Families have been in the spotlight this month as the world marked International Day of Families May 15. Yet, it’s hard to think about this without considering the Ukrainian families living through war.
Imagine six million have fled the country, eight million have been displaced internally and nearly 16 million need humanitarian assistance.
So, when our family at ChildFund Germany sent out a rallying call to help support Ukraine, we answered. This was not one of our program areas, but families needed help.
And, that’s what we do.
ChildFund Germany has been working in Ukraine since 2004, and they were quickly supported by WeWorld, an Italian partner who stepped in to provide support to refugees in Moldova.
You may wonder who these partners are and how we’re all connected? Let me explain.
Our ChildFund Alliance membership connects us with a global network of child-focused development organizations. We partner to improve the lives of children, youth, their families and communities — sparking greater global impact.
We’re all committed to helping Ukraine. And, as a smaller member of the Alliance we’re incredibly thankful to our donors who have already contributed nearly $100,000 to help.
That support is helping to provide shelter, food, medicine, personal hygiene items as well as psychosocial aid and education where it’s needed most.
Without our ChildFund Alliance membership it would have been difficult to find partners we trust so quickly to help Ukraine’s families.
What’s the history and impact of ChildFund Alliance around the world?
Twenty years ago a group of child-centred development organizations joined under the ChildFund Alliance umbrella to create joint initiatives, increase efficiencies and extend reach and influence.
Today, organizations from around the world — from the U.S. to Japan, Australia and beyond — are helping nearly 23-million children in 70 countries and 3,200+ communities. We can do this thanks to 1,600+ trusted local partners who work within our program communities.
With all of that, you can imagine the impact we can all make together for Ukraine, as well as 500,000 sponsored children and their families around the world.
How the ChildFund Alliance is helping us spark greater global impact
It’s easy to see how strength in numbers can make a difference. Our ChildFund Alliance membership makes so much possible…
- We can respond better to humanitarian crisis.
As a global network we reach various countries and communities, building local partnerships and expertise. So, we can start providing aid immediately during emergencies. This is what’s happening in Ukraine now.
- We have a greater chance to influence global change when we work together.
We’re doing that now by collectively addressing emerging threats to children’s safety as a strategic priority for the next three years. (Check out my March blog on how Children Believe is prioritizing digital safety — one emerging threat.)
- We can help provide more sponsorships.
ChildFund Korea, which doesn’t have an operational office, has been sponsoring children through us since 2007. They support more than 600 kids through our Children Believe programs in Burkina Faso and are planning to sponsor more.
- Alliance partners often work together on grant projects.
We’re celebrating a new early childhood development project in Ghana. The grant award from the Korean Organization for International Cooperation Agency is for a three-year project we’ll embark on with ChildFund Korea.
- We can grow and learn through each other, connecting ideas and sharing successes to improve our individual results.
Reaching our mission more effectively with the ChildFund Alliance
When I joined Children Believe in 2020 I was excited the ChildFund Alliance provided opportunities to help more children and effect more lasting change globally through a combined 80+ years of experience.
I’m thankful we can contribute to providing relief to families in Ukraine. I’m inspired by what I hear from the partners on the ground in the war-torn country. Children are finding safe spaces to feel like kids and parents are receiving life essentials.
Sadly, no matter what happens next, life has changed forever for millions. We need to be a support — alongside our ChildFund partners and many other organizations around the world — to help them rebuild their lives.
Learn more about our work in Ukraine and how you can join in sparking greater global impact today.
Image by Yellow Blue Wings