In times of war, famine, and economic downturn, suffering is rarely distributed equally. The heaviest burden almost always falls on women and children. It’s all too apparent that while conflicts are being fought on our screens, their deepest scars are carried into homes, where families struggle to survive without income or protection.
Women frequently face increased and harsh vulnerability during crises. They are more likely to experience displacement, exploitation, and gender-based violence. At the same time, they often bear the responsibility of holding families together—finding food, securing shelter, and caring for the extended family, despite having the fewest resources.
Children too, endure profound hardship. Famine stunts physical and cognitive development, disrupted education and economic collapse strips away any opportunity for a secure future. When global economies falter due to war or climate shocks, it is often women’s employment that disappears first, and children’s needs that go unmet. Nutrition declines, healthcare becomes inaccessible, and hope diminishes.
To understand suffering in global crises is to recognize this pattern. On a tiny scale, Compact is tackling all these issues with clean water and agroforestry, teaching the basic and biblical principle that if we treat the earth with respect and kindness the outcome is nothing short of miraculous!
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“When women rise, communities rise with them.”
