Compassion International ends Tongu child health programme. June 8, 2026 Compassion International, a child development organisation, has officially concluded its Tongu Cluster Projects in the Central, South and North Tongu districts, as well as the Adaklu District of the Volta Region, at a colourful ceremony held in Sogakope. The eight-year Survival and Early Childhood Intervention Programme supported 1,211 mothers, infants and caregivers across several communities in the Tongu and Adaklu areas. The closure ceremony, held at the Solution Chapel of the Global Evangelical Church (GEC) in Sogakope under the theme, "From Survival to Thriving: Sustaining Hope for Every Child," marked the end of the Maternal and Child Intervention Programme implemented by Compassion International Ghana in the beneficiary districts. Implemented in partnership with local churches and community stakeholders, the programme sought to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality rates while improving access to essential healthcare services during the first 1,000 days of a child's life. Speaking at the event, the Partnership Facilitator of Compassion International Ghana, Mr. Richard Baku, explained that the programme was launched in December 2017 in response to persistent maternal and child health challenges, including poverty, malnutrition and limited access to quality healthcare in the project communities. According to him, the intervention covered eight communities - Mafi Dove, Volo, New Bakpa, Mafi Gidikpoe, Mafi Kumase, Mafi Anfoe and Mafi Zongo - through an integrated community-based approach that combined healthcare delivery, nutrition support, caregiver education and child protection services. Mr. Baku noted that the programme began with 65 mothers and 55 babies but expanded significantly over the years to reach 1,211 beneficiaries, positively impacting hundreds of children and families across the four districts. Beyond healthcare, he said the initiative also focused on economic empowerment, with 226 caregivers receiving apprenticeship training and skills development support to improve household incomes. He called for continued collaboration among churches, traditional authorities, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and local government institutions to sustain the gains achieved, strengthen male involvement in childcare and deepen community-based maternal health support systems. The Central Tongu District Director of the Ghana Health Service, Mr. Matthew Adam, underscored the need for a coordinated multi-sectoral response involving state institutions, non-governmental organisations and community stakeholders to tackle maternal and child health challenges in the beneficiary districts and beyond. He identified teenage pregnancy, malnutrition, malaria, anaemia among pregnant women, poor health-seeking behaviour and limited access to quality healthcare services as major concerns affecting healthcare delivery in the area. Mr. Adam stressed the importance of addressing what he described as the "four delays" in maternal healthcare - delays in seeking care, transportation challenges, inadequate availability of skilled health personnel and referral system bottlenecks - as critical measures for reducing maternal and neonatal deaths. The District Director of Health Services also expressed appreciation to Compassion International Ghana and its implementing partners for their contribution to improving maternal and child health outcomes in the project districts. Delivering remarks on behalf of Compassion International Ghana, the organisation's Manager of Programme Support, Madam Rashidatu Iddrisah, reaffirmed its commitment to holistic child development and stronger community health systems. She explained that the Survival and Early Childhood Intervention Programme was deliberately designed to protect mothers and children during the most vulnerable stages of life, particularly the first 1,000 days, when interventions have the greatest impact on long-term health and development. Madam Iddrisah stated that over the eight-year implementation period, the programme evolved beyond basic healthcare support to include nutrition education, caregiver empowerment, child protection and economic strengthening initiatives. She commended implementing partners, local churches and healthcare workers for their dedication, describing the achievements recorded in the Tongu Cluster as proof of what sustained partnerships can accomplish. She encouraged stakeholders to consolidate the gains made and ensure the continuity of best practices as the programme transitions into its next phase of support. In her goodwill message, the Queen Mother of Mafi Adidome, Mama Drapey III, emphasised that maternal health and healthy living remain essential for building strong families and a healthier nation. She highlighted the importance of quality prenatal care, skilled delivery services and comprehensive postnatal support within the first six weeks after childbirth to prevent complications and safeguard the wellbeing of both mother and child. She further advocated the wider adoption of family planning to help couples make informed decisions about child spacing and proper childcare. The Queen Mother also stressed the need for healthy lifestyle practices, including balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, avoidance of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs, adequate rest and effective stress management to promote maternal and fetal health. Mama Drapey III called on parents, healthcare professionals, traditional leaders and development partners to sustain and build upon the gains achieved through the project. She expressed gratitude to the implementing partners and appealed for renewed commitment to securing a healthier future for children and future generations. Other speakers at the event, including Rev. Peter Onasis of the Mafi Kumase Child and Youth Development Centre (CYDC) and Rev. Israel Ahalie of the Mafi Adidome CYDC, praised Compassion International Ghana for the initiative. They urged beneficiaries to help sustain the programme's achievements and avoid reverting to previous practices and conditions. A former Project Director of the Mafi Dove CYDC and Chairperson of the occasion, Madam Esinam Agbador, described the intervention as transformative, noting that it had strengthened maternal healthcare systems and enhanced household resilience. She said the initiative contributed to safer pregnancies, improved delivery outcomes and better child development, adding that its impact would endure beyond the programme's official closure. "The end of the survival intervention does not signify the end of support for beneficiaries but rather a transition into a more holistic phase of child development," Madam Agbador emphasised. She commended caregivers, healthcare professionals, churches and community volunteers for their commitment to the programme's success and encouraged their continued participation in successor initiatives. Compassion International currently supports approximately 2.3 million children worldwide, including thousands in Ghana. The ceremony brought together traditional leaders, clergy, Ghana Health Service officials, local government representatives, caregivers, community volunteers and project staff, serving both as a celebration of the programme's achievements and a call to sustain the progress made over the past eight years. Send your news stories to [email protected] Follow News Ghana on Google News

Compassion International, and Church of eleven 22 celebrate sponsorship of more than 4,500 children at recent Compassion Sunday event. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - February 10, 2026 - Thanks to the ongoing dedication of one of Compassion's largest and longest- tenured church partners, the ministry celebrates one of its most successful Compassion Sunday events in years. Compassion Sunday is a special event for churches to inspire their congregations to sponsor children through Compassion International. By hosting a Compassion Sunday, churches can help transform the lives of children living in poverty, connecting them with a loving, local church community and providing children the spiritual, economic, social, and physical care they need to thrive. The Church of Eleven22 and its congregation based in Jacksonville, Fla., is responsible for more than 4,500 child sponsorships (and counting) from its most recent Compassion Sunday held in December 2025. They are Compassion's largest church partner in America and have been partnering with the ministry for more than 17 years. Over the lifetime of their partnership with Compassion, the church is responsible for approximately 28,000 sponsorships. Pastor Joby Martin is the founder and lead pastor of the rapidly growing church in Jacksonville, Fla., with locations strategically placed around the greater Jacksonville metro area and other locations including a campus in Eastern Georgia. The church recently added two new campuses as the non-denominational ministry continues its regional expansion. They recently announced on social media that it opened a new location in St. Augustine, in a 29,000-square-foot former commercial space, and another campus in San Mateo, near Orlando. As a result, Eleven22 now draws upwards of 20,000 in-person attendees each week and maintains a strong online following, including more than 176,000 YouTube subscribers. Although Martin, heavily tattooed, bearded, and a purple-belt jiu jitsu practitioner cuts an imposing figure, church members and supporters describe him as having a preaching and ministry style described as "gospel-centered, challenging, and truth filled." He founded Eleven22 with his wife Gretchen in Jacksonville in 2012. According to Martin, he named the ministry after its first worship service which began at 11:22 a.m. Since launching the church, he has led a movement described as "for all people to discover and deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ." In addition to leading the church, Martin is also a national and international preacher, teacher, and motivational speaker. He is also a nationally renowned author, with his most recent book "Stand Firm and Act Like Men," which examines biblical manhood and its modern applications. Since its partnership with Compassion began, the church committed to hold a Compassion Sunday every year that is intentionally tied into a specific passage of Scripture the senior pastor is teaching from. In fact, the church plans to hold its next Compassion Sunday event in June with a focus on Jesus' preaching on the feeding of the 5,000 contained in Matthew 14. Hosting a Compassion Sunday is a powerful way for churches and their congregations to engage in meaningful action. It allows congregations to see firsthand the difference they can make in the lives of children around the world. Individuals who sign up to host a Compassion Sunday at their church will receive all the necessary materials and support to make their event a success. Across the United States, more than 10,000 local churches have lived out their faith by engaging in global missions through child sponsorship with Compassion International. Martin explained that participation in and sponsorship through Compassion Sunday provides opportunities for its congregation to put their faith into action globally. "We don't just want to be a 'cul-de-sac' of God's grace where the blessings come in and just stop with us. We want to be a conduit. We believe every single child is an image-bearer of God, and we are called to fight for them from 'womb to tomb'," Martin said. "When you pick up a packet and sponsor a child, you aren't just sending money; you are responding to a direct command from God to care for the 'least of these'. You are stepping into the gap to provide hope in the name of Jesus Christ to a kid who might be sitting in a slum right now feeling completely hopeless," he continued. Ultimately, Martin and his congregation share a vision that partnership with Compassion can play a significant role in transforming the lives and communities of the children living in poverty around the world. "We partner with Compassion because we've seen the 'full circle' - we've seen kids go from being sponsored to being leaders who are now rescuing others in their own communities. It's all about John 10:10, fighting against the enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy, and instead, ushering in the abundant life that only Jesus can provide," Martin added. According to Kevin Myers, Compassion Senior Principal Church Partnerships Manager, the ministry recognizes the value of its Church partnerships as a natural extension of its desire to release children from poverty in Jesus' name, and to engage in all-important discipleship of its participants, who will eventually grow to impact the communities where they will live, work, and play. "We're extremely grateful for the ongoing partnership with Eleven22 and look forward to continuing to make an eternal difference in the lives of the children, families, and communities we serve."

The Journey partners with Compassion International for Compassion Experience. The Journey (Lynchburg, VA) listeners had an opportunity to see how Compassion International is impacting the lives of children around the world. The station was on site for the Compassion Experience November 21st in Roanoke. The experience was set up on the campus of Parkway Church on the Mountain Nov 21-23 allowing visitors from the region to walk through the mobile display and learn about the realities of life in poverty. The experience featured multiple rooms with interactive content and compelling personal stories of real children whose lives were directly impacted by Compassion and its local church partners. The Journey partnered with Compassion to promote the event which included on air segments from the site. Compassion's Matt Hahn said, "The experience shows the true reality of children living in third world countries and how one person (sponsor) makes a difference."