Like us, you know that refugees are ordinary people who have been forced to leave their homes behind in search of safety. But with misinformation on the rise, how can you share the facts with your family, friends and loved ones? Here is a conversation guide to answer any questions your community may have about refugees and other newcomers. …
World Refugee Day: Books and Film Highlighting the Refugee Experience
This World Refugee Day, we honor the courage, resilience and humanity of people forced to flee their homes by uplifting the stories that reflect their lived experiences. From memoirs to films, these powerful works offer intimate, eye-opening perspectives on displacement, identity and the search for safety. Books Highlighting the Refugee Experience: Those We Throw Away Are Diamonds by Mondiant Dogon …
Finding Hope After Loss: One Ukrainian Woman’s Journey to Safety and Healing in Moldova
May 7, 2025
*Trigger Warning: This story contains descriptions of war, loss, trauma and death that may be distressing for some readers. The Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims, known as Memoria, is a CWS local partner in Moldova which serves Ukrainian refugees and Moldovan gender-based violence survivors to access life-saving medical and psychosocial support. The following is written by a program participant whose …
From Survival to Innovation: 10 Incredible Contributions Made by Refugees
May 6, 2025
It’s a fact: Refugees around the world have made innumerable contributions to the communities that welcome them. When individuals seeking safety arrive in their new homes, they bring their skills, experience and knowledge with them. Across decades and borders, these contributions have led to many of the daily But what if history had played out differently? What if, instead of …
Life After Arrival: Why Unaccompanied Children Still Need Protection
April 17, 2025
Every year, tens of thousands of unaccompanied children seek safety in the United States, often after enduring dangerous journeys. They hope for healing and a safe childhood here, but there are many challenges that stand in the way. During National Child Abuse Prevention Month and beyond, CWS is committed to ensuring these children have the care, protection and advocacy they …
Rooted in Resilience: How Communities Are Rising to Meet the Climate Crisis
April 15, 2025
This Earth Day, we’re highlighting the stories of everyday people around the world who are turning the tides against climate change. From drought-stricken Kenya to flood-prone Indonesia, communities are embracing climate-smart farming, disaster preparedness and women-led leadership to build a more resilient, hopeful future. Millions of people around the world are already living in areas affected by climate change. Environmental …
Breaking the Cycle: Supporting Ukrainian Roma Communities
April 4, 2025
CWS is committed to breaking the cycle of discrimination and exclusion faced by Roma communities, particularly in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which displaced nearly 100,000 Roma Ukrainians. Through partnerships with organizations like the Roma National Center in Moldova, CWS provides essential aid to help Roma refugees and host communities achieve stability and inclusion. For centuries, the Roma …
Myanmar Earthquake: The Urgent Need for Aid and the Role of CWS
April 2, 2025
Following the devastating earthquakes in Myanmar and Thailand, which have left thousands dead and displaced millions, international aid has fallen short—especially as U.S. funding cuts hinder relief efforts. In response, CWS is working with local partners to provide emergency assistance, ensuring that affected communities receive critical aid despite global funding shortfalls. The Urgent Need for Humanitarian Aid in Myanmar On …
Faith in Action: How Religious Communities Have Historically United to Welcome Refugees
April 1, 2025
Throughout U.S. history, faith communities have been at the forefront of welcoming refugees. Across religious traditions, people of faith have worked together to respond to humanitarian crises, guided by shared values of compassion, justice and hospitality. Here are seven powerful examples of interfaith collaboration in welcoming refugees to the United States. Welcoming Refugees After World War II (1940s-1950s) In the …
Beyond the Welcome Mat: The Cost of Real Inclusion
Stacey Clack | March 28, 2025
I was out for a walk yesterday and passed a house with a large “Welcome” sign on the front porch. I stood still, asking myself: I wonder if that welcome is meant for everyone? Or just for some? In America, we love the idea of welcome. We brand it, display it and post it everywhere. But who do we really …