Blog

Jenny Boteler | October 1, 2024

In September, Jenny Boteler, a UCC Pastor at Union Congregational Church, joined CWS as a participant in the Hike for Hope in Yosemite National Park and shared reflections from the trip and the impact her long-standing partnership with CWS provides for communities around the world.  It was 50 years ago that I took my first steps with Church World Service. …

Melissa Reece | September 30, 2024

During September, which is also National Preparedness Month, CWS’ Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery (EPRR) team dedicated its time to equipping vulnerable communities in northern California with the knowledge and tools they need to survive a disaster. September is also a wildfire season, making the timing of these trainings ideal for those who participated. CWS’ EPRR Senior Program Officer, Melissa …

As the war in Ukraine continues, the needs of the people have not diminished, even as the international spotlight shifts and various NGOs have begun to depart from the region. Communities near the frontline have been shattered as families are forced to flee, leaving behind homes, livelihoods and a sense of security. Children are torn from schools, families are divided …

Andrew Fuys | September 27, 2024

By July 2024, climate scientists were already projecting that this calendar year will end as the hottest one on record and have begun tracking the potential impacts of continued warming on critical climate system tipping points. Human-driven climate change continues to disproportionately impact poor, marginalized and excluded households and communities, both in the United States and globally. In many communities …

September 20, 2024

*Trigger Warning: the following text contains testimonies about domestic violence and abuse towards women.* 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 are written by two program participants whose names and identities have remained …