War Child envisions a world where no child knows war.
War Child’s mission is to help children in war-affected communities reclaim their childhood through access to education, opportunity and justice. War Child takes an active role in raising public awareness around the impact of war on communities and the shared responsibility to act.
ABOUT WAR CHILD
We live in an increasingly violent world. Armed conflict is spreading at an alarming rate. At the same time, the very nature of war is changing. It is presenting terrifying new dangers for children and their families. Conflicts are now led by armed groups that defy borders and rules of war. Civilians – particularly women and children – are often targeted with extreme violence to inflict maximum casualties and terrorize communities. Mass abductions are commonplace and children are targets.
War violates every right of a child. Children face death, maiming, sexual violence and recruitment as child soldiers. The statistics are terrifying.
War Child has worked in conflict areas since 1999. Over the years, their reach has grown substantially, benefiting hundreds of thousands of children and community members every year. The lessons learned over a decade and a half have helped us to develop and improve their work.
The children we dedicate their work to are the most marginalized and most vulnerable. Their lives have been torn apart by war. Their safety is compromised. Their families have lost all means of supporting them, and there is no longer education nor the legal protection that we take for granted. Many have been forced from their homes and, in many cases, their countries.
Local people are vital to our success. 95% of their staff are from the countries where we work. We have local partner organizations in each of those countries. They bring a wealth of knowledge and shared experience that ensures their work fits the needs of the community.
Childhood is shaped by many influences. Families, communities, schools, local authorities and governments all have a duty of care for children and an influence on their lives. We work with them to ensure that children are given the support they need to overcome the effects of conflict.
Their work is only possible because of those who support us. This includes UN agencies like UNICEF and UNHCR, the European Union and the governments of Canada and the United States. This diversity is testament to their record of success.
