Posts by worldrelief
Sobering New Report Reveals COVID-19’s Devastating Impact on the World’s Poor
March 15, 2022
CONTACT:
Audrey Garden
audrey.garden@pinkston.co
571-405-1606
BALTIMORE – Today, World Relief published a new report revealing the immense impact of COVID-19 on the world’s poor. This report is one of the most comprehensive of its kind, corresponding to the two-year anniversary of when the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a global pandemic.
“The pandemic has grown into one of the greatest humanitarian issues in recorded history, with the World Bank showing that in 2020 alone, 97 million more people were pushed into poverty as a result of COVID-19,” said Matilda Matitha, World Relief Malawi country director.
There is virtually no aspect of livelihood and employment that COVID-19 has not interfered with. The pandemic has disrupted every area of the healthcare system worldwide and has had a particularly devastating impact on women and children.
“Women have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19,” said Lanre Williams-Ayedun, senior vice president of international programs. “Job losses, increased pressures of care and domestic work, reduced hours and strains on both physical and mental health have contributed to the disproportionate socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 for women globally. Gender-based violence has also intensified since the pandemic began.”
An estimated three to four years of progress in ending extreme poverty has been lost because of COVID-19. This report expands upon the many complex factors which led to that regression.
“Our end goal with this report is not simply education. It’s a push toward compassionate, thoughtful action that recognizes we are part of a global community. We are more than just U.S. citizens — we are citizens of the world, and right now, our world needs open hands and open hearts,” said Myal Greene, president and CEO of World Relief.
The report invites Christians to pray and take action. It also encourages the U.S. government and other advocates to engage in a consistent, thoughtful, and compassionate response to reverse the devastating effects of COVID-19 on those in poverty.
“Our prayer is that this report would incline the hearts of readers to more closely come alongside the vulnerable in their time of such great need,” said Jenny Yang, senior vice president of advocacy and policy at World Relief.
To view a recording of World Relief’s press conference on the report, visit: https://bit.ly/3tWd6SR.
To read the full report from World Relief, visit https://worldrelief.org/covid-report.
To download a PDF version of this release, click here.
About World Relief
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest problems – disasters, extreme poverty, violence, oppression, and mass displacement. For over 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and community leaders in the U.S. and abroad to bring hope, healing and transformation to the most vulnerable.
Learn more at worldrelief.org.
COVID-19 Impact on the World’s Poor
Over the past two years, COVID-19 has grown into one of the greatest humanitarian issues in recorded history. In this report, we lay out the devastating effects economically, socially, emotionally and physically, and how we can respond with compassionate, thoughtful action.
Overview
From 1990 until 2015 we witnessed a consistent downward trend of global poverty rates, from nearly 36% to just 10% of people at the extreme poverty level living on just $1.90 a day. COVID-19 changed everything, and today 97 million more people were pushed into poverty as a result of COVID-19. Globally, “three to four years of progress toward ending extreme poverty are estimated to have been lost.”
Food Insecurity and Livelihoods
Expectations from the start of the pandemic showed that the number of people facing acute food insecurity would nearly double to 265 million by the end of 2020. But forecasting today predicts that acute food insecurity is likely to deteriorate even further in 20 countries of West Africa alone. Young children globally are bearing the brunt of the devastation, with 50 million suffering from wasting (low weight-for-height). There is virtually no aspect of livelihood and employment that COVID-19 has not interfered with.
Healthcare
Throughout Africa, the pandemic has disrupted critical health services and undermined years of progress fighting other deadly diseases, including HIV, TB and malaria. And COVID-19 vaccine distribution, education and availability have been a problem. Poorer nations rejected more than 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in one month alone because of insufficient storage facilities, vaccine hesitancy and overburdened healthcare systems.
Women & Children
The devastating impact of COVID-19 on women and children cannot be overstated. Women typically earn less, have less access to social protections and make up most single-parent households. Along with rising rates of poverty come other major concerns, one of which is the “shadow pandemic”— violence against women. The number of children affected by COVID-19-associated orphanhood and caregiver death is estimated to have increased by 90% in just six months. Globally, schoolchildren have lost over 1.8 trillion hours of in-person learning, and only 1 in 10 students in the poorest countries have internet access, making remote learning inaccessible.
World Relief Responds
World Relief has been responding since the early days of the pandemic, launching an online information and support platform, providing community mobilization about COVID-19, delivering vaccinations and providing livelihood support, child protection and health services.
From Ukraine to the United States: Bohdan’s Story
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, plunging the nation into violent conflict. This act of war highlights how violence places innocent lives in danger, and we continue to pray for all those affected. In the last 18 years, World Relief has resettled over 13,000 refugees from Ukraine. Many, like Bohdan Borodin, have joined our staff, and we serve together daily.
Bohdan came to the U.S. with his family in 2019 through the Lautenberg program and now works as an Employment Specialist at World Relief Upstate. Today, Bohdan offers his perspective on life in Ukraine, the transition to the United States after suffering from religious persecution and hope for a better life for his family.
We are grateful to Bohdan for sharing his story today.
I love my country. Before I came to the U.S., life in the Ukraine wasn’t all bad. Ukraine is a good country, actually. It’s beautiful with so many different landscapes: from flatlands to mountains and lakes.
I miss the community and routines of daily life, including family dinners every Sunday. It was a big event, all of us coming together and talking with one another over a meal. I also received a good education in Ukraine, earning a Master’s Degree in Thermal Engineering.
But while it sounds like a degree that can secure a good job, it was not so easy to provide for basic needs for my family or plan well for our future.
In 1991 Ukraine was liberated from the USSR and established as a democratic government. Since then, a lot of good changes have happened, but the economy has remained challenging: the poor get poorer and the rich get richer.
Our culture is also still sprinkled with communism-bias in every city and village. When Ukraine was part of the USSR, Khrushchev, the First Secretary of the Communist Party from 1953-1964, announced on TV that he would try to kill the last Christian to destroy the faith of all Christians. Thankfully, this threat never became a reality. Instead, persecution now is much more subtle, with undertones of dislike and prejudice.
For example, as a student, if you have a teacher who remembers the former Soviet way of life and has upheld those beliefs, he or she may give you bad grades just to show their disapproval of Christianity.
It is for that reason that my wife, Inna, and I decided to apply for refugee status and come to the U.S. for a better way of life.
It took about three years from the start of the application process to the point that we resettled in South Carolina. When we were finally approved to come to the U.S., we were excited, but I also knew that entering a different culture and language would be difficult. In fact, our challenges first began before we ever left Ukraine.
We were waiting at the airport standing outside in the middle of winter with our two-year-old daughter. We made it from Ukraine all the way to New York. But then our flight from New York to Greenville was delayed twice and eventually canceled. We were exhausted!
We finally arrived in South Carolina with only a couple hundred dollars in our pockets since we had no property to sell in Ukraine. Also, my wife does not speak English, which was an additional challenge for her. And shortly after we arrived, my mother-in-law came to live with us. All of this change created a very stressful time!
I had studied English back in Ukraine, which gave me a huge advantage compared to other Ukrainians with no English. While I wanted to remain as self-sufficient as possible, we still had a lot of needs as we navigated setting up our life in a new country.
Thankfully, when I did need help and guidance, World Relief workers stepped in to help with things like filling out papers and documents, securing a place to live and getting a job so I could provide for my family.
When World Relief saw how good my English was, they offered me a job working as an Employment Specialist. At first, I was unsure if this would be a good fit because my previous experience was working in technical fields, but then I thought this might be a good opportunity for me to learn something new.
I like engaging my brain and helping others, and working at World Relief lets me do both! Working at World Relief has also helped me gain more global awareness about refugees coming from countries who have even greater challenges to overcome than I have. I am grateful for that.
Most of my family still lives in Ukraine. Recently, we were able to visit, and it was a good time for my mom to give a hug to her grandkids and meet my eight-month-old son in person, instead of over the phone.
Since most of my relatives are still over there, the recent events between Russia against Ukraine have been frustrating and upsetting.
I would ask Russian people not to believe in Putin’s lie to his nation. I also believe that there are many Russians who don’t want this war either. My hope is that they would continue coming out on the streets, sharing their opinions through protests.
I also hope the American government will find or create a way to bring immediate family members from Ukraine to the U.S. Despite this ongoing tragedy in my home country, I am grateful to be in America and give my kids the opportunity to live the American dream. I want to give them the best life that I can – to receive a good education, become self-sufficient and achieve success in this life.
World Relief is providing life-sustaining relief through our network of partners on the ground in Western Ukraine, Slovakia and Romania. Your gift today will provide things like food, temporary shelter, blankets, hygiene items, medicine and other essential items to those displaced by the war. Whether we’re responding to war in Ukraine, drought in Kenya or flooding in South Sudan, our faith compels us to respond.
Bohdan Borodin grew up in Ukraine, and resettled in the U.S. in 2019. He has a wife and two children. Together, they live in South Carolina where he works as an Employment Specialist at World Relief Upstate
8 Things You Need To Know About the Ukrainian Refugee Crisis
A full-scale invasion of Ukraine is underway. More than 14 million Ukrainian women, men and children have been forced to flee their homes, nearly 6.8 million of whom have fled to other countries. Together, we can respond.Â
World Relief is currently working with partners on the ground in Romania, Slovakia, Poland, Moldova and Western Ukraine to provide lodging, medical assistance, food and other basic necessities to those who have fled. As the situation continues to unfold, we are committed to keeping you updated and informed. Read on to learn more about what’s happening in Ukraine, the growing refugee crisis and what you can do to help.
Updated on June 1, 2022
1. What’s going on in Ukraine and why are people fleeing?
Russian-Ukrainian tension has existed since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, when the then largest country in the world suddenly collapsed into 15 smaller European nations, including Ukraine. At the time, Vladimir Putin, now president of Russia, called the collapse ​​the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century.” Since the fall, Putin has desired to reclaim the lost territory, which he sees as “a single whole.”
Today, threatened by the expansion of Western influence and Ukraine’s desire to join NATO — The North Atlantic Treaty Organization — Russia feels a greater need and urgency than ever to exert and protect its influence in the region. The last month saw a huge troop buildup along Ukrainian borders, and on Thursday, February 24th, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of the nation. Civilian targets are not being spared, as indiscriminate bombing has damaged residential buildings, hospitals, schools and crucial infrastrcuture that supplies heat, water and electricity to citizens.
As of June 1st, nearly 6.8 million refugees have fled across neighboring borders. This number is estimated to continue growing during the coming weeks and months.
2. Where are people going? What’s happening at the borders?
Most Ukrainians are fleeing for their closest border with neighboring European countries. The sudden wave of people gathering at border crossings has created large humanitarian needs. These locations are in urgent need of basic necessities including water, food, heat and shelter as the wait at the border for processing can take three to four days. As of June 1st, Poland has been the primary recipient of refugees, with over 3.5 million refugees crossing. Other countries that are seeing large numbers* of refugees are:
- Romania 972,203
- Russia 945,007
- Hungary 654,664
- Moldova 473,690
- Slovakia 446,755
- Belarus 27,308
Additionally, more than 7 million Ukrainians remain displaced inside Ukraine.
*These numbers reflect reports as of June 1st, 2022.
3. Who is fleeing?
Tragically, it is mostly women and children who are crossing the borders alone. Men between the ages of 18-60 have been asked by Ukrainian President Zelensky to stay behind to join the defense forces. This means women and children are leaving home without their husbands, fathers and brothers. This is also resulting in grave concerns about security and protection as many young women and children without adult guardians are crossing unaccompanied without money or visas, making them extremely susceptible to sexual violence, exploitation and trafficking. UNICEF, IOM and others are mobilizing protection units to be spread along the border crossings.
4. There has been talk of discrimination at the border. What’s going on there?
There is a large concern about third-country nationals — citizens of other countries who were in Ukraine at the time war began. Many were students studying in Ukraine from Africa. Initial reports indicated that many of these individuals were not being permitted to cross the border out of Ukraine to Poland with others, and were actually barricaded for a time in shelters without basic expected facilities. Furthermore, many others without documentation (passports, etc.) were simply refused shelter and instead temporarily detained. After swift international media concern, this problem seems to have been resolved and officials are now allowing everyone to enter Poland regardless of ethnicity, refugee status or documentation.
5. Are there any policies in place in the E.U. and/or U.S. that could help protect Ukrainian Refugees?
Poland has passed a Parliamentary Act granting temporary residence rights and assistance to refugees coming from Ukraine, permitting people to work, attend school and live in the country.
In terms of U.S. policies, the Biden administration has granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Ukrainians who are already in the U.S., allowing those whose temporary visa may be about to expire or who may have overstayed a temporary visa to stay lawfully in the U.S. and be authorized to work to support themselves, rather than being required to return to Ukraine at a time when doing so would be incredibly dangerous. We’re thankful for this action.
In March, the White House announced that it would resettle up to 100,000 Ukrainians to the U.S. and provide more than $1 billion in humanitarian aide to those affected by the crisis. In April, the administration also announced a new, streamlined process to welcome Ukrainians called “Uniting for Ukraine.” Through the program, U.S. based individuals, churches and organizations can apply to sponsor Ukrainian citizens displaced by Russia’s aggression during a temporary, 2-year stay in the U.S.
The Biden administration and Congress should continue to focus on rebuilding the U.S. refugee resettlement program and our asylum system so that Ukrainians and others who have fled their homes with credible fear of persecution can find refuge in the U.S. going forward.
6. Will Ukrainian refugees come to the U.S?
The Biden administration announced in March that it would resettle up to 100,000 Ukrainians to the U.S.
Historically, a significant number of Ukrainians have come to the United States, including many admitted through the U.S. refugee resettlement program through a specific provision known as the Lautenberg Amendment, which offers resettlement to particular religious minorities from the Former Soviet Union.
World Relief has resettled over 13,000 refugees from Ukraine over the past 18 years; in fact, the 7,300 Ukrainians whom World Relief has resettled just in the past decade represent nearly 40 percent of all Ukrainian refugees resettled to the U.S. during that time frame. Our hearts and prayers are with the many Ukranians we’ve walked alongside— including many who have joined our staff in the United States — who are originally from Ukraine and who, are now deeply concerned for loved ones still within the country.
More information for Ukrainians in the United States is here.
7. What is World Relief doing to help Ukrainians?
World Relief is currently working with partners on the ground in Romania, Slovakia, Poland, Moldova and Western Ukraine to provide lodging, medical assistance, food and other basic necessities to those who have fled. You can listen to an update from one of our partners here.
We are also continuing to resettle Ukrainian refugees through the Lautenberg program whenever we have the opportunity and are providing assistance to those already in the U.S. who are desperately seeking help for their families. The situation is changing rapidly, and so are the ways in which we will be called to respond.
In all things, we are constantly lifting those in need up in prayer — whether for peace in Ukraine or relief from disasters around the world.
8. How can I help?
PRAY: As in all things, we first turn to prayer. Pray for peace in Ukraine, for wisdom and courage for the global leaders involved, and for faith and comfort for the families suffering in the midst of this conflict right now.
ADVOCATE: You can urge the Biden administration to continue providing emergency humanitarian funding to meet the immediate needs of those who are displaced, as well as vulnerable Ukrainians who remain in Ukraine, including by partnering with local organizations in Ukraine and neighboring countries. You can also encourage countries of refuge to continue to provide protection for displaced Ukrainians by processing and providing legal protections for refugees and other displaced persons.
GIVE: You can offer financial support at this crucial time by giving to World Relief’s Disaster Response fund, mobilizing our partners, churches and staff to respond to the critical needs of the most vulnerable needlessly suffering in Ukraine and around the world.
7 Ways We’re Breaking the Bias
At World Relief, we imagine a gender-equal world — a world where women are no longer disproportionately affected by global pandemics, and child marriage is no longer an answer to economic hardship; a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination; a world where girls have equal access to education and women’s leadership, experience and expertise are valued across all sectors of society.
That’s why today, on International Women’s Day, we commit to #BreakTheBias.
We affirm our belief in full equality and inclusion of women at all levels and are working to achieve our vision of a gender-equal world — in homes, schools, organizational and community leadership. Here are just seven of the ways we are #breakingthebias at World Relief!
1. In our International Programs, we’re addressing gender inequality at the root
When a community believes men are superior to women, women are not empowered to make decisions at the household or community level, putting them at a social and economic disadvantage. Women’s agency, dignity, opportunity and empowerment come not just from technical programs, but from a deep, communal understanding that men and women, boys and girls are created equal in the image of God.
At World Relief, this truth is the bedrock of all our international programs. That’s why, the first stage of so many of our programs starts with addressing harmful beliefs about women and laying a biblical foundation for women’s equality.
As the truth of biblical equality takes root in more people’s hearts and minds, more women are empowered to rise up within their communities and lead within our programs. And when women are able to take on leadership in areas like health and nutrition, savings, agriculture and church empowerment, holistic transformation begins.
2. Increasing access to education and employment for refugee women in Memphis
Through the Connect English Language Center, World Relief Memphis’ Gateway program is designed for refugee women who have suffered an interrupted or incomplete education due to violence or lack of opportunities. Many of these women may face barriers such as trauma or pre-literacy. Gateway welcomes these women to a warm and informal classroom setting where they develop confidence in the basics of the English language. Gateway helps women learn how to introduce themselves and share information confidently as they take steps towards integrating into their new American community.
3. Facilitating gender equality training among International Programs staff
At World Relief, we believe God’s word can’t be powerful through us until it is powerful within us. That’s why, in 2020, we rolled out a gender equality training called Women and Men Leading Together amongst our international staff. The curriculum lays a biblical foundation for gender equality, addresses patriarchal cultures and invites staff to reflect on how they want to act as change agents in their families, communities and churches.
As of 2021, a large percentage country staff have walked through gender Bible studies to learn more about God’s view of equality. Moving forward, each country office will reflect annually on their progress towards gender equality through a gender scorecard which assesses offices on achievement towards five priority areas: theological foundation; gender-sensitive program design; staffing and leadership; dedicated gender-mainstreaming strategic resources; and policies and procedures.
Two country offices have also undergone a gender equality and inclusion self-assessment (GEISA) aimed to support organizational transformation on gender equality and inclusion. And in 2021, World Relief rolled-out gender trainings to equip country office staff with necessary skills to mainstream gender in programming.
4. Building confidence in girls through mentorship
With the crucial support of local churches and community members, World Relief has formed girls clubs in communities around the world. These weekly gatherings for girls between ages 10-18 seek to enhance girls’ self-esteem, encourage education and empower personal decision-making.
During the clubs’ weekly meetings, girls explore their rights and learn new skills through stories, games, role-plays and songs. With guidance from mentors — women from within the community — clubs foster an atmosphere where girls can excel as they feel more empowered, more knowledgeable and more confident.
5. Fostering community for refugee women in Sacramento
World Relief Sacramento’s Refugee Integration Groups come alongside isolated, often pre-literate Afghan women to help them build the skills they need to achieve independence. Each week, women gather to practice their English and learn about topics such as navigating the healthcare system, coping with culture shock and how to use a car seat. World Relief Sacramento also partners with local professionals to present on topic relevant to women’s needs such as parenting, domestic violence and health. All presentations are translated into the women’s native languages and provide a springboard for group discussion.
6. Equipping youth to address gender-based violence in Malawi
Through SCOPE-HIV, World Relief is implementing IMPower — a curriculum that addresses the unique challenges boys and girls face in combating gender-based violence. Girls learn about boundary setting, diffusion tactics, verbal assertiveness, negotiation and physical self-defense skills.
Boys learn to treat women and girls respectfully, countering harmful masculine norms and helping to prevent sexual and gender-based violence. The curriculum stresses that boys possess the ability and desire to treat women respectfully, but often condone and commit acts of sexual violence in response to social and community pressures. Rather than seeking to instill a new sense of morality, the program reminds boys of existing morals and values and empowers them to build the confidence and skills to act on these morals every day.
This two-pronged approach ensures girls have the tools they need to defend themselves, while sowing the seeds of lasting change by addressing harmful societal norms at the root.
7. Elevating Women through Leadership Opportunities
Across much of our programming in Sub-Saharan Africa, where culture strongly dictates that leadership roles be reserved for men, we are working to ensure female leaders are raised up in their communities.
By electing women into Savings and Agricultural Group Presidential and Vice Presidential positions, and teaching joint decision-making around household finances, we are reshaping the ways women are viewed in their communities. What’s more, we are mirroring this practice in international leadership, where three new female Country Directors have been hired in the last 18 months.
Every day, we have the privilege of watching the radical concept of Imago Dei transform broken relationships and end violence and oppression in so many of the communities where we work. A generation of young girls is seeing a new way of existing, encountering role models and gaining a vision for what their lives could mean.
Gender equality is a matter of both justice and stewardship, and we will continue striving toward a gender-equal world in everything we do. While we recognize that we still have progress to make, we commit to this journey and commit to #breakthebias, not just on IWD but every day.
Partnering With Women Through Health Education: Q&A with Devina Shah
“One transformed woman is the start point for the change to other women of this community.” – Rehema Mohammed
Reproductive health is often viewed as a taboo topic in many communities across the globe. And yet, working with key influencers within a community can enhance a woman’s understanding of reproductive health and can lead to flourishing communities.
World Relief is partnering with communities to contribute to the reduction of maternal and child mortality through the SCOPE project. Today, Devina Shah, Senior Technical Advisor, shares more about the project and how it’s enabling World Relief to go further, connecting more women and children to quality health care.
As we look forward to International Women’s Day on March 8th and Women’s History Month, we’re committed to partnering with women through health education and leadership development and creating lasting change for generations to come.
Can you start by telling us a bit about your background and why you are passionate about this project?
I have been interested in healthcare from a young age. I was born and raised in Kenya where access to medical care can be limited. I was 14 when my dad passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack. Due to a lack of ambulatory care, we couldn’t get him to the hospital in time. That early formative experience was foundational to my understanding of health inequities and accessibility to medical care — I began to understand that access to health care (a basic human right) was highly dependent on geography and socio-economic status. I wanted to work to change that.
After my family moved to the U.S., I went to college and studied Biology with the dream of going to medical school. Along the way, I learned about public health and decided to get my Master’s in Public Health instead. I really became enthralled in the work. After about a decade of working on global maternal-child public health programs in a variety of settings, I went back to school to get a degree in nursing. I spent time on the Labor & Delivery floor, assisting midwives and OB-GYNs with deliveries, before coming back to global public health. I now work as a birth doula a few times a year, supporting women with hospital-based births and providing prenatal and postpartum support.
For me, the SCOPE project really brings together all of my passions from both clinical and public health settings to ensuring women and children in remote parts of the world have equitable access to quality health services.
That’s amazing. So, what is SCOPE and why is it so important?
SCOPE stands for Strengthening Community Health Outcomes through Positive Engagement. It’s a five-year project funded through USAID. In Haiti, Kenya, Malawi and South Sudan, 170,000 maternal and child deaths occur annually. The SCOPE project is addressing this problem by contributing to the reduction of preventable maternal and child deaths and illnesses.
SCOPE is filling an important need because community health is a critical part of the primary care continuum to address people’s health needs. Extending preventive, promotive and curative health services into communities is critical to ensuring access to high-quality primary care.
How exactly is the SCOPE project utilizing World Relief’s existing model of community-based outreach?
Much of World Relief’s work is done in partnership with local faith and community leaders. Through the SCOPE project, we work through community groups such as Care Groups, Men’s Groups and Couple’s Groups to bring people together to disseminate evidence-based information around reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health.
We also train faith leaders who are influential actors within their respective communities to pass on the same messages. Lastly, we strengthen the capacity of community health workers, like Rehema, on effective counseling and provision of services within their respective communities.
Rehema is a SCOPE-supported Community Health Worker and Care Group volunteer in Kajiado, Kenya. Reproductive health and family planning have long been taboo topics in her community. But, as a young mother who holds a diploma in community and social development, Rehema has become a trusted voice in her community. After receiving training from World Relief’s SCOPE project, Rehema began mobilizing women to share key lessons on maternal and child health. Now, these women are further mobilizing other women in their neighborhood to share what they’ve learned.
This project launched in 2019. Did COVID-19 affect any of our planned programs?
Yes. COVID-19 did delay some of our activities. But we were able to pivot and find alternative ways to implement our planned programs by hosting meetings outdoors, limiting training class sizes, ensuring physical distancing, etc. We were also easily able to incorporate COVID-19 preventative messages into our existing programs, and thereby contribute towards flattening the pandemic curve in the geographic areas where we work. Because World Relief is a community-based organization, which hires local staff on the ground, we could reach people in remote hard-to-reach areas with key messages around COVID prevention.
If you could only share one thing about this project to get people excited, what would it be?
As a mom, I always remind myself of the individual woman giving birth in her village. As I nurse my own 16-month old baby, I think of the mama who is nursing her infant. I think of the family being worried that their child is sick or not growing well. Or of the couple who is wondering how to prevent the next pregnancy so they can focus on their current family. These realities and worries are not unique to families in the U.S. These worries are universal.
World Relief is doing amazing community-health work, going into communities that other organizations aren’t reaching. This type of last-mile, grassroots work is hard. Community-based work in rural, hard-to-reach communities requires ingenuity, locally-led solutions and teams that persevere and work hard in circumstances and terrain that are often challenging. By establishing long-term partnerships with local faith communities and local leaders, World Relief is able to engender real lasting change for mothers and their children. We invite you to come alongside us to learn more about what SCOPE is doing, and how you can partner with us!
Devina Shah, MPH, RN is a Senior Technical Advisor at World Relief serving as the technical lead on a four-country USAID-funded RMNCH project. With a focus on family planning and maternal and child health programs, Devina’s 15-year career in global health has included a variety of settings both international and U.S. Devina graduated with MPH from Boston University School Public Health, B.S. in Biology from the University of Florida, and a BSN (Nursing) from George Mason University. She grew up in Mombasa, Kenya and is fluent in four languages: Swahili, English, Gujarati and Hindi. Her most important job is wife to her kind/gentle giant of a husband, and mom to 4-year-old and 16-month daughters – all of whom teach her new things every day!
Rachel Clair is a Content Manager at World Relief. Alongside an amazing team of marketing colleagues, she manages the curation and creation of written and multi-media content for World Relief’s global platforms. With more than 10 years of experience creating content for churches and non-profits, she is passionate about developing content that challenges both individuals and communities to lean into all of whom God created them to be. She holds a BFA from Stephens College and is currently pursuing a certificate in a Spiritual Formation at the Transforming Center in Wheaton, IL.
Love Rejoices with the Truth
Combatting Harmful Beliefs
This is a story about a small village in Mzimba, a northern district in the Southern African country of Malawi. It is a story about love and the relentless pursuit of the truth—a truth that has set the village of Jenda free and paved the way for love to flourish.
Five years ago, the Ngoni people never could have imagined the transformation their district was about to experience. Though amongst some of the poorest people in the world, the Ngoni are a proud people, rooted in age-old traditions, closed to outsiders and cautious of change.
Before World Relief began working in Mzimba, life was dictated by tribal traditions that oftentimes perpetuated, or worsened, the cycle of poverty and suffering in the community.
The Ngoni people lived their day-to-day lives believing that:
- A malnourished child meant there was infidelity within the marriage.
- Girls were valuable solely for their bride price and should not attend school.
- Upon puberty, girls foreheads should be cut and scarred to reveal their readiness for marriage.
- If women did not bear sons, men may continue to marry as many women as they like. (Polygamy was commonplace.)
- Upon the death of their husband, widows must walk on their knees to the closest river without food or water.
- Pregnant women must not breastfeed or eat eggs.
- Witchdoctors were the only solution to sickness and challenges.
In many cases, these beliefs lead to chronic malnutrition, child abuse or gender injustices that could often mean the difference between life and death. Yet, this way of life went unchallenged for the Ngoni people, who had no expectations or hope of a different way — no opportunity to act on their natural instinct to love, and no relief for the suffering they endured.
Change Takes Root
In 2012, when local World Relief staff first arrived in the village of Jenda, villagers were guarded. They sent local pastors and leaders to meet with the outsiders, doubting the significance of the gathering, in some cases even fearing it was a scam. Little did they know, this meeting would be the beginning of a vibrant transformation. One that revealed life-altering truth, rooted in love and that would lead to the renewal of their lives, their people and their entire community.
As leaders around Jenda came together with World Relief staff in vision-casting seminars, community-based needs assessments and cross-denominational conversations, a wave of excitement and optimism began to spread. Like wildfire, 15 churches soon became 22, spanning 10 denominations and multiple villages across Mzimba as community leaders realized that a different life, and future, for their people was possible.
“We began to understand God’s vision for our community. A truth that had been obscured from us due to age-old cultural practices and mindsets. We learned God had a desire to see us and our community working together in unity to serve one another, love one another and to lift up our community. We learned to work together, to realize our part in helping the most vulnerable, to become self-reliant and to shed harmful beliefs that were hindering us.” — Church Network Committee Chairman
As community leaders and increasingly, community members, began coming together in conversation around these new truths, the tide began to shift.
“We began to understand poverty in a deeper way. We came to realize the power of knowledge, and of self-reliance. And we realized some of our practices must change if we were to lead better lives. — Modesta, Jenda Savings Group Participant
A Flourishing Community
As the people of Jenda gathered to discuss the needs of their village and their vision for the future, the community began adopting changes that gradually gave way to community-wide flourishing.
New cash crops were planted to include soya beans and groundnuts, yielding added household income. With the pooled profits, seedlings were planted to regrow trees that had been lost to deforestation, hundreds of thousands of bricks were molded for the construction of a new school and homes for teachers, a clean-water well was dug, and savings and agricultural groups were formed.
As each new need was identified, the community gathered together to raise money and invest back into their collective vision for their lives and the lives of their children.
But the changes were not just physical. Love and appreciation for the children of the village was instilled as community members began to understand the meaning of Imago Dei—each child created in the image of God and possessing inherent worth.
The value of the girl child and the importance of education for both boys and girls began to take root. Community members began looking out for their friends and neighbors, and families began to repair once broken relationships, thriving in a growing love, care and respect for one another.
Little by little with each passing year, leaders and community members alike began speaking out against harmful practices of polygamy, rites of passage, child brides and witch doctors.
Mothers groups were formed to keep children in school and protect the rights of children, especially girls.
Leaders from other districts began to visit Jenda to witness what, why and how such positive transformation was taking place. And Jenda’s influence was so great that even local government Village Development Committees took note—putting in place by-laws that forbade marriage under the age of 18 and required mothers to give birth in health-centers or local hospitals so as to ensure proper care.
A Flourishing Future
Today, the village of Jenda is unrecognizable. As you enter the center of the village, you pass a deep-water well, three primary school blocks, five well-constructed teachers’ homes, three large enclosed cultivation plots, two brick-molding kilns and a large field of newly planted trees.
The church, which sits as the center of the community with two classrooms, continues to be a place of planning and dreaming toward a flourishing future. Community members plan to build more schools and child care centers, a library and a recreation hall. They want to ensure all girls attend school and every disabled child has access to wheelchair and wheelchair accessible classrooms. And so much more.
Ten years ago, these plans were not even a thought, let alone an aspiration for the Ngoni people in Jenda. Yet today, they stand before us, proclaiming the gospel and the truths that have opened their minds, encouraged love and instilled a bright and bold vision for their future. It is a truth we can all rejoice in.
*At World Relief, our goal is to see local churches continue to serve the most vulnerable long after World Relief transitions out of the area. We do not seek to establish a long-term, ongoing presence in the areas we serve, but instead build capacity among local leaders to sustain the progress they themselves initiated. Once a community is able to meet their target goals, World Relief begins the process of graduating the community, which includes a time of reflecting and celebrating together. The Jenda community is currently set to graduate in 2023! Join us in celebrating and praying for this continuous transformation.
Francesca Albano currently serves as Director of Branded Content at World Relief. With a background in Cultural Anthropology and a graduate degree in Strategic Marketing Communications, she connects her interests in societal studies and global cultures with her training in brand strategy and storytelling. Francesca is especially passionate about grassroots community development and the treatment and advancement of women and girls around the world.
Three Ways to Care for Children Orphaned by COVID-19
 Image: Taylor Brandon / Unsplash
By Lanre Williams-Ayedun
In this brand new report, World Relief’s Lanre Williams-Ayedun, expounds on the impact of COVID-19 and how we can help.
World Relief Responds to Ukrainian Humanitarian Crisis, Urges Diplomatic Solutions
February 24, 2022
CONTACT:
Audrey Garden
audrey.garden@pinkston.co
571-405-1606
BALTIMORE – Today, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine, plunging the nation into further conflict. As an organization that resettles refugees and assists vulnerable people around the world, World Relief recognizes the significant impact this situation will have on the civilian population in Ukraine as well as those in surrounding communities.
Yesterday, the United Nations indicated that a Russian invasion could lead to as many as five million refugees fleeing into neighboring countries. World Relief has been monitoring the situation over the last few weeks and is working with partners to respond as needed. World Relief is also reaching out to our Ukrainian staff in the United States and resettled Ukrainian refugees in the U.S. to offer support.
“It is critical that as large numbers of Ukrainians flee the conflict, surrounding countries in the region allow those fleeing conflict to find safety and refuge there,” said Jenny Yang, senior vice president of advocacy and policy at World Relief. “Ukraine has already endured a significant humanitarian crisis with over one million conflict-afflicted Ukrainians inside the nation and in surrounding countries from the previous incursion in 2014. We urge the global community to continue to provide humanitarian support to Ukraine and the surrounding countries. Our hearts go out to the Ukrainian people, and we remain committed to praying for peace to prevail.”
As we keep abreast of the situation in Ukraine, World Relief urges people to pray and support partners on the ground who are responding. With the loss of life already incurred as well as the significant displacement that will likely occur, many individuals will face dire humanitarian circumstances. A diplomatic solution is needed as urgently as possible to avert further humanitarian challenges.
“This crisis hits very close to home for World Relief,” said Myal Greene, president and CEO of World Relief. “In the last 18 years, World Relief has resettled over 13,000 refugees from Ukraine. These individuals have become our neighbors and friends. Many have even joined our staff, and we serve together daily. For those in the Ukrainian community, the last few weeks have been stressful as they have watched with concern for what was unfolding. The events of the last few hours are devastating.”
World Relief is working with international partners on our response, supporting those who flee to other countries. World Relief will continue to maintain a posture of prayer and support for our colleagues, neighbors, and friends in Ukraine and urges everyone to do the same in the coming weeks and months.
For more information on World Relief, visit http://www.worldrelief.org/.
To download a PDF version of this press release, click here.
About World Relief
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest problems – disasters, extreme poverty, violence, oppression, and mass displacement. For over 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and community leaders in the U.S. and abroad to bring hope, healing and transformation to the most vulnerable.
Learn more at worldrelief.org.
A Legacy of Compassion: Celebrating Dr. Paul Farmer
February 24, 2022
CONTACT:
Audrey Garden
audrey.garden@pinkston.co
571-405-1606
BALTIMORE – The World Relief family celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Paul Farmer, who passed away on February 21, 2022, at the age of 62. As the co-founder of Partners in Health and a practitioner of social medicine, Dr. Farmer sought healing not only at an individual level but also at local, national and global levels. Upon his passing, we both mourn the loss of a dear brother and friend, and we celebrate with deep gratitude the profound impact he had on so many lives around the world.
An inspiration to many in the humanitarian and health spaces, he was discontent with the current state of solutions around global poverty and illness and sought to facilitate change from the ground up. Compassion was a way of life for Dr. Farmer. He set a precedent of deep care and action for all who will follow in his footsteps. He lived a life marked by deep and genuine compassion. To Dr. Farmer, no life was insignificant, no problem was unconquerable, and no person went unseen.
Myal Greene, president and CEO at World Relief, reflects: “Dr. Farmer’s legacy is one of profound impact with many lives saved and improved. During the eight years i lived in Rwanda working in community health there, Dr. Farmer was always a personal inspiration to me. He was an innovative practitioner, an influential voice on behalf of others and a loving and kind man. His work of training and equipping many people speaks for itself. I was deeply saddened to hear of his death, but I celebrate the ways he used his life well to care for so many people. The impact of his work will be felt for generations.”
Emily Chambers Sharpe, SCOPE senior technical advisor at World Relief, reflects: “Paul Farmer spoke often of having a preferential option for the poor. He truly put human beings at the center of his efforts. For him, going to scale was about providing everyone with the same type of healthcare you would want your own loved ones to receive. Paul Farmer thought everyone deserved the best we could provide. I imagine he heard “well done, good and faithful servant” because he treated everyone with such tender care.
Charles Franzén, humanitarian and disaster response unit director at World Relief, reflects: “In Rwanda, Haiti, Malawi and in many other places around the world, Paul was convinced that community challenges would be answered by community solutions. His profound impact is felt and will be felt for many years in those parts of the world far from the eye of the media, the villages beyond the end of the road, where community health workers bring messages that transform the way people look at themselves as the most important actors in the drama that is public health. The best way to honor the life of Paul Farmer is to follow the path he blazed so tenaciously, to seek the answers to the most difficult health questions through community-directed interventions.”
Prava Chhetri, health and nutrition technical advisor at World Relief, reflects: “I was so sad to hear the news yesterday. I was truly inspired by his groundwork, which is just as amazing as his academic contributions. Back in 2012, he visited a remote (western part of Nepal) place called Accham, which used to be an epicenter for HIV (migrant workers from India returned with HIV infection and infected their wives). During a time when global messaging was around “value of money” or “return on investment” in public health programming, Dr. Farmer promoted equity to health to highlight the needs of people burdened with poverty and disease. He reminded us that the value of money is not up for negotiation to achieve better health outcomes.”
World Relief celebrates the legacy and impact of Dr. Paul Farmer, and our global community of staff, volunteers and partners are deeply touched and inspired by the tenderness and grace with which Dr. Farmer carried out his work, continuing his legacy of seeing every man, woman and child as a neighbor and friend.
To download a PDF version of this press release, click here.
About World Relief
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest problems – disasters, extreme poverty, violence, oppression, and mass displacement. For over 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and community leaders in the U.S. and abroad to bring hope, healing and transformation to the most vulnerable.
Learn more at worldrelief.org.