February is often celebrated as a month of kindness — a time to express care and affection for those we love. This message feels especially meaningful to our team this year.

The past few weeks have been particularly challenging for those of us in the humanitarian and development space. As frozen funding disrupts critical programs, we’ve connected with each of our partners, listened to the struggles they face and admired the resilience they continue to show.

Now more than ever, we want to remind them that they are not alone.

Their work matters. Their communities matter. The people they serve and the goals they pursue — clean water, sustainable food sources, income generation, and climate-resilient crops (just to name a few!) — are profoundly important.

These goals are worth fighting for, and these communities are worth supporting. This month, we invite you to embrace kindness in whatever way you can.

Below you’ll find ways to give to our Emergency Relief Fund, join our Kindness Challenge, or take a moment to learn about an cause you can advocate for.

Your continued generosity to our global partners is a powerful gift. We are so grateful for you.

In solidarity,

Carissa Youssef, MBA
Executive Director, ODW

As you have likely heard, the U.S. State Department has issued a stop order on nearly all foreign aid (USAID). This isn’t just a pause on future programs—it’s an abrupt halt on previously approved funding, including aid that was already reaching vulnerable communities.

While One Day’s Wages does not receive government funding, many of our partners do. This sudden freeze has placed life-saving programs at risk, forcing difficult decisions.

We’ve been in close contact with all of our partners to understand the impact. Here’s just a few highlights of what we’re seeing:

• In Cameroon, a maternal and child health program has been suspended.
  In Afghanistan, two partners have had to halt social services for survivors of human trafficking.
  In Zambia, social work and policy reform initiatives for vulnerable children have been put on hold.
  In Uganda, a malaria prevention program has been suspended.

This crisis underscores the importance of community-driven giving. Your generosity ensures that these vital programs can continue, even in the face of uncertainty.

If you’d like to stand in the gap with us, please consider making a donation to our Emergency Relief Fund—every contribution helps sustain critical work in communities most affected.

Did you know that Impact is one of our core values? But what does that actually mean? Impact can be tricky to define and easy to make assumptions about.

At One Day’s Wages, we believe impact is more than the number of wells drilled or classrooms built—it’s about long-term, sustainable change that transforms lives. We also believe impact should be self-determined, shaped by the voices and priorities of local communities. In our latest blog post, Daphne Fowler, our Global Impact Director, explores how true impact goes beyond numbers and why the most meaningful change often comes from what we least expect.

Pictured above: Our partner SPRODETA leads a workshop for mothers on how to support girls in managing menstruation while at school.

Rowing for Change: How One Teen is Turning Cardio into a Force for Good

We talk a lot at ODW about how collective impact can make a difference, and we believe it — with all our hearts. In fact, our team has a front row seat to watch some pretty incredible people taking action to fund causes they care about.

That’s why I want to introduce you to John Zhang, a Washington State high schooler. John decided to take his love of rowing and turn it into a force for good. His idea was simple. He would raise funds for clean water by getting his friends and family to sponsor his “strokes”. His story is a reminder that together — as everyday, ordinary people — we can take what we have and invest it into causes we care about.

Read his inspiring journey here and reach out if you want help to start fundraising for a cause you believe in. Whether its helping underserved communities have access to clean water, education, or healthcare, or coming alongside global partners investing into refugee resilience, climate resilience, or more — we are here to help you make a difference. 

Starting tomorrow, our team is committing to an act of kindness every day—and we’d love for you to join us!

✨ Here’s how to participate:

1️⃣ Download the Kindness Challenge sheet below.
2️⃣ Follow the daily kindness prompts (or create your own!).
3️⃣ Share your experience on social media using #odwkindnesschallenge and tag @OneDay’sWages so we can celebrate kindness together!

Let’s spread generosity and make the world a little brighter—one small act at a time. 💛