War Child exists to protect children. We are a non-governmental humanitarian organisation. Our independence includes an obligation not to support any armed actor, regardless of their position in a conflict. This is fundamental to our ability to work in contested spaces. We must prioritise the needs of the most vulnerable children, wherever they are, above all else. Our strict impartiality, whilst staying true to our values and ways of working, means we are able to build trust within communities, and continue to treat all children equally, and with the respect they deserve.
These principles have always been a fundamental part of our work; they have been critical to hold onto in the context of the October 7th attack and its aftermath. A rising tide of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other prejudice must be condemned – and we do that unequivocally. Beyond that, we can all agree that children do not start wars, but they do bear the brunt of them. Our position as a humanitarian agency, committed to supporting children wherever we see need, has never been more important.
Much of our focus in 2023 was on forming the War Child Alliance, alongside War Child organisations in the Netherlands, Sweden and Germany, and Children in Conflict in the USA. Between us we will fund a global programme across 14 countries to provide education and psychological support to one million children a year. We believe that by pooling our resources and sharing our expertise, we can help more children around the world whose lives are affected by conflict.
War Child UK has an important role to play in bedding in the new Alliance organisation, as well as refocusing our efforts on fundraising, comms and advocacy support that will be crucial to ensuring the Alliance’s longer-term success. The scale of the challenge has never been bigger, but the strength we have established in our fundraising and the unwavering commitment of our team and key supporters means we are in strong position to respond to this challenge.
We reached 361,274 children, young people and carers in 2023, helping them access education and receive the psychological support they desperately need to recover from the trauma of experiencing conflict. When children face unprecedented threats to their safety and wellbeing, we will continue our vital work making sure that we are there for them – and that the work we do will have a positive impact on their childhood and future lives
