of Shakib’s favorite things to do.
Forgive draws a picture on her bed in Ghana. Orphaned at just a week old, the local church helped her grief-stricken grandmother support Forgive as she grew. Today, Forgive is healthy and thriving.
Just meters from the sea, Jonalyn watches over her sleeping baby in the Philippines. Their tiny home, built of light materials, is vulnerable to the ferocious typhoons that batter the region each year. But the small family finds hope in the local church.
“I’m worried every time, especially for my baby. I’m so happy that the church is here to help us.” — Jonalyn
Born with cerebral palsy in Ecuador, María José was once given a bleak prognosis by doctors. But with one-on-one attention from Compassion’s church partner, she has flourished, building her strength and learning new words. Today, doctors predict she will one day walk on her own.
Because of unemployment, young Yves’ parents couldn’t afford a meal every day. When he was registered into Compassion’s program in Burkina Faso, he was diagnosed with acute malnutrition. Through nutrition support, his health has since turned around. Yves is now a lively child, keeping his mother on her toes.
Sisters Yaretzi and Julieth, and their grandparents were forced out of their home by gang members in Honduras. The family had no other option but to build a makeshift wooden house near the city dump.
Despite their surroundings, the girls find hope in the Bible. One of their favorite places is the bed they share, where they read Bible stories with their grandmother.
“I want to become a teacher and share the Word of God with children.” — Julieth
Sammy works on his homework at the home he shares with his mother in northeast Kenya. “I love to do my homework in my room because it is a peaceful space and no one disturbs me here,” he says.
While Nadia’s oxygen tank feels large in her small bedroom in Indonesia, she’s grateful for the equipment. Medical care in her village in scarce, but Compassion’s program ensures she receives the support she needs for her heart condition.
A little nervous, Violet reads her sponsor’s letters at home in Uganda before she meets them for the first time. When she saw their car pull up, all nerves were forgotten as she flung herself into their arms.
“It was like we’d known each other ever since she was born and that we’d been apart for so long,” says her sponsor, Paul. “And I’ll never forget that moment.”
Elizabeth hugs her teddy in the home she shares with her grandparents in the Amazonas region in northern Peru. She describes the day she received the toy — at her first Compassion Christmas celebration — as “the happiest day of my life.”
While she was abandoned by her parents, Elizabeth is being raised in a home full of love — love from her grandparents, love from her sponsors and love from the local church.
Each of these children’s rooms hold stories of courage and hope. Let these photos remind you of this truth: even in dark circumstances, there’s always light to be found.