CLWR News & Events

The conflict in Ukraine has shattered the lives of millions, forcing many to leave their homes and seek safety in other parts of Ukraine or in neighbouring countries. While adults can understand what’s happening, the trauma is even worse for children, whose lives have been turned upside down in a matter of hours. Barbara Körozsi, […]

Alanyo Jennifer’s hands moved with steady precision, weaving a neat braid into the young woman’s hair. Around her, a circle of women and girls watched intently, their eyes fixed on her movements. Their murmurs filled the Palabek Gem Women Safe Space created by CLWR partner LWF Uganda, a place where they could breathe, find safety, […]

The Board of Canadian Lutheran World Relief announces the departure of our CEO, Karin Achtelstetter. We wish her well in her future endeavours. We are also happy to announce the hiring of Rev. Dr. Michael Pryse, who will be joining the organization as the Interim Executive Director. In October 2024, Michael retired after serving 26 […]

With your generous support, CLWR is bringing hope and relief to vulnerable communities around the world facing crises.

We’ve designed an initiative called Nature-Based Solutions which will be carried out alongside thousands of local farmers as we restore land, reforest, push adoption of sustainable farming and water management practices, and include voices that have been left out. 

With your support, our partners in South Sudan provided cash assistance and fishing kits to those whose land was flooded in order to help them adapt to the drastically altered landscape. 

Cassandra Hay learned about the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and northern Syria, she decided to make images honouring Turkey and Syria that could be purchased for use as Zoom backgrounds and donate half of the proceeds to CLWR to help provide emergency supplies and shelter, and support repair and rehabilitation efforts.

The overall picture in South Sudan is one of severe humanitarian needs being magnified by various disasters. As Jason visited communities, it was clear to him that these are very vulnerable people in need of life-saving food assistance.

With the support of the Humanitarian Coalition and the Government of Canada, CLWR partners are providing emergency assistance to Sudanese refugees who have fled in to Chad to escape the ongoing conflict.

Across 23 communities in Nicaragua, children are receiving financial help to stay in school, extra learning supports and hot meals at school. 

Three congregations in Ontario formed a refugee sponsorship partnership with a church in Nova Scotia.

Thanks to your quick response, our local partners were able to respond immediately, delivering emergency supplies and providing life-saving shelter to those who were displaced from their homes.

Thanks to your support, our local partners are providing both immediate food assistance and longer-term livelihood support to vulnerable families.

In Burundi, with the support of Canadian Foodgrains Bank, through our partners, CLWR is implementing a multi-year project that aims to bridge the gap between emergency support and addressing longer-term barriers that families like Violette’s face in restarting their lives.

With your support, we are accomplishing big things in Myanmar. Women and girls are receiving critical supplies for menstrual health management, reducing an inequitable barrier and giving them the chance to pursue their education and careers. 

CLWR partners have provided food packages, emergency supplies and medical equipment, and have established Refugee Support Points, Child Friendly Spaces and Transitional Shelters to families fleeing the crisis in Ukraine. 

CLWR has been working in partnership with Lutheran World Federation – Uganda to provide emergency protection and livelihood assistance to refugees and their host communities in Uganda.

In 2022, CLWR is expanding its efforts in Ethiopia to address both immediate as well as longer-term needs as part of a “nexus” approach that integrates humanitarian and development solutions.

Since 2016, Deo Lutheran Church in BC has joined together with other churches, community groups and individuals to sponsor 70 Syrian refugees to Canada.

Masha fled with her parents and sisters from Kharkiv when the bombing began, using the touring bus from their father’s theatre company. After a long and arduous trip across the country, they reached Mukachevo in western Ukraine, where your gifts have been at work, making a difference for thousands of families like Masha’s, providing food, shelter and comfort in their time of need.

This International Women’s Day, we are celebrating women who #BreakTheBias, like 33-year-old mother-of-four Ola Ali Sabbah Breijieh, who is smashing age-old traditions in the West Bank by taking courses in carpentry through CLWR’s GRIT project.

In places like the West Bank, where Hala lives, lack of access to education and training severely limits employment and livelihood opportunities for women, especially those with disabilities. In the coming years, engaging women in non-traditional fields through vocational education will play an increasingly vital role in building a more sustainable, inclusive and peaceful future.

Even during a global pandemic, Lutheran churches across Canada haven’t stopped providing refugees with a new home and caring community through our refugee sponsorship program.

Index-based climate insurance is helping keep vulnerable small-scale farmers in El Salvador afloat during challenging periods.