“Humanity owes the child the best it has to give.” - Eglantyne Jebb
The story of Save the Children is one of hope and deeply passionate and committed people, determined to make the world a better place for all our children.
It began with one woman who changed the world’s response to children in need.
19 May 1919: Eglantyne Jebb launched a worldwide movement - the Save the Children Fund. She was driven by the belief that all children have the right to a healthy, happy and fulfilling life.
1923: Jebb drafted the first Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which became one of the central inspirations for the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This convention is also the foundation on which we continue Eglantyne Jebb’s work, building a future where every child thrives and every right is upheld.
1944: Save the Children began its work in South Africa by supporting children and their families in some of the country’s most marginalised communities.
2013: A South African organisation dedicated to children’s futures, Save the Children South Africa was formed to champion children’s rights. It later became an official member of Save the Children International through the merger of Save the Children Gauteng, Save the Children KwaZulu-Natal, Save the Children UK, and Save the Children Sweden.
