Church World Service

Church World Service (CWS) is a faith-based humanitarian organisation founded in 1946 by 17 Christian denominations in the aftermath of the second world war. Its early work involved mobilising more than 11 million pounds of food, clothing and medical supplies for war-torn Europe and Asia, followed by refugee resettlement in American cities; more than 100,000 refugees were resettled in its first decade alone. What began as post-war relief has since broadened into a wider humanitarian mission.

Today CWS works alongside communities on refugee resettlement, hunger and poverty alleviation, disaster relief and sustainable development. Its Refugee Resettlement Program welcomes and supports refugees starting new lives in safety. Other programmes include community hygiene initiatives in Cambodia, post-disaster rebuilding projects in Central America, and longer-term development work intended to build community resilience and opportunity.

The organisation operates across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States. It describes its approach as partnership-driven - doing in partnership what none could do as well alone - and community-centred, working with rather than for the populations it serves. Its stated founding principles are collaboration, welcome and faith in action.