Australians have increased their generous commitment to the most vulnerable around the world, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Compassion Australia's Annual Impact Report for 2021 demonstrates that for the first time in decades, global poverty is on the rise. The financial fallout of the pandemic has crushed economies across the globe, threatening to push millions more children and families into poverty.
However, Compassion Australia, through its supporters, are having a significant impact alleviating poverty. In the 2021 financial year:
- 126,241 children in total were sponsored by Australians
- 2,166,363 children were supported worldwide
- 118,838 letters were sent from Australian sponsors to their sponsored children with words of encouragement
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, global Compassion supporters enabled:
- Over 10 million food packs to be distributed to the most vulnerable children and families
- Over 7 million hygiene kits to be delivered to protect children from COVID-19 and other contagious diseases
- Over 1.5 million medical treatments to be provided to people who needed individual medical support
Compassion now works with more than 8000 local churches in the developing world to serve the most vulnerable children and families in their neighbourhoods.
Some of this work included:
- 1,179 babies and their mothers are being supported through Compassion Australia
- 25,726 vulnerable babies joined the Child Sponsorship Program after receiving the support they needed to thrive through their first year of life at Survival projects around the world.
- 1,662 Survival projects are serving babies and caregivers in 25 nations, including 54 projects funded by Australians
- 24,530 children and 24,361 caregivers are registered in Survival projects worldwide
Clare Steele, CEO of Compassion Australia, says, “The socio-emotional, spiritual and physical effects of the pandemic will be felt for years. For vulnerable children, the stakes are incredibly high. However, through the projects Compassion Australia work with around the world, many vulnerable communities are being assisted through the generous support of our child sponsors.”
Clare continues, “I’m often asked, “What makes Compassion Australia unique?”. What makes Compassion Australia different is that it is part of Compassion International, a global network of more than 40 countries. Together with millions of sponsors, supporters and church partners from around the world, we are releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name.”
For more information about the Compassion Australia Impact Report visit here.
For more information, interviews or comment please contact Georgina Bible at Jersey Road PR. e: georgina@jerseyroadpr.com
About Compassion Australia
Compassion is a Christian international child development charity with more than 70 years’ experience working with some of the world’s most vulnerable children through local churches. Compassion is Christ-centred, child-focused, church-based and seeks to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. At present, 2.1 million children attend Compassion’s program centres in 25 developing countries. More than 90,000 Australians sponsor a child through Compassion Australia.