Faith-based humanitarian organisation founded in 1946, working on refugee resettlement, disaster relief, hunger and poverty alleviation, and sustainable development across multiple regions and in the United States.
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. It has operated continuously since, working alongside communities on refugee resettlement, hunger and poverty alleviation, disaster relief and sustainable development.
Its largest long-running programme is refugee resettlement, which helps refugees start new lives in safety across American cities; the organisation resettled more than 100,000 refugees in its first decade. Other work includes hygiene-focused community programmes in Cambodia, rebuilding projects in Central America, and sustainable development and resilience programmes addressing hunger, poverty and opportunity across multiple regions.
CWS operates in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States, with earlier post-war relief efforts extending to Europe. Its stated working model is community-centred - working alongside communities rather than for them - and rooted in ecumenical collaboration, partnership and welcome.
