Where Are They Now? Meet 12 Remarkable Compassion Graduates
From police officers to entrepreneurs, get to know 12 inspiring Compassion Alumni.
Do you ever wonder what the child you sponsor might grow up to be?
Compassion graduates are stepping into lives of purpose, breaking free from poverty, and making a difference. Thanks to faithful supporters like you, these young people have been empowered to thrive.
Here are just 12 stories that show the lasting impact of sponsorship through the local church.
John – the human rights lawyer, Uganda
When he was 12, John and his three siblings were chased out of their home by their uncle, who wanted their house for himself. Their mother had died, and their father had abandoned them after years of struggling with alcoholism.
Desperate, John went to the local pastor who took him to a lawyer to see if they could protect their home. But the lawyer sent them away, saying, ‘Justice is not for the poor’.
“I knew we’d lost everything,” says John. ‘” was so angry and hopeless.”
The lawyer’s words never left John’s mind. Once the boys began to receive support through their local church as part of the Compassion programme, he vowed to become a lawyer and seek justice for the vulnerable.
Today, John is a lawyer who gives 70% of his profits to pro bono work. He represents people facing exploitation and harm — and he’s financially supporting more than 200 girls and young women to gain educations to degree level.
John says, ”How honoured, how favoured I am: to be able to have gone through all those [traumas of my childhood] and be who I am today. How amazing is God's love!”
You can hear John’s story on Premier Christian Radio.
Marjorie - the nurse inspiring her community, Ecuador
In the rural highlands of San Pablo, Ecuador, opportunities are scarce and dreams can feel impossible.
“When I told my family I wanted to study nursing, they said it would be too difficult, that I should give up,” Marjorie remembers. Despite their doubts, Marjorie held onto her dream, driven by hope and faith nurtured through her local church.
Now, Marjorie serves as a Health Specialist at her local Compassion centre, teaching children about health and disease prevention. She is more than a nurse—she’s an inspiration, showing children that no dream is out of reach.
“I want to give back with grace everything I received by grace,” she says. “I know what it’s like to have nothing but faith, and I want these children to know their dreams are possible,” she says. Read her full story here.
Edwin – the awesome elephant keeper at David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Kenya
“When I was a little boy, I was in the Compassion programme. Compassion helped take care of my physical wellbeing when I was young and they also helped take care of my feelings and emotions. And now, that’s one of my most important jobs with the baby elephants. Just like Compassion helped prepare me for adulthood by caring well for every part of my life, I now get to do the same thing for the elephants. God’s plan for my life was more adventurous than I ever could have imagined!”
In 2023, Edwin even got to explain his work to King Charles and Queen Camilla when they visited.
Jeric – the government official committed to integrity, Philippines
“I work for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). My role is to facilitate, oversee and delegate tasks, and manage people, resources, conflict and projects. It’s a lot of work, but I am motivated to helping the poor. The goal is to lift the people’s socio-economic status, from survival status to subsistence. Then we empower them so they can be self-sufficient. Four years ago I had a vision that I will be in politics. It was around that time when DSWD called me and to me that was a confirmation from the Lord that I could someday be a politician. I can only thank my sponsor for all the successes I have. I want to replicate what Compassion has done for me.”
Miriam – the policewoman proud to be inspiring others, Kenya
When Miriam was registered into the Child Sponsorship Programme, it marked a turning point in her life as her family’s living conditions began to change for the better.
Miriam completed her secondary school education with good grades, with her high school fees paid in full through the help of her sponsor.
But her joy at being accepted into the police force after graduation turned to dismay when she saw the list of equipment she needed. How could she afford it?
Thankfully, her Compassion project provided all the basic items she required for her training. Before long, Miriam was among the 3,000 police recruits graduates—even receiving a special award from the President of Kenya!
With women making up less than 10 per cent of Kenya’s police force, Miriam wants to inspire other girls.
“I want to be an example that girls can emulate. I want them to believe that they can be whatever they put their mind to,” says Miriam. “With this opportunity I have, I want to rise in rank and become a decisionmaker in the police force.”
Frizky - an environmental innovator, Indonesia
“When I was a child, I couldn’t imagine I would be the person I am today,” says Frizky.
Abandoned by his parents, he longed for love and security. “I felt grateful when I knew I had a sponsor back then... I believe getting a sponsor was God’s plan,” he says. “God replaced the missing piece of my childhood with a sponsor, so I gave my deepest gratitude to God.”
With support from his sponsor and the Compassion project staff, Frizky regained confidence, excelled in school, and studied agriculture at university. “I love challenges,” he says. “I’m intrigued by new things that I’ve never known.”
Now a teacher and innovator, Frizky created a hydroponic garden at the Compassion project to provide nutritious food and practical education. It equips youth with farming and business skills, inspiring hope for their futures.
“I created the hydroponics programme as a token of gratitude to the Compassion project,” says Frizky.
Alemayehu – an agriculturalist on a mission, Ethiopia
‘I had a broken family, but today I have a beautiful, lovely family... I am beyond blessed, because God knew me before I was born and said, John, come I'm going to pick you, and you're going to be a symbol of hope to those who are hopeless.”
“When I joined the Compassion programme, I excelled in my education. The environment I grew up in didn’t allow me to dream big. I lived in an area where there was no one to look up to academically. Apart from the project staff who used to tell me that I can be someone, I rarely heard an encouraging word from anyone. I give thanks that I was given the education I needed to join Hawassa University to study horticulture. I prayed every step of the way and the Lord granted me my heart’s desires.”
May – the physiotherapist helping the most vulnerable, Thailand
“I work at the Rochinakarine Institute of Child Development. I’m a physiotherapist helping both younger and older patients who have mobility difficulties. When I was younger, having a sponsor enabled me to know another world. It gave me access to another world of education. I was able to learn much more than before. One memory I have is that I’d never seen the sea so Compassion organised a camp for us to see the ocean for the very first time.”
Jean Paul - an entrepreneur and provider, Peru
Jean Paul describes the Compassion project run by his local church as a “safe and great environment. They pointed me to God and he became my refuge.”
Alongside his schoolwork, Jean Paul began making the tongues of shoes for his uncle. ‘It would take me all day to make around twelve, and earn just $7.50,’ he reflects. ‘The project director saw my efforts. She wanted to encourage me and then told me they had great news. It was a financial gift, enough to get me a brand-new sewing machine and some accessories! I hugged her, and she told me to make the most of the gift. I was so excited!
“My sewing machine sits now at my own shop, still up and running, and it has become my primary work tool. My earnings now allow me to study civil engineering at university and to think of a better future for me and my family.”
Octa – the missionary off the beaten track, Indonesia
In a remote village in Kupang, Indonesia, Compassion graduate Octa is living out his dream to be a missionary. “I have to look after a generation of this village. The youth need a role model, or someone who they can turn to, so I open myself to them. Many of the youth don’t have dreams in life, they just live day by day,” says Octa.
Born into poverty, Octa was sponsored through Compassion as a child. Determined to make a difference in the lives of children in his country, Octa felt called to minister to an isolated village where poverty is deeply rooted. For the majority of students who are privileged to attend primary school, continuing onto high school is a dream that's out of reach.
“They will likely end up working in the fields, or if they're lucky they will get a low paid job in the city due to their low education backgrounds,” explains Octa. So Octa took on the challenge of being a teacher in the village. “The maths teacher position was vacant. I never dreamed of becoming a math teacher, but it sure is boosting the morale of my fellow teachers in the village.”
He ended up being recognised as the best maths teacher in the province with some of his students performing excellently in the national exams. As he changes the lives of students in the village, Octa dreams of the day this village will be blessed by the seeds sown into this next generation.
April – the social worker inspired by her sponsor, Philippines
“My mother and my sponsor were perfect examples of people who despite lacking many things in life, were still ready to give to other people. My sponsor was a park worker who cut the grass – he taught me so much. I am inspired to help others because I know what it is to be poor, and I know how it is to be helped. It feels good knowing that there are people who care for you, and I want people to experience that from me. As the social worker, I am in charge of all the legal matters and documentations. Every day I try to be an ambassador of God’s love to children.”
We’re so grateful for each and every one of our sponsors. Thank you for bringing a child education, stability and hope. If you’re not already a child sponsor, discover more about how you can change the story for a vulnerable child.
Festus - the mental health ambassador, Kenya
Festus is a Compassion graduate and founder of a mental health support network. “We all have different stories, but at some point, we’ve all felt like we were suffering alone. Hope for Future creates a space where we can be ourselves, share openly, and know we’re not alone … Just being listened to can make the difference between breaking down and staying sane.”
The group provides peer counselling and support, addressing issues such as child protection, drug abuse and depression.
Rose, is a staff member at the Compassion project Festus attended as a child, and she’s the group’s patron. “My role is to guide the youths and provide support in implementing their activities, but the ideas and energy come from them,” she says. “They’ve built so much trust with the churches, and I’m proud of their work. It’s truly life changing.”
Words by
Becca Stanley, Roz Walsh
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