In May 2024, Compassion International announced the release of a new study showing the positive impacts on alumni who have participated in Compassion programs in partnership with local churches.
The study, titled “100 and 1 Alumni: Long-Term Impact and Ripple Effect”, focuses on 99 Compassion program alumni in the Dominican Republic. With an average age of 30 years and an average of 12.72 years in a Compassion program among study participants, this research project highlights the sustainable, whole-life transformation that Compassion is able to bring to program participants and their communities through the interventions it delivers in partnership with local churches.
“The findings of this study illustrate the powerful impact the local church and a sponsor can have on a child in poverty,” says Amy Pennar, Ph.D, child development expert, Compassion behavioural scientist and Principal Research Analyst for the study. “We are excited to have research that shows the significance of Compassion’s program interventions, especially in the areas of social, educational and economic impact on children living in the Dominican Republic.”
Take a look at some of the key findings that the study attributes to participating in Compassion’s program as a child.
Individual Impact
Surveyed participants who participated in Compassion’s program as children said that the following effects have lasted into their adult life:
- 97 per cent of individuals said that they were released from poverty
- 95 per cent of individuals reported that participating in the program gave them a feeling of hope as an adult
- 95 per cent of individuals reported achieving their educational goals
- 95 per cent of individuals said their Compassion centre help to instill self-confidence in them
- 93 per cent of individuals said their Compassion changed their lives
Ripple Effects
Surveyed Compassion alumni also said that they were able to see the following ripple effects thanks to their participation:
- 92 per cent of individuals said that participation helped them provide a better life for their children
- 90 per cent of individuals said that they serve and volunteer in their community
- 79 per cent of individuals said they were able to break the cycle of poverty in their family
According to Compassion Dominican Republic Director Tony Beltran, over 70,000 children throughout the country are impacted by the partnership Compassion has with over 230 frontline churches. Beltran knows firsthand the hope that Compassion brings into the lives of these children and their families—he himself is a Compassion alumnus.
“When I was a child, I didn’t even think about a future. It was at the Compassion child development centre that they helped me to dream,” Beltran says.
Tony Beltran, National Director at Compassion Dominican Republic (in blue), is an example of the generational impact of Compassion church partnerships.
As a leading global child development organization, Compassion’s work makes a uniquely sustainable impact on over 2.3 million children and youth in 29 countries. By partnering with local churches around the world, long-term relationships are built that enable local leaders to implement effective programming and deliver whole-life care. Compassion anchors its mission in being church-driven, knowing that local churches are best positioned to know the context of and respond to the needs of their neighbourhoods. This anchor allows Compassion to be a Good Neighbour to the global neighbourhood.
Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado, president and CEO of Compassion International, sees the results of this study as a powerful illustration of the vital part local churches play in carrying out the mission of releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name. “We’re pleased to play a small role in partnership with local churches in the Dominican Republic and many other countries around the world to positively impact the lives of children living in poverty,” he said.
Learn about the generational change Compassion church partnerships bring to the Dominican Republic.
This story was adapted from a Compassion International press release published in May 2024, titled “New Research Shows Substantial Impact on Participants in Compassion Programs”.
