When conflict or disaster shatters communities, the wounds are not only physical. Parents under extreme stress often struggle to care for children, and unaddressed trauma can echo for generations. Recognizing this hidden dimension of crisis, World Relief—a global Christian humanitarian organization—has launched a sweeping new program called Hope Groups, designed to help families in displacement and conflict zones rebuild emotional and spiritual resilience.
A Global Need for Healing
According to World Relief’s August 2025 announcement, more than 43 million children worldwide are currently displaced by war or disaster. Many suffer from disrupted schooling, insecurity, and loss. Parents, meanwhile, face impossible choices—how to protect, feed, and nurture children amid chaos.
“World Relief is thrilled to provide an institutional home to the world-class Hope Groups model,” said Lanre Williams-Ayedun, World Relief’s Senior Vice President of International Programs. “Psychosocial impacts from trauma can have devastating impacts for generations. It is an honor to combine our lifesaving humanitarian assistance programming with this state-of-the-art model that supports families in crisis.”
How “Hope Groups” Work
The new model draws on evidence-based psychosocial and parenting interventions tested in humanitarian contexts. In small gatherings of eight to ten parents, trained facilitators lead twelve sessions covering stress management, conflict reduction, and positive discipline—all framed within Christian principles of dignity, forgiveness, and hope.
An independent evaluation cited in the release found that Hope Groups improved parental mental health by 57 percent, boosted hope and resilience by 65 percent, reduced violence against children by 54 percent, and cut child behavioral issues by 56 percent. The study also showed that both trained community leaders and mental-health professionals can successfully lead the groups, making them easy to replicate in crisis settings.
“Our findings show that Hope Groups achieve remarkable results, greater than similar programs,” said Dr. Susan Hillis, Co-Chair of the Global Reference Group for Children in Crisis and co-lead for the model’s development and evaluation. “I believe this effectiveness comes from listening to crisis-affected caregivers, connecting them with global experts, and adapting the 12 sessions to each community’s unique context.”
On the Ground in Ukraine and Sudan
In Ukraine, local churches have begun hosting Hope Groups for internally displaced families. Sessions include reflection and prayer, as well as practical exercises—such as breathing techniques, role-playing parent-child interactions, and journaling about gratitude.
Meanwhile, in Sudan, where conflict and famine have displaced millions, Hope Groups provide rare safe spaces for women to share experiences of fear and loss.
The Faith-and-Freedom Dimension
The initiative also underscores how religious freedom enables humanitarian innovation. In many regions, faith-based groups like World Relief have access that secular NGOs lack. Their community trust and networks allow them to reach vulnerable families quickly and sustainably.
According to researchers at the Religious Freedom Institute, societies that protect faith-based service organizations often see stronger civil-society responses in crisis recovery.
Conversely, in countries where religious organizations face restrictions, psychosocial programs often fail to reach local communities. World Relief’s leaders note that the ability to integrate faith into healing—without coercion—is key to the program’s success.
Measuring Success and Facing Challenges
The Hope Groups approach will expand into at least ten countries in 2026, from Ethiopia to Colombia. Still, challenges remain: scaling facilitator training, navigating cultural taboos about mental health, and securing stable funding.
Some humanitarian analysts emphasize that rigorous, independent evaluation will be essential as the program scales.
World Relief has pledged to continue transparent assessment as implementation grows.
Hope as a Community Force
Ultimately, the Hope Groups initiative demonstrates how a faith-based organization can expand the definition of humanitarian relief—from material survival to emotional and spiritual renewal. By leveraging their freedom to act on religious conviction, World Relief is filling a gap that traditional aid often overlooks.
As Lanre Williams-Ayedun concluded in the launch announcement:
“It is an honor to combine our lifesaving humanitarian assistance programming with this state-of-the-art model that supports families in crisis.”
When faith is free to serve, hope becomes contagious.
Steve Bowcut is an award-winning journalist. He is an editor and writer for Religious Freedom Under Fire as well as other security and non-security online publications. Follow and connect with Steve on Twitter, Substack, and Facebook.
