It’s been three years, but Loubana’s children still have nightmares about the day their Syrian home was bombed. “I remember when I hid under the stairs when the bombs were falling,” says Nour, who was only 6 at the time. Loubana and her family had a good life in Syria.
As president of her village savings and loans (VSL) program, Estelle is a natural leader. Weekly meetings are orderly; small fines are issued for infractions such as tardiness, absence, or losing a key to the lockbox; and she keeps a watchful eye over every transaction as they are recorded in
It is crowded at the train station at Tabanovce as the refugees exit the train. Today they have crossed the border from Greece, where they arrived in Europe, and boarded the train at the first station in Macedonia. The few tents put up for shelters are quickly filled up, and
At one month old, Qamar has nowhere to call home. Her parents, Mustafa and Hala, are refugees who fled Syria to escape growing violence and the threat of terror that surrounded them. They left their home in Damascus two months before we met them. Hala gave birth to beautiful Qamar
On a given day, hundreds of refugees may trickle across borders or they may come in waves of thousands. Today, a group of fifty were crossing into Serbia from Bulgaria, so there was time for ADRA team members to make conversation. One volunteer spoke at length with a father named
Said is only 14, but has experienced hardships that no child should face. In Serbia, he shared his family’s story: “Mom and dad told us that we are going to Europe. We did not took anything with us, except of one spare clothe for each of us. They did not
On the first day of school, Jo walks down familiar streets. When he reaches the schoolhouse, it is no different than before. Fewer people lingering in the street, perhaps. Fewer children laughing on the front lawn. One year ago, the Ebola outbreak was a growing rumor in West Africa. It
Thirteen-year-old Samvel is an artist. He paints what he sees, and the picture becomes the scene. He paints what he imagines, and the colors and shapes blossom from the paper like lilies from a field. He has a keen eye and a sensitive spirit, and everyone agrees: Samvel is an
Placidia holds a new pair of shoes in her hands. Her shy smile has grown, and today the 6-year-old is practically beaming as she clutches the simple, black canvas slip-ons. These are the first shoes she has ever called her own. Placidia is the youngest of seven daughters. Her mother
Snezana’s marriage began as something out of a fairy tale. She was young and beautiful; he was older, hardworking, and devoted. Her family disapproved of the union, but the two were in love. She gave birth to two children and stayed home to raise them. He worked even harder to
By Paulo Lopes, President, ADRA International There’s a verse from Isaiah that has been on my mind as we step into 2026: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” These ancient words capture something essential about this moment for ADRA and
In the early hours after Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica this past October, our emergency response teams navigated flooded streets and toppled power lines to reach families huddled in shelters.
As the year draws to a close, we pause to reflect on the lives changed, the communities strengthened, and the hope restored—all because of your generosity.
Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica on October 28, 2025, as a powerful Category 5 storm with sustained winds near 185 mph, making it the strongest hurricane in the nation’s history.
Every day across the world, families take courageous steps toward safety, stability, and hope. Some walk for weeks through dense jungle. Others cross borders with children in their arms and dreams in their hearts. On World Migrant Day, ADRA honors their resilience. Migration throughout the Inter and South American regions
This story was originally published by ADRA Japan and has been adapted for ADRA International. Around the world, thousands of runners lace up their shoes not only to test their limits, but also to support causes that create meaningful change. The Tokyo Marathon Charity Program is one of the ways athletes transform
Faith, Family, and the Journey to Safety When the war reached their hometown of Novomoskovsk, Dmytro Trebushkovand his wife faced an impossible choice: stay in the home they had built with their foster children or flee with nothing but faith. “We never imagined we would have to pack up and leave,”
Authors: Beryl Hartmann, director of Safe-Guarding, ADRA International, Kateryna Khits, ADRA Ukraine, Margaret Gasana, ADRA Uganda. In today’s world, the line between natural and man-made crises is increasingly blurred — and the consequences are deeply personal. In the chaos of conflict, disaster, and displacement, children are often the most vulnerable.
Every person deserves the dignity of a safe toilet. Yet, in 2025, nearly half the world’s population still lives without one. This year’s World Toilet Day theme, “Sanitation in a Changing World,” reminds us that sanitation systems must be future-ready and accessible to all, resilient to floods and droughts, and supported by strong investments that protect
It is wonderful to connect about something so close to our hearts: the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. When we talk about our Church, we often think about spreading the good news, sharing our beliefs and looking forward to Jesus’ return. However, there has been a perception that the