Stories of hope and possibility

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Young boy reading a book. He is in a school in Syria, set up by Christian Aid and Hurras Network to help childen catch up on their studies after the earthquake destroyed schools, home and lives. Credit: Hurras

Turkey & Syria
Gaza conflict
Struggles in Ukraine
Campaigning news
Supporter stories

Making space to learn and grow

When earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria in February 2023, killing 58,000 people, supporters like you pulled together to raise an incredible £3.45 million. With your funds, our Syrian partners acted quickly, providing blankets, food, fuel and clothing to people who were injured, homeless and grieving.

Thanks to you, 105,500 people across Turkey and Syria received support.

Today, your donations are still active, rebuilding schools and replacing learning resources, so more than 5,900 children can restart their education. Your gifts also helped more than 16,500 children catch up on lost learning at 70 summer schools across north-west Syria. And with your support, our partner, Hurras Network, set up 100 child-friendly spaces, offering 4,000 children a place to learn, play, and begin to recover from their trauma.

Thanks to you, our trusted partners are providing thousands of children, who’ve lost so much, the space to learn and grow.

Our work in Syria A roundup of our Turkey & Syria Appeal

Two boys playing. They are in a school in Syria, set up by Christian Aid partner Hurras Network to help childen catch up on their studies after the earthquake destroyed schools, home and lives.

I feel very safe here. I am with my friends, which helps me forget about the earthquake.

- Twelve-year-old Salwa who attended a Hurras Network summer school.

7,500 children received:

Warm clothes

Stationery

Toys

Toiletries

Donate to give a gift of hope and comfort

Your support could help give vital humanitarian support to those who need it most.

Donate to the appeal

Bringing hope against all odds in Gaza

We’re saddened to report that all our partner colleagues in Gaza are now displaced from their homes and living in temporary accommodation. These colleagues live in cramped conditions without adequate food, water or bedding. Many have lost loved ones and are enduring
unimaginable grief. And yet, these incredible colleagues are going above and beyond to bring hope to others. They’ve set up makeshift offices in shelters and continue to be in contact with us via group text.

Dr Hassan, of our health partner Palestinian Medical Relief Society, is one such colleague. With no fuel to run his car, he’s now reaching patients by bicycle. Dr Hassan risks his life, cycling through a war zone, to deliver the vital medical support you’ve helped to fund. He’s administering first aid and medication,and changing wounded people’s dressings. At the end of his rounds, Dr Hassan returns to the small shipping container where he now lives with his family.

Thanks to partners like Dr Hassan, and your support, people in Gaza have received medical relief against all odds.

Donate to our Middle East Appeal Our work in IoPt

Thanks to you, 316,402 people in Gaza received:

Food

Water

Shelter

Sanitation

Join us in calling for an immediate ceasefire

At least 35,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. Until the UK government calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and suspends its arms sales to Israel, it is complicit in the slaughter.

Take action now

Ukraine: Reflections from the Archbishop of Canterbury

Earlier this year, Archbishop Justin visited our partners, Heritage Ukraine, at their crisis centre and shelter in Odesa. Together, we’re helping to bring support and comfort to children, older people and people with disabilities by providing shelter, food, cash and legal support.

Although in some ways much looks the same as when I last visited just over a year ago, there have been some very significant shifts. One thing that people have spoken of everywhere we went is the toll this war is beginning to take on the people of Ukraine in PTSD and other mental health conditions. We’re only just beginning to grasp the likely scale of it – and how long-lasting the effects may be.

- Archbishop Justin Welby.

Campaigning news

Engaging with your newly elected MP

Poverty is political, so with newly elected MPs in our constituencies, there’s no better time to call for action for our global neighbours. We’re encouraging you and your church to tell your MP that tackling global poverty is a priority for your community.

Holding vigil for climate justice

Through night and day, rain and shine, Christians held vigil outside the UK Parliament during Lent, praying for bold climate action. Vigils also took place in churches across the UK, and people contacted MPs to demand climate justice.

Calling for peace in the Middle East

With your help, we’ve been petitioning the UK Government to call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and to suspend arms sales to Israel. We presented your signatures to the Foreign Office and projected our call for a ceasefire onto Parliament. Many supporters have also been raising this issue with their MP.

Church leaders hold a banner reading Vigil for Climate Justice outside UK Parliament

Supporter stories

Nick, in a red Christian Aid polo shirt, walks next to Godfrey in a blue waterproof coat and black hat, holding a walking staff. They walk along the grass

Godfrey’s going the extra mile

Eighty-nine-year-old Godfrey, from Derbyshire, is walking 1,000 miles in laps to raise £5,000 for Christian Aid. He started fundraising for us as a child, helping his mother with house-to-house collections. Last year, he completed a walking challenge in memory of his late wife, the Rev Honor Mary.

Read Godfrey's full story