Save the Children

We are Save the Children, an organization with a mission to champion the rights and needs of children all over the world. Our work is built on a simple yet powerful belief: every child deserves a future. Our story began more than a century ago, during a time of great difficulty. It was on May 19th, 1919, in London, England, that our founder, a determined and compassionate woman named Eglantyne Jebb, took the first steps to create our organization. The world was just emerging from the devastation of World War I, and while the fighting had stopped, the suffering had not. Eglantyne Jebb saw that children in Germany and Austria, countries that had been Britain's enemies in the war, were facing terrible hunger and sickness. She knew that these children were innocent victims of the conflict and needed help urgently. At that time, the idea of helping people from former enemy nations was very unpopular. Many people were still angry and hurt by the war. But our founder believed deeply in a principle that transcended politics and borders: every single child has a right to life and care, regardless of where they were born or what their government had done. This conviction was the seed from which our entire global movement would grow.

In the early years, our focus was on providing immediate, life-saving aid. But Eglantyne Jebb soon realized that charity alone was not enough. Handing out food and medicine could help a child survive today, but it couldn't guarantee their safety or well-being tomorrow. She understood that for children to truly thrive, their basic needs had to be recognized as fundamental rights—promises that the world had a duty to keep. This led her to do something truly groundbreaking. In 1923, she drafted a short, clear document she called the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. It was a list of principles stating that all children, everywhere, have the right to the things they need to grow up healthy and happy. This included the right to have enough food, access to healthcare, an opportunity for education, and, crucially, protection from all forms of harm and exploitation. This was a revolutionary concept. It proposed that humanity owed a special duty of care to its youngest members. The idea quickly gained support, and in 1924, the League of Nations, a forerunner to the United Nations, officially adopted our declaration. This was a monumental step, marking the first time the international community formally acknowledged the special rights of children. Decades later, this foundational text inspired and shaped the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has become the most universally accepted human rights treaty in history.

From our beginnings in post-war Europe, our work began to spread across the world. The challenges facing children were not limited to one continent or one conflict. As the decades passed, we responded to other major global crises, including the immense suffering caused by World War II. We also expanded our work to provide aid to children affected by natural disasters, famines, and other conflicts around the globe. As knowledge of our mission grew, it inspired people in other countries to take action. They established their own, independent Save the Children organizations, each dedicated to the same core principles set forth by Eglantyne Jebb. This organic growth created a powerful global movement, with many separate national groups all working toward the same goal. For many years, these organizations operated independently. However, as our collective reach grew, it became clear that we could have an even greater impact by working together more closely. To achieve this, the independent groups came together in 2012 to form Save the Children International. This alliance allows us to coordinate our global efforts, share resources and expertise, and speak with a unified voice on behalf of children everywhere. It helps us respond to large-scale emergencies more efficiently and run development programs that benefit millions more children.

Today, we carry forward the mission that began in a London office in 1919. Our work now reaches over 100 countries, where we continue our commitment to ensuring that every child is healthy, educated, and safe. Our modern programs are designed to address the most critical needs children face. We provide essential healthcare and nutrition to give children a healthy start in life. We work with communities to set up schools and learning opportunities, even in the most difficult circumstances, such as in refugee camps or areas recovering from conflict. When disaster strikes—whether it's an earthquake, a flood, or a war—we are there to provide emergency relief and help families rebuild their lives. Every aspect of our work is guided by that foundational belief that a child's potential should not be limited by who they are or where they are born. We continue to advocate for children's rights at local, national, and international levels, just as our founder did. By combining direct, hands-on help with powerful advocacy, we strive to help millions of children not only survive but also reach their full potential, creating a better future for everyone.