Those of us at CWS lucky enough to have spent time with our colleagues in Pakistan and Afghanistan know that theirs is a very special part of the world. In the last decade, of course, since the events of 9/11, the region has taken on great geo-political significance. And if you look at the website of our Pakistan/Afghanistan program, you …
In Uganda, “360-Degree Program” Ensures Communities’ Resilience
Chris Herlinger/CWS |
Humanitarian groups talk a lot about collaboration. But a new program that CWS and three other organizations have launched in the Karamoja region of northeastern Uganda has the potential to make collaboration something more concrete and substantial than usual. The TOGETHER program has an overarching theme of building resilience among communities. More specifically, it hopes to improve livelihoods and access …
CWS’s Don Tatlock: Home in Texas When the Tornadoes Hit
CWS Central America and Caribbean Liaison Don Tatlock lives in Granbury, Texas. His work requires frequent travel to the region, but he was in Granbury on May 15 when as many as three tornados hit the town. “We heard the siren and the televised warnings,” he said. “My wife and I were home and took shelter in the bathroom. All …
CWS to Congress: Reform Food Aid to Feed More People
May 29, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC — The nearly $1.5 billion that the government provides each year for food aid helps stave off malnutrition, starvation, and even death for millions of people around the world who live in food insecure communities. But if new Congressional legislation– with a Senate amendment expected to come up for a vote next week– is approved, even more of …
Church co-sponsors make US resettlement easier, refugee testifies
May 28, 2013
When her long journey finally brought her and her children to safety in Louisville, Ky., this past February, Somali refugee Sahra Ali expected just one or two people to meet her flight – not two dozen supporters waving a welcome sign written in her native language. “It was so many people,” Ali recalled. “I was really happy when they came …
How Do You Respond?
Krista Connelly | May 25, 2013
When a natural disaster strikes such as Hurricane Sandy or most recently the Oklahoma tornado, how do you respond? There are those who go on social media such as Facebook and Twitter to express their thoughts and send out prayers. While there are others who sit patiently by the television and wait for an update from their local news broadcast. …
CWS, Churches Sending Emergency Supplies for Tornado Survivors
May 24, 2013
For CWS Great Plains Assistant Regional Director Rebekah Belase, this past week’s devastating tornados struck very close to home. Belase commutes to her office in Topeka, Kansas, from her home in Stillwater, Okla. Stillwater is about a 90-minute drive from Moore. It feels even closer – “I have quite a few friends from college who live in Moore and Norman,” …
From a Supporter, a Word of Help and Thanks
Chris Herlinger | May 23, 2013
It is nice to be thanked in public. But it is equally nice to be mentioned in a way that elicits helpful understanding. This is what happened when the Rev. Emily C. Heath, the pastor of the West Dover (Vermont) Congregational Church, penned a terrific piece for The Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-emily-c-heath/five-tips-for-ministry-af_b_3315619.html) on tips for clergy dealing with disasters like the …
CWS Commends Judiciary Committee for Advancing Immigration Bill
May 22, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC — In a statement released today, CWS commended the Senate Judiciary Committee for its vote to send a bipartisan immigration reform bill to the full Senate for consideration: “CWS commends Senator Patrick Leahy and his colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee for moving forward Senate Bill 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, for a …
CWS Emergency Appeal: 2013 U.S. Tornadoes
May 21, 2013
Appeal # 627-Y Initial CWS Appeal Goal: $55,000 Situation: Emergency responders are still in “search-and-rescue” mode, trying to find survivors of a devastating tornado that destroyed large areas of the Oklahoma City area on Monday (May 20). The community of Moore, Okla., was particularly hard-hit. It was still not clear how many people died in the devastation, with numbers fluctuating …