By Wahome Ngatia
In a powerful debut, Compassion International was crowned NGO of the Year at the NGO Awards 2025, marking a stirring moment for the organisation as it claimed top honours in its very first participation.
Speaking from the podium, Senior Partnerships Manager Newton Midamba held the gleaming trophy aloft and reflected on the journey:
“This is the first time that Compassion is participating in the NGO Awards. It’s a huge pleasure to win it, and we acknowledge the support of all our beneficiaries. We work with churches, and our mission is to free children from the hold of poverty—in Jesus’ name.” the partnerships manager said.
The awards gala, held at Nairobi’s Grand Argyle Hotel, drew over 300 leaders from civil society, government, and donor organisations. More than 90 organisations and individuals had been nominated across 18 categories, with winners selected through a hybrid system of 60 percent public voting and 40 percent expert panel assessment.
KRA Chairman Ndiritu Muriithi, who presented the award, underscored the economic importance of NGOs, revealing that the sector contributes KSh 53 billion annually—largely through PAYE from NGOs’ employees.
A Legacy of Holistic Care
Compassion International, a Christian child-sponsorship NGO founded in 1952 and operating in over 25 countries, has long championed a holistic development model that nurtures not only physical and educational needs but spiritual and emotional growth.
In Kenya, Compassion partners with more than 470 local churches, serving nearly 140,000 children and youth across 31 counties. Their ministry rests on four key outcome areas:
- Capacity for Economic Self-Sufficiency: equipping young people with vocational skills, financial training, and education so they can support themselves and others.
- Youth Agency: nurturing leadership, character, and vision.
- Spiritual Development: helping children and youth grow in their relationship with Christ and engage positively in their communities.
- Well-being: supporting physical and mental health, self-esteem, and positive relationships.
These dimensions are woven into a program cycle implemented in partnership with church partners, encouraging continuous learning, evaluation, and contextual adaptation to meet the unique needs of each community.
Why This Win Matters
For Compassion International, the NGO of the Year award is not just a trophy—it’s a recognition of long-term impact. Through child-focused interventions, they are not only alleviating immediate suffering (such as providing medical aid or education supplies) but investing in generational transformation.
According to their 2023 annual report, more than 70 percent of Compassion’s funding supports their core child- and youth-development programme across the globe. Their financial accountability is strong, too: in 2022, they spent $813.9 million on program services, serving over 2.3 million children worldwide.
In Kenya specifically, their 2022 financials show an income of KSh 5.24 billion, with 88.7 percent of those funds going directly into child-related programs.
Looking Forward
As Compassion International basks in its well-earned recognition, the award highlights not only past achievements but points to the promise of sustained, transformational work. Their model—tightly integrated with local church structures—demonstrates that development rooted in dignity, faith, and community can be both effective and scalable.
“This award is not just ours,” Midamba said in closing. “It belongs to every child we serve, every church partner, every sponsor who believes in possibility over poverty. Together, we will continue to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name.”
In an NGO sector that plays a vital role in Kenya’s social and economic fabric, Compassion International’s win is a reminder that thoughtful, faith-driven, and holistic interventions can shine—not just in service, but also in recognition.
