A Plan for the World's Underprivileged Children

One of the largest and oldest children's development organizations in the world, Plan promotes children's rights and helps millions of kids get out of poverty. The non-profit works in 50 developing nations across Asia, Africa, and the Americas, aiming to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged children. In 2013, Plan reached 78 million kids in over 90,200 communities.

Plan is a child-centered community development organization that not only works with children but also with their families, communities, organizations, and local governments. Plan believes that its programs are more like to succeed and be sustainable when children and adults work together as part of the change process. The organization's approach includes listening to what kids have to say about their rights and concerns and giving them the encouragement and assistance they need to actively find solutions to their problems and realize their full potential.

Plan's work, which is connected to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, focuses on eight core areas: education, health, economic security, protection, water and sanitation, child participation, sexual health, and emergencies.

Plan was founded in 1937 by journalist John Langdon-Davies and refugee worker Eric Muggeridge as Foster Parents Plan for Children in Spain. The organization's original goal was to provide food, accommodation, and education to kids whose lives had been affected by the Spanish Civil War. During World War II, Plan helped displaced children from all over Europe. It gradually moved out of European nations as they recovered and subsequently launched new programs in less developed countries.

Plan has offices in 21 countries around the world, including the UK (international headquarters), Australia, Hong Kong, Italy, Norway, Colombia, South Korea, Spain, and Finland. The Plan team is currently led by CEO Nigel Chapman, who previously served as the director of BBC World Service.