By Tess Sison, CJI Communications Coordinator

“The world is facing a crisis of solidarity—a crisis of humanity that excludes others and creates a culture of indifference,” said Fr. Rampeoane Hlobo, SJ, Director of the Justice and Ecology Office for the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar. Speaking at a webinar celebrating Canadian Jesuit International’s 70^th anniversary in September, Fr. Hlobo captured the reality of 2025, a year that tested the world amid intense uncertainty and instability.

In January, the United States government abruptly halted approximately 86% of its foreign aid.  The unprecedented move sent shockwaves through the humanitarian community. For millions living in poverty and displaced by war, persecution, and climate disasters, it meant the sudden loss of food, medicine, health care, and education. For Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), a CJI partner, it represented a 30% reduction in its total international funding for 2025. It also affected CJI partner Fe y Alegria, which supports school feeding programs and provides psychosocial support in five countries.

In response, CJI launched an urgent appeal to support Jesuit partners whose life-saving work was hammered by the cuts. CJI also redoubled its efforts. During the fiscal year 2024–2025, CJI supported 39 projects in 22 countries, contributing $2.65 million to initiatives that serve the poor and marginalized in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Each project represented a commitment to a faith that does justice—made possible through the generosity of CJI donors.

In a context that grew more precarious, these projects were critical.  CJI partners have warned of an accelerating human rights crisis, citing  crackdowns on dissent in parts of the world. They informed CJI staff of how the communities they serve continue to grapple with the impact of the climate crisis, armed conflicts, widening gender gaps, generative AI-driven misinformation, and economic volatility.

Amid this upheaval, the call to solidarity also grew louder. During a CJI visit to Honduras, Fr. Ismael “Padre Melo” Moreno, SJ, former director of CJI partner ERIC-Radio Progreso, reminded us of the church’s role in times of turmoil:   “It can serve as a testament to not seeking power, but rather to serving—to being close to society and to the needs of the people, not out of charitable devotion, but out of social responsibility.”

Even in the face of mounting crises, hope also persists. “Hope is not optimism or wishful thinking,” said Fr. Hlobo. “It is concrete—it is born when a refugee woman learns to read, when a small-scale farmer revives their land, when youth stand up to defend the planet and their future.”

Throughout 2025, CJI, its partners, and supporters lived out that hope, reminding us that solidarity, though tested, can be one of humanity’s most powerful force for change.