WAR CHILD AIMS

War Child was founded upon a fundamental goal: to advance the cause of peace through investing hope in the lives of children caught up in the horrors of war.

As you read this, over 30 wars and conflicts rage around the world. Some fill our TV screens with appalling images of distress, emphasising war’s brutalising effect on man.

Many of these wars go unreported, often due to political expediency or lack of interest. They reveal a shaming pattern: Sixty million people have been killed in wars during the 20th Century. Over 80% of war casualties are now civilians - mainly women and children.

Children are amongst the first casualties of any armed conflict, always the most vulnerable and innocent of victims. In the last decade alone 1.5 million children have died in wars. Four million have been disabled and a further 10 million traumatised.

The severe psychological wounds that war inflicts on children can scar them for life, crippling the very generations that must one day rebuild their devastated countries. For the future peace of the world we must do everything in our power to help these war children.

War Child operates on three levels to achieve our objectives:
As an implementing agency, identifying, developing and staffing aid projects and programmes.
As a grant-making trust, providing funding and logistical support for other non-governmental organisations.
As a pressure group, forging links with the media and entertainment industries in order to promote awareness of the problems facing children in war zones and mobilise public support on their behalf.

War zones
War Child interprets the term ‘war zone’ to include areas of current armed conflict, areas where children are still suffering from the devastation of war leaves in its aftermath; and areas where children’s lives are in jeopardy due to poverty, violence and disease.