Save the Children: Helping Kids in Need for Over 90 Years

In 1919, British teacher and sociologist Eglantyne Jebb founded the Save the Children Fund in England to help children affected by the war in central Europe. More than a decade later, a group of Americans inspired by Jebb's vision established Save the Children in America, with the immediate goal of assisting the kids and families living in the Appalachian Mountains during the Great Depression. Today, Save the Children is the leading independent charity dedicated to supporting children in need worldwide. With a presence in over 50 countries, the organization provides families and communities with the essential tools to lift them out of poverty, poor health, hunger, and illiteracy.

Save the Children oversees a number of programs that all aim to create permanent, positive change in the lives of underprivileged kids in the United States and around the world. One of the issues that the organization addresses is HIV/AIDS – Save the Children works with communities in Asia, Eurasia, Africa, and the Caribbean to raise awareness about the disease as well as provide care for those affected by it. Additionally, Save the Children helps vulnerable families in nearly 30 countries to help ensure they have secure livelihoods and can afford basic needs and services.

Save the Children supports education programs for kids in the most marginalized parts of the world as well. Last year, the charity's efforts reached almost 10 million children. Recently, athletes Abou Diaby and Johan Djourou of popular English football club Arsenal headed to Beijing to visit the club's educational project in partnership with Save the Children. During their visit, Diaby and Djourou played football, read stories, and made arts and crafts with the youngsters. The joint project will train 200 teachers and 20 head teachers to improve the quality of education in some of Beijing's most under-resourced schools.