A World of Difference
IOCC assists families, refugees and displaced persons, the elderly, schoolchildren, orphans, and people with disabilities. Aid is offered based on need alone.
Since 1992, your support has made it possible to provide humanitarian relief and sustainable development programs to people across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. IOCC continually works to strategically apply its expertise wherever the needs are greatest.
IOCC operates at the invitation of the Orthodox Church in the countries where it serves. The Church helps identify the needs and beneficiaries and often actively works alongside IOCC in project implementation. IOCC’s close relationship with the Orthodox Church means that we often have access to underserved communities where needs are great and access to assistance is limited.
Program Highlights
Explore the map above, and check out the IOCC blog for project updates and stories of the people you’ve helped.
IOCC has offered a variety of programs for short-term and long-term relief in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia including Kosovo, and Montenegro.
IOCC began working in Ethiopia in 2001, partnering closely with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Development and Inter-Church Aid Commission (EOC-DICAC). Since then, IOCC has worked with the Church, as well as with international and local NGOs, to provide humanitarian and development assistance.
IOCC's humanitarian presence in the country of Georgia dates from 1992, with projects assisting thousands of those displaced by conflict, and continues today.
Since 2012, IOCC has worked closely with Apostoli, the philanthropic organization of the Archdiocese of Athens under the Church of Greece, responding to the extensive financial crisis with more than $37 million in monetary and in-kind support.
IOCC has been working in Haiti since 2010, when a catastrophic 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the island of Hispaniola about 15 miles from Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince — affecting an estimated 3 million people. Haiti’s infrastructure was unable to withstand the strain, and thousands of buildings were destroyed, among them over 3,900 schools. IOCC responded with emergency aid in Haiti within a week of the quake, in collaboration with the Orthodox Church, ACT Alliance members, and other faith-based organizations. IOCC support is now focused on building and rehabilitating Church-run schools.
IOCC has worked in the Holy Land since 1997, collaborating with the local Orthodox Church and other partners, as well as with hospitals, schools, and other community groups, to address various needs through emergency assistance, agriculture aid, economic and educational opportunity, psychosocial support, and other humanitarian programs.
IOCC has operated in Jordan since 2005, offering humanitarian aid and development assistance to help refugees and Jordanians improve their lives and livelihoods.
Since 2001, IOCC has responded to humanitarian needs in Lebanon across sectors—from nutrition and education to water networks—strengthening Lebanese communities and, in more recent years.
IOCC has been in Romania since 2000, offering emergency aid and development projects that support families and children.
IOCC works with and through the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, Department of Ecumenical Relations and Development (GOPA-DERD), as well as interfaith and international partners.
IOCC’s work in Turkey began with emergency response following the deadly earthquakes of 2023, which affected millions of people and upended lives and livelihoods.
Since 2009, IOCC has offered educational assistance and increased access to clean water, supporting good health and access to schooling.
With strong partner relations across Eastern Europe, IOCC is now helping address people’s immediate and long-term needs in both Ukraine and neighboring countries.
Since 2001, IOCC's US Programs have provided more than $60 million in aid and gifts in kind and over 40,000 volunteer hours to survivors of natural disaster.