Our approach to poverty
We know that poverty isn’t part of God’s plan. Jesus invites us to see the injustice of child poverty, feel our hearts break, and move with compassion.
Poverty is complex
It’s the girl denied an education and pushed into early marriage, the boy forced to drink dirty water, and the family who huddle together under the rusty roof of their makeshift home. It’s more than a lack of material resources. At its very core, poverty is a mindset that goes far beyond external circumstances. It’s the cruel, destructive message that says, “Give up! You don’t matter. Life will never change.”
Poverty hits children hardest
Right now, 1 in 3 of the world’s children (829 million) are living in poverty and 333 million in extreme poverty, struggling daily to survive on less than $2.15. As we face problems as immense as this, we too can give in to that voice which tells us, “There’s no point. You’re too small to make a difference. Things will never change.”
Poverty moves us to action
Jesus asks us to open our eyes and our hearts and move with compassion in response. Our heart’s desire is to see children stepping into life in all its fullness, as Jesus promises in John 10:10. This requires us to address, together, the web of physical, economic, social, and spiritual barriers that hold individuals in poverty. But we know that true transformation comes when children learn of the hope they have in Christ.
Working with the local church
We seek out churches whose hearts have been broken by the injustice of poverty and are already moving with compassion to support children in their communities. Churches bring deep cultural understanding, local knowledge of community needs and strong relationships. They’re well placed to develop locally led, targeted solutions that create enduring change. Compassion comes alongside the church as a catalyst and connector, amplifying their vital work, collaborating to effectively release children from poverty.
Join us and move with compassion
The local churches we partner with deliver three core programmes:
