Columbus, Ohio – Claudine Leary says that when she fled the 1994 genocide in her home country of Rwanda, “I depended on others for my survival.” Now this former refugee and U.S. citizen is helping other refugees not only survive but thrive in central Ohio. A United Methodist seminarian, Leary works for Community Refugee and Immigration Services, the Church World …
Situation Report: Iran/Pakistan Earthquake
April 16, 2013
Situation: At least six people in Pakistan and 40 people in Iran were killed following a major 7.8-magnitude earthquake today that hit a region near the Iran-Pakistan border. The epicenter of the quake was in southeastern Iran, in a sparsely-populated area of mountains and desert. Today’s event was the largest earthquake in Iran in four decades; an earlier quake last …
International Day for Street Children: Serbia
Matt Hackworth | April 12, 2013
It’s almost 1 a.m. and Alen Radosavijevic is hard at work. The problem is he’s only 12. Like many of Belgrade’s street children, Alen works a job to help provide for his family, who are among the hundreds of thousands of Roma systematically and directly discriminated against because of their heritage. Alen’s status as a Roma child doesn’t entitle him …
Following Up with the Lost Boys
Rev. Joseph Roberson |
On March 31, the CBS News show 60 Minutes focused an episode on the resettlement of the “Lost Boys of Sudan” to the U.S. The boys, all survivors of the civil war in Sudan, literally walked for years to reach the safety of the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. Beginning in 2001, resettlement in the United States became an option …
When It Comes to Food Aid, “Buying Local” Makes the Most Sense
Chris Herlinger | April 11, 2013
The heroic images of food shipments being lifted up onto cargo ships bound for Europe after World War II continue to warm the heart – and are certainly a proud part of CWS’s history. But times change. What worked well two or three generations ago isn’t efficient anymore. Most of the world now realizes cash support for buying food locally …
CWS and Immigration Advocates to Congress: Act Now on Reform
WASHINGTON, DC — CWS President and CEO the Rev. John McCullough called on God to “grant us the political and moral courage to truly love and embrace one another, to honor each other’s humanity,” yesterday at a national rally in Washington, D.C. in support of immigration reform. CWS supports immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship and that protects …
New Report Recommends Government, Donor Agencies Change Supports
April 10, 2013
More refugees than ever before are resettling in cities, even in the face of uncertainty over their ability to thrive in congested, competitive and often poor communities. To address the problem, global humanitarian and refugee agency CWS will, on April 17, launch a series of recommendations that point the way to new opportunities that assist refugees in urban communities. The …
Faith in Action
Angela Rupchock-Schafer | April 9, 2013
The famed cherry blossoms aren’t blooming quite yet. But that didn’t stop some 800 Christian advocates from meeting in Washington, D.C., for Ecumenical Advocacy Days. I was proud to be one of them. The energy and excitement for food justice was electrifying all weekend and being a part of that was a blessing. We were honored at EAD to listen …
CWS situation report: Pakistan displacement
April 8, 2013
Situation: The recent increase in fighting in the Bagh Maidan area of Tirah Valley in northern Pakistan, close to the border with Afghanistan,has resulted in large numbers of displaced communities. The displacement began late last month. The Pakistan governments disaster management authority, known by the acronym FDMA, reports that as of March 28, 5,400 families had been displaced, but the …
A Salute to a Dear Friend and Prophetic Leader
Rev. John L. McCullough |
Congratulations to our long-time colleague and friend Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who was just awarded the 2013 Templeton Prize for his contribution to “spiritual progress” in the world. He certainly deserves the recognition and the $1.7 million award that comes with it. Few people have been as comprehensive and consistent in their work and witness for the dignity and …