Who we are
 

Our History



Save the Children was founded in London on 19th May 1919 by Eglantyne Jebb (pictured right), who was driven by the appalling plight of Europe's starving children in the wake of the First World War. 

Eglantyne Jebb (Copyright: Save the Children Australia)

Eglantyne Jebb drafted the Declaration of Rights of the Child in 1923, which was adopted by the then League of Nations in 1924 and subsequently ratified by the United Nations in 1959 as part of its Charter.

She determined to champion their rights, succeeding in raising funds to send them food and medicine.

 Child on swing, Ethiopia. Silhouette of small child swinging high up in the air with sky and sun behind. (Copyright: Karin Beate Noesterud, Save the Children Norway)

An in-depth review of its articles was prompted by 1979's International Year of the Child and in November 1989, the final draft was adopted by the UN General Assembly.

Save the Children's philosophy - based upon the belief that children have rights which should be upheld and respected - rapidly spread and was soon adopted by like-minded people in a number of countries where organisations bearing the same name were formed.  We believe in involving children in issues and decisions that will directly influence their lives, as well as the communities in which they live. 

Child participation can only be genuine and effective through listening and respecting children's views and the way in which they choose to express them.
This process involves nurturing their strengths, interests and abilities through the provision of meaningful opportunities to contribute to their own development and that of their peers, families and communities.

Save the Children Australia is an organisation that upholds the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) through support for development assistance programs in Australia and overseas.  

Today, Save the Children works in over 100 countries, including Australia - where our branches were established over 50 years ago - making a reality of children's rights to survival, development.