Save the Children

Our story begins in a specific place and time: London, England, in the year 1919. This was just after a massive conflict, World War I, had ended. The war had affected countries all over the world, and many families were struggling. A woman named Eglantyne Jebb saw that children, in particular, were suffering greatly. She understood that in times of trouble, children are often the most vulnerable. This inspired her to take action based on a powerful and important belief: that all children, no matter where they live or what their background is, have rights.

This powerful idea led her to start our organization, which we call Save the Children. Our primary purpose, from that first day until now, is to fight for those rights. We work to make sure every child has the chance to get the future they deserve. We believe that a child’s life shouldn't be determined by the country they were born in or the challenges their family faces. Our entire history is built on this single, guiding principle that Eglantyne Jebb first championed.

Our founder did more than just provide food and shelter. She wanted to change the way the entire world thought about children. To do this, she wrote a list of rights in a special document called the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. This was a completely new idea at the time. Before this, many people had not considered that children had their own unique rights separate from adults. Eglantyne’s declaration was groundbreaking because it clearly stated that children need special protection, dedicated care, and opportunities to grow.

The ideas in this document were so important that they did not just stay within our organization. They began to spread, influencing leaders and thinkers around the world. Her work later inspired the creation of a very important international agreement: the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. This is a formal promise made by countries to work together to protect children everywhere. It shows how one person’s clear vision for a better world can grow to make a difference for millions of people for generations to come.

For over 100 years, we have put these ideas into action. Our work has taken us to many countries across the globe. One of our most important jobs is to help during emergencies. When a natural disaster like a flood happens, or when a community is affected by war, children face the biggest risks. We respond quickly to provide essential things like healthy food, clean water to drink, and safe places where children can be sheltered and protected from danger. We also set up temporary learning centers so that children’s education doesn't have to stop.

But our work isn't just about responding to crises. We also focus on helping children in their everyday lives to build a better future. We work with communities to make sure children can go to school and receive a quality education, which is a key to unlocking their potential. We also help them get the medicine and healthcare they need to grow up strong and healthy. Our overall goal is to do more than just help children survive difficult times. We want to provide them with the tools and support they need to learn, grow, and thrive.

Today, we are not just one single group based in London. We have grown into a global movement. This means we are made up of many different Save the Children organizations that work together in over 100 countries. An important part of how we operate is that we are not part of any government. This independence allows us to focus entirely on the needs of children and speak up for them, no matter what.

Our mission continues to be guided by the same core belief that our founder, Eglantyne Jebb, had back in 1919. We believe every child deserves a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn, and protection from all forms of harm. Whether we are responding to an emergency or helping to build a new school, we work hard every day to make the world a better, safer, and fairer place for children, just as we have for more than a century.