Transforming children's lives in 2024

Welcome to the second edition of the Impact for Children newsletter! Our goal is to keep you informed with top-tier research, updates on ongoing humanitarian crises, showcase the impact of our life-saving work on children's lives and share insights from our experts on children's rights.

In this edition of Impact for Children, explore stories of hope from our programmatic work, learn how child activists are making a positive change in their communities, get updates and stories from Gaza and Sudan and access our newly-launched "Tips for Online Safety" series!

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Playing. Learning. Exploring. Dreaming. Making new friends. Being cared for when sick. Having a safe and secure home, surrounded by loved ones ❤️

These are the cornerstones of a happy and healthy childhood. And yet for millions of children across the globe, these most basic building blocks are being ripped away. 

Increasingly severe climate disasters, more violent and protracted conflicts, and deepening inequalities and economic shocks are shattering the lives and futures of children worldwide. 

But there is hope.

The challenges are undoubtedly huge, but so is our determination to protect children.

With your support we have grown to become an influential and powerful ally for children worldwide, supporting them to raise their voices, make demands of their leaders, and campaign for their rights to achieve lasting, positive change.

Click here to find out how we have improved children's lives this year.

100 years of children's rights

100 years ago, Save the Children's founder, Eglantyne Jebb, was the first person to articulate that children are people, not the possessions of adults, and therefore deserve to have their own fundamental rights.

She shared her vision with the world when she drafted the historic Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child. 

Our work is still guided by children’s rights today. Find out more here.

Our global impact: Protecting children, their rights and wellbeing

Banning FGM in Gambia: A historical win for girls

FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) has a real negative impact on the health, safety, and physical integrity of girls and women and it violates their right not to be subjected to torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and, in some cases, the right to life.

In November 2015, the former President Yahya Jammeh announced the banning of FGM. But, in March 2024, in an unprecedented turn of events, this ban on female genital mutilation was nearly reversed.

The rejection by vote of the withdrawal of this law is a testimony to the remarkable efforts of countless local civil society actors such as Child Protection Alliance (CPA), INGOs such as Save the Children and Coalitions such as Joining Forces who came together to campaign and protect girls' rights. Read the full article here.

New climate resilient school opens in Pakistan

A new climate resilient school we built in Pakistan's Sindh province, where over 2 million children still lack adequate classrooms after the 2022 floods, opened a few weeks ago.

We hope this school will pave the way for more similar projects in the area and will help get more children getting back to learning❤️ Click here to learn more about this project.

Pulse Oximeter: The powerful device transforming child healthcare

Pulse oximetry has become an indispensable tool for improving the management of childhood illnesses, particularly among children aged 0-59 months.

Supported by Save the Children’s USAID-funded Kulawa Project in partnership with local government, the introduction of pulse oximeters has empowered healthcare workers in Niger to detect hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels) early, long before symptoms escalate into life-threatening crises. Read the full article.

Article written by Omar Ango, Director of the Aikawa Integrated Health Centre, Niger.

The Power of Child Activists: Driving Positive Change and Impact

Young people deploy drones in Malawi to map garbage hotspots and wipe out disease

16 young activists are harnessing drone technology to map waste management practices across local markets in Malawi. Leveraging the data collected, they are engaging key decision-makers to advocate for improved waste management policies.

Additionally, they are using these insights to develop and implement Social and Behavior Change strategies, aiming to encourage sustainable practices and community involvement in waste reduction. Read the full article.

Vanuatu teen climate activist addresses the International Court of Justice

Vepaia, a young climate activist from Vanuatu, took the stand at the ICJ at the beginning of December. She advocated for the inclusion of children’s rights in the climate justice debate and called states to recognise their obligation to protect future generations.

Find out more about Vepaia, and how we supported her on her journey to the ICJ. Read the full article here.

Stories of resilience from ongoing humanitarian emergencies

GAZA

Saving lives amid blockades: How Save the Children brought hope to Gaza

Since August 2024, families across Gaza have faced an escalating humanitarian crisis and extreme food shortages. We've launched an urgent operation to deliver lifesaving food aid to the most vulnerable communities in northern and southern Gaza.

Leila*, 48, a mother of three children told us: "The food parcel came at the exact moment we needed it the most. My children hadn’t eaten anything for days, and your support brought us hope. It’s more than just food; it’s a lifeline for my family."

Read the full article to learn how we are brining hope to families in Gaza.

A doctor's story of hunger in Gaza

Nearly all 1.1 million children in Gaza are unable to get enough to eat after a year of Israeli bombardment and near-total siege. Children are dying because of malnutrition, dehydration and disease. But they are not giving up.

“The resilience of people in Gaza, especially children, inspires me deeply. They refuse to lose their will to live, clinging to a love for life that defies all odds.”

Doctor Jamal Imam* is a Palestinian nutrition specialist working for Save the Children in Gaza. He shares his experience of resilience and perseverance in this blog. Read the full article.

SUDAN

First humanitarian cargo flight with essential medical supplies for children lands in Blue Nile state

The first cargo flight carrying critical drugs and medical supplies arrived in Blue Nile state at the end of November, amid a worsening humanitarian crisis - the first humanitarian flight to the region since the conflict began 19 months ago.

The medicines are now being distributed to hospitals and clinics to treat families and children.

Save the Children is currently running nine health facilities including two facilities specifically providing heath care to internally displaced people in Blue Nile. Read the full article.

Staff Account: "I sent my children away from El Fasher to save their lives"

“My wife gave birth to our youngest child the day the war began. The fighting had just reached El Fasher, and everyone was in chaos.

My house was bombed twice while my family was still together. The first time it was bombed my children were all crying and screaming. We stayed together for another three months, but the house was bombed again. That’s when I decided my children needed to leave."

Save the Children worker Amar Osman* shares his account from the besieged city of El Fasher in Sudan as violence continues across the country. Read the full testimony here.

Useful guides and resources

Stop the War On Children - Pathways to Peace Report

Our new report "Stop the War On Children: Pathways to Peace" has revealed that the number of grave violations committed against children in war rose 15% in 2023 to over 31,000 documented cases, the highest level since reporting started in 2005.

An average of 31 children a day were killed or maimed and the biggest increases in crimes against children were recorded in the occupied Palestinian territory and Sudan.

This report is devastating and leaves no doubt that the world is getting more dangerous for children. Read the full report where you can find our recommendations on how states must take action to #StopTheWarOnChildren.

You can also help by signing the #StopTheWarOnChildren petition here.

Online Safety Series

The number of children with access to the internet is on the rise. Although it comes with huge benefits it can also leave children at an increased risk of harm.

The report, ‘Protecting Children from Online Grooming’, highlighted children’s calls for better education, technical innovations, and support from adults to navigate online interactions safely.

That's why together with experts in online safety we have developed a new series of tips to help you keep your children safe online. You can find the three guides below:

1. Guide: How to help children you know stay safe online.
2. Tips for keeping children under 12 safe online.
3. Online Safety: Tips for keeping your teenagers safe.

Save and share these tips with family and friends!

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