How Compassion Is Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic

Updated on July 9, 2020, at 12:00p.m. ET

Our hearts break with the knowledge that some persons in the global Compassion family have succumbed to COVID-19. This pandemic has brought death to the doors of our frontline and supporting church partners, ministry partners, volunteers, and even our children and their loved ones. Please continue to pray for those who are impacted directly by this pandemic. Medical professionals predict the worst may be yet to come for the developing world, which is far more underprepared for testing and caring for COVID-19 patients than we have been in more developed nations. This means tracking the full impact on our ministry, the children and their families will be increasingly difficult in the weeks and months to come. We are doing our best to keep you informed of the effect this crisis is having on our ministry but always while respecting the privacy of those who serve alongside us. Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

All of the countries where we work are striving to slow the spread of the coronavirus through restrictions on public gatherings or quarantines. Below, you can find the most up-to-date reports from those countries, and how the new guidelines are affecting Compassion programming. Please continue to check back to this page for further updates.

Africa

Asia

Central America & the Caribbean

South America

Around the world, Compassion staff is working hard to provide support to children and families wherever possible. While many child development centers are temporarily closed to group activities, that does not mean all programmatic activities and expenses have stopped. Your monthly support is still vital in this season. In some cases, partner church staff members are visiting homes to check on the welfare of children and their families. They may be delivering medical supplies, hygiene kits, extra food, water and other resources to help during this time of crisis. For more information, click here to see Frequently Asked Questions.

PROTECTING AND EDUCATING COMPASSION-ASSISTED CHILDREN

We are grateful to report that the staff at Compassion centers around the globe regularly teaches children about hygiene and disease prevention — especially hand-washing! As widely reported in the news, this is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of coronaviruses and COVID-19.

Please be assured that Compassion staff, both at the Global Ministry Center and around the world, is closely monitoring developments. Our top priority is preventing the transmission of the coronavirus among the children we serve. Because of that, we have suspended nearly all international travel in an effort to do everything we can to limit the additional spread of the virus and reduce strain on the already-taxed medical systems in the countries we serve.

PROTECTING OUR SPONSORS, SUPPORTERS AND ARTISTS

We are committed to doing all that we can to prevent the transmission of the new coronavirus among sponsors, supporters and artists who advocate on behalf of Compassion. Therefore, we are closely following national guidelines pertaining to large group events in the United States. Dozens of events have been canceled. This will result in thousands of children waiting longer for a sponsor — nevertheless, our staff and church partners are determined to continue caring for children however possible during this crisis.

We understand the uncertainty you may be experiencing and know that this global pandemic has caused big changes in everyday life, like school closures, work-from-home policies and extended breaks. We know this means most of you are spending a lot of time together at home and you might need some things to do, which is why we have put together some fun and faith-filled activities to inspire meaningful, God-centered family time. Please click here to find resources for your family.

A CALL TO PRAYER

Viruses of this magnitude can affect all of us, and we ask that you pray with us for the children, families, churches, employees and sponsors already affected by this outbreak. Please join us in praying for:

• Protection from the virus for all children registered with Compassion and their families.
• Health and safety for all of our staff in the international and national offices, as well as staff and volunteers at Compassion child development centers.
• Children longing for a sponsor to be encouraged, loved and cared for during this long wait.
• Sponsors and their families who have been impacted by the virus.

God bless you for your care and concern for his children living in extreme poverty. And thank you for keeping them in your prayers.