Save The Children International

Child-Centered Photovoice Project: Seeing through the eyes of children affected by the 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye

The 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye devastated millions, leaving children particularly vulnerable as they continue to live in temporary shelters under challenging conditions. The Child-Centered Photovoice Project empowers children aged 5-10 in two container camps in Hatay to document their lived experiences through photography. By capturing moments of their daily lives, these children offer unique insights into their emotions, attachments, and environments. The project, led by Save the Children Türkiye and partners, uses photography as a medium for storytelling, enabling children to express their perspectives, advocate for their needs, and contribute to community dialogue. Through the children’s lenses, themes such as family, nature, play, and the lingering impact of the earthquake emerge, showcasing the resilience of young minds amidst adversity. This participatory approach not only fosters emotional expression but also strengthens connections within the community, highlighting the power of visual narratives in advocating for change and improving child well-being in disaster-affected regions.

Mali Governance Programs: Building Resilience and Improving the Lives of Children, Adolescents, and Marginalized Populations

Save the Children is a leading organization promoting good governance to realize the rights of children and youth in Mali. As a child rights organization, we center children, adolescents, youth and youth-led organizations in advocacy and governance processes. Save the Children Mali’s areas of expertise include: child and youth civic engagement, budget advocacy, social accountability to youth, data on and by young people, civil society strengthening, and partnerships with youth-led organizations and socially excluded groups. As a part of the fabric of civil society in Mali, Save the Children supports long-term development investments and emergency responses across health, education, and protection. Our approach shifts power to children and youth, and to local actors, to enable locally-led development. Our donor partners for this area of work include USAID, Global Affairs Canada, Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK), Sida and the European Union.

Niger Governance Programs: Empowering a Diverse Civil Society, Engaging Youth-Led Organizations and Addressing Inequality

Save the Children has been a pivotal force in Niger since 2005, dedicated to enhancing the lives of children, their families, and communities through a multifaceted approach integrating advocacy, governance, and children’s rights. Operating across Zinder, Diffa, Maradi, Tillabéry, and Niamey, we meld long-term development with emergency response to fortify resilience and achieve sustainable results. Through extensive experience in governance, child rights, and community engagement, Save the Children is uniquely positioned to lead impactful programs that support youth-led and civil society initiatives, advocating for systemic change that benefits children and youth. Our approach shifts power to children and youth, and to local actors, to enable locally led development. Our donor partners for this area of work include USAID, NORAD, Global Affairs Canada, and the European Union.

2023 Malawi Country Office Stories of Change - Localisation Pilot Project

Funded by Save the Children Italy, the Malawi Localisation Pilot Project (Dec 2021-May 2023) aimed at strengthening the capacity of government structures and civil society in Zomba and Neno districts in Malawi to prevent emergencies and respond effectively during emergencies.

Flood Disaster Risk Reduction & Anticipatory Action Activties in Blue Nile, Sudan

During the period from April 2022 to early October 2023, Save the Children Sudan country office successfully implemented disaster risk reduction (DRR) and flood anticipatory action (AA) projects in ten vulnerable communities in the Blue Nile region. These projects employed a comprehensive approach to address critical needs such as safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services, aiming to reduce the risks of waterborne and vector-borne diseases. The projects also focused on safeguarding vulnerable populations, implementing small-scale infrastructure projects, and protecting essential assets and food supplies. The goal was to enhance community resilience, readiness, and partnerships for crisis response. This study evaluates the effectiveness of flood disaster risk preparedness and anticipatory action in mitigating flooding risks in flood-prone communities within the Blue Nile region of Sudan. Using a mixed-method approach, the study compares the impact of floods on supported communities over a two-year period and assesses the situation in supported communities versus similar communities without anticipatory action or flood risk reduction activities. The study findings indicate that the implemented projects had a positive impact on reducing the adverse effects of flooding on shelter and infrastructure within the supported communities. There was a notable decrease in damaged houses, and reduced flood impact in the study group compared to the control group. Feedback from household surveys and key informant interviews further highlighted the positive influence of project activities, including reduced flooding rates and the availability of essential maintenance tools and emergency kits. Despite encountering challenges, the study demonstrates the effectiveness of anticipatory action and disaster risk reduction projects in preventing loss and mitigating harm caused by flooding. Positive outcomes were observed in various areas, such as ensuring food security for the most vulnerable during the flood season, safeguarding crops, and livestock, providing health and nutrition services, advocating for water, sanitation, and hygiene activities, and implementing small-scale defence projects. The assessment underscores the significant impact of flooding on vulnerable communities and the effectiveness of the implemented activities in mitigating these effects. It emphasizes the ongoing need for investment and support for flood-prone communities to strengthen their resilience and address persistent challenges. The crucial role of community empowerment in disaster risk reduction and anticipatory action projects is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of inclusive, transparent, and participatory processes to engage all community members meaningfully. Improved coordination and proactive measures in flood anticipation efforts are deemed critical, stressing the necessity of timely interventions to effectively address potential flooding challenges in the future. Overall, the study provides evidence of the effectiveness of flood risk reduction and anticipatory action in mitigating flooding risks in targeted communities, while emphasizing the need for sustained, multi-sectoral, and integrated approaches.

No War Forward, No Way Back: A qualitative study of the conditions, aspirations and capabilities of Ethiopian youth and child migrants and returnees in Metema

This report focuses on the needs, protection risks, journeys and intentions of Ethiopian child and youth migrants and returnees transiting or effectively stranded in Metema, an Ethiopian town in the northern Amhara Regional State (henceforth the “Amhara region”) that lies on the border with Sudan. Drawing on interviews and focus group discussions conducted in Metema, the report offers recommendations to policymakers, humanitarian programming actors and other migration stakeholders. This study puts forward the following key findings: The vast majority of Ethiopian child and youth migrants residing in and transiting Metema originate from drought-stricken areas elsewhere in the Amhara region. Frequently cited reasons for leaving home related to poverty, hunger, inability to attend school, family responsibilities, peer pressure and a culture of migration, risks related to intercommunal violence and a perceived lack of life prospects. Almost all the children and youth interviewed said they had engaged with brokers who facilitated all or parts of their journey, particularly for movements out of Ethiopia and through Sudan. Since they tend to travel with minimal financial resources, little knowledge and few contacts—in Ethiopia as well as in Sudan—a cycle of dependency is created, leaving children and youth vulnerable to abuse. Children and youth returning from Sudan generally spend less time in Metema than those who are seeking to move on to Sudan, who often find themselves in the town for extended periods. The reasons for immobility in Metema include the current conflict in Sudan, emerging economic opportunities in Metema, lack of financial resources to pay a broker, reluctance to return home empty-handed, and—especially in the case of women—having married and started a family in Metema. None of the interviewed children and youth who intended to move on to Sudan said they had received services in Metema. Returnees fared better, although they said the assistance provided was insufficient, especially with regard to shelter, medication and food. Because of the conflict in Sudan and their lack of savings, most of this study’s participants said they intended to stay and work in Metema for the foreseeable future. Very few were considering returning to their areas of origin in the Amhara region, because to do so empty-handed would constitute a humiliating failure to not have achieved their migration objectives.

School Meals in Ethiopia: Lessons and recommendations from 7 regions of Ethiopia

The School Feeding Programme (SFP) implemented by Save the Children from 2020 to 2023, funded by the Global Partnership for Education, aimed to address the educational challenges faced by 15.5 million out-of-school children in Ethiopia, particularly the 7.7 million in emergency contexts. The SFP provided daily meals or high-density energy biscuits to over 235,000 children in 648 schools across seven regions, alongside supporting Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) facilities and training for teachers, parents, and school management. The program significantly improved school enrolment, attendance, and educational outcomes, enhancing girls’ participation and overall well-being. However, it highlighted the need for equivalent investment in the education system to prevent overcrowding and ensure quality education. The SFP also emphasized the importance of addressing other factors affecting school enrolment and the necessity for sustainable, multi-sector funding models to maintain school feeding programs in crisis-affected areas.

Watoto na Mazingira Flagship Program

The climate crisis is a child rights crisis, harming children’s right to survival, health, education, protection, food and water. Children are bearing the brunt of the crisis as they have longer to live with the climate emergency and will experience more disasters in their lifetimes. Their immune systems are still developing, leaving their rapidly growing bodies more vulnerable to extreme climate variabilities. In Kenya, where almost half the population comprises children, climate-related challenges like frequent droughts and floods exacerbate issues such as water scarcity, disease transmission, and disruption of education. These crises also increase their vulnerability to trafficking, forced labour, and other forms of exploitation. Despite contributing minimally to environmental degradation, children suffer the most from climate hazards hence, it is imperative to recognize children’s agency and include their voices in climate action, as mandated by international conventions and Kenyan law .

Baseline Report Girls Unstopable LEGO Project

Save the Children International in Vietnam (SCI Vietnam) is set to launch a project from 2023 to 2025 in Quang Binh and Binh Duong, with the generous support of the LEGO Foundation. This initiative aims to empower girls aged 10-13 by equipping them with leadership and agency skills, enabling them to realize their full potential. The project leverages the Learning through Play methodology and integrates topics from the Girls Unstoppable technical package. Girls Unstoppable is a curriculum tailored for girls in migration and displacement scenarios. It is adaptable across diverse humanitarian and developmental contexts, addressing the unique needs, vulnerabilities, and capacities of girls and young women. The curriculum is flexible, accommodating varying engagement durations across different settings. The core objective of the “Girl Unstoppable” initiative is to unleash their potential, and together they become strong activists for their rights and be able to make their voices heard on issues that matter to them. The primary beneficiaries are girls aged 10-13 from 20 target secondary schools in two provinces in Quang Binh and Binh Duong Provinces. These girls often hail from public schools lacking quality extracurricular activities due to underestimation and untrained educators. The project, in collaboration with local authorities, will identify and select schools and students fitting the criteria. The project’s outcome for 2024 & 2025 is to ensure that girls aged 10-13 possess the knowledge, skills, and confidence to voice their concerns in a learning-through-play environment. Study Purpose and Key Questions The purpose of this baseline survey will serve as a foundational reference, capturing the starting point from which the project’s interventions will be launched and against which future progress and impact will be measured: • SQ1: How do girls perceive and experience playing, learning through play, safe places, school club availability, and topics they want to explore at clubs? • SQ2: How do young girls rate their power (self-confidence) in vital life and decision-making skills, including Power to Agency, Power within Wellbeing, Power with Solidarity, and Power in Safety? • SQ3: To what extent do schoolgirls demonstrate and practice their leadership skills? Conclusions Play and Learning Experiences: Girls showed enthusiasm for active play and reported positive emotions associated with play, underscoring its importance for their well-being. They feel safest and most joyful at home or with family, yet prefer to play with friends, highlighting the need for safe communal play spaces. Self-Confidence and Decision-Making: High levels of self-confidence and decision-making abilities were evident across various domains, particularly in agency, despite difficulties such as remembering and focusing. Safety emerged as an area for improvement. Leadership Skills: Leadership skills were present but varied according to individual challenges, indicating a need for targeted support to foster these skills among all girls. Recommendations Enhance Play and Learning: Create safer play areas, address accessibility issues, and ensure school environments are free from bullying and violence. Align school club activities with the girls’ preferences. Strengthen Self-Confidence: Continue supporting girls’ self-advocacy and decision-making. Implement strategies to bolster safety to enhance confidence. Cultivate Leadership Skills: Integrate leadership development into programming and provide opportunities for girls to demonstrate agency and influence. Methodology and Limitations The Girl Unstoppable project employed a mixed-method approach for the baseline survey, comprising both qualitative and quantitative elements. Structured surveys and questionnaires were administered to 240 girls to capture measurable data on their confidence and leadership, as well as their participation in play-based learning. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) conducted across four schools enriched the data, offering deeper insights into the girls’ leadership experiences and decision-making skills. This comprehensive methodology, underpinned by the MEAL framework, aimed to capture both the breadth and depth of the girls’ experiences to inform the project’s interventions. The study faced limitations due to the potential mismatch of participants between the 2023 baseline survey and the girls attending the 2024 club training sessions. Efforts to mitigate this included coordinating with school management to identify likely participants and expanding the sample size to ensure representativeness. Despite these measures, there remains an acknowledgment that not all surveyed girls will partake in future sessions, which may affect the continuity of individual data tracking.