CHILD SPONSORSHIP:2018 YEAR IN REVIEW

For children like 8-year-old Provy,* attending school isn’t a given … it’s a dream come true. Provy fled her home in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with her mother when she was just 2. She was too young to remember her father being killed by rebels in her homeland or her pregnant mother’s death once they arrived at a refugee camp in Uganda.

Today, Provy is one of four children living with her foster parents in a temporary shelter made of mud and branches in a Ugandan refugee settlement.

At the sponsored early learning center she attends, Provy is one of many children benefitting from our child-friendly spaces program – a life- changing child protection initiative for refugee children who’ve experienced unimaginable violence, loss and trauma.

Maybe someday Provy will be at the front of the classroom, teaching little ones how to overcome hardship and make their own dreams come true.

INSIDE2 Brightening Our Shared Future

8 Reaching Every Last Child

22 Driving Change for Children

Looking for your sponsorship country?

6, 20, 21 27

17, 27 6

12,13, 21 5, 18, 19, 27

5, 26 6, 19

7 15, 28 1, 15

AfghanistanBangladeshBhutan BoliviaEgyptEl SalvadorEthiopiaHaitiIndonesia Malawi Mali

MexicoMozambiqueMyanmarNepalNiger PhilippinesUgandaUnited StatesVietnam Zambia

19 25

8, 17 2, 17, 24

4, 15 22, 23

3, 12, 23 10, 11 7, 16 7, 14

As we celebrate 100 years of pioneering work for children, Save the Children continues to drive enduring change for girls and boys in the United States and around the globe. Without child sponsors like you, none of this would be possible. Together, we’re ensuring kids can grow up healthy, learning and safe – no matter who they are or where they’re born.

This report is a chronicle of the tremendous progress your child sponsorship makes possible. It’s a testament to how much we can achieve together. Above all, it’s a celebration of the power of sponsorship to drive change that ripples throughout children’s lives, their families and entire communities. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it.

SPONSORSHIP YEAR IN REVIEW 32 SAVE THE CHILDREN

BRIGHTENING OURSHARED FUTURE

MEET TEACHER PROVY

“ In the Congo, we had big farms to grow maize and beans. But the situation was not good at all because rebels were coming into our villages, day and night, and children could not go to school for fear they would be attacked.” – Foster mom of Provy

*Child’s name changed for protection

Watch Provy’s video and learn more about the tremendous impact sponsors make for refugee children like her.

To watch sponsored kids’ stories come to life, just click the red buttons!

Photo: Victoria Zegler

Phot

o: V

icto

ria

Zeg

ler

CLICK ME

HI, HOW CAN WE HELP?• Partner with a community• Identify children’s needs• Develop an action planWe know that Niger is one of the hardest places to be a child. We also know that when vulnerable kids can go to school and learn, they have a chance to not only survive but thrive. That’s why we launched sponsorship in Niger in 2017 to protect the girls and boys who need it most.

Ever wonder how we start a sponsorship program? We started by rolling up our sleeves to build up our early learners and successful students programs in 5 preschools and 40 primary schools. By 2018, we reached 13,728 children and 5,225 adults, including parents, government officials, teachers and community leaders. This year, we plan to strengthen our partnerships with local officials so we can launch our next two programs – healthy girls and boys and empowered teens – in 2019.  

LET’S GET TO WORK…• Provide community resources• Train families, teachers & leaders• Ensure programs are working for kidsAround the world, 15,000 children under age 5 die every day from preventable causes such as pneumonia and malaria. The good news is that we know what to do to save lives and, with your help, we’re doing just that.

Take El Salvador. In 2018, we continued to collaborate with community partners and provide lifesaving resources to children and families. By providing nutritional kits and education to families impacted by drought, we prevented acute malnutrition in 275 children under 5. We also ensured 98.9% of children under 5 in our sponsorship area received medical checkups at the health center. Next year, we’re shooting for 100%!

YOU’VE GOT THIS!• Review results for children• Empower locals for lasting success• Transition to a new communityEthiopia is a country facing extreme poverty, malnutrition and insufficient resources for health services and education. Even worse, girls and boys in Ethiopia are especially vulnera- ble to child protection issues like harmful traditions, living without family care and unsafe migration.

What changed? Now, more children than ever are attending school, which means they have a better chance to stay healthy and safe. As we look back at our 10 years in the region, we’re proud to report that our programs have reached more than 96,000 children in 200 primary schools, 151 early learning centers and 12 health facilities. Thanks to sponsors, our communities have taken ownership over the programs and it's time for us to move to a new community to continue our work.

Photo: Save the Children in Nepal

4 SAVE THE CHILDREN

2 P H A S E P H A S E

Pho

to: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Nig

er

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Eth

iopi

a1 3 P H A S E

With support from sponsors like you,

we forge local partnerships to provide

tools that empower entire communities

to better support their children’s health,

education, protection and growth.

Then we transition to new communities,

so we can reach even more girls and

boys. This life-changing work takes

about 10 years from start to finish.

By changing the course of childrens'

lives now, we’re breaking the cycle of

poverty for generations to come.

THE PATHWAY TO SUCCESS One Community at a Time

BRIGHTENING OUR SHARED FUTURE

Watch a video of how child sponsorship works to transform the lives of children and create lasting change in the communities where they live.

SPONSORSHIP YEAR IN REVIEW 5

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

El S

alva

dor

CLICK ME

YOUR SPONSORSHIP MADE 2018 GREAT FOR SO MANY KIDS

Healthy Moms and Babies

Healthy Girls and Boys

Early Learners

Successful Students

Empowered Teens

Child Protection, Livelihoods and other life-changing programs for kids

YOUR SPONSORSHIP GIFTS AT WORK

A FEW WAYS YOUR GIFTS CHANGED LIVES:

SPONSORSHIP YEAR IN REVIEW 76 SAVE THE CHILDREN

3%8%

12%

38% 19%

20%

9 Kteacher st r a ined to be more e f fec t i ve

6 K ado lescen t s given l i fe sk i l l s t r a in ing

248 Kchildren received v i s ion & hear ing screen ing s

67 K books d i s t r ibu ted t o suppor t l i t er acy

635 Kchi ldren dewormed

Healthy Moms & BabiesWith your help, we give mothers and babies a healthy start in life. Like in Afghanistan, where neglected children are susceptible to infections from parasites, which can be fatal if left untreated. To make sure these girls and boys have a chance to grow up healthy, we administer deworming treatments and distribute vitamin A supplements to thousands of kids, both in and out of school.

Healthy Girls & Boys Together, we’re ensuring kids stay healthy to learn while learning to stay healthy. In Bolivia – a place where ongoing droughts continue to cause severe water shortages – we do this by working in sponsored schools to install water recycling systems that reuse handwashing water to flush toilets. Together, we make every drop of water count.

Early LearnersWe’re committed to building a solid foundation for success for young girls and boys in places like Dessalines, Haiti, where we’ve installed two brand new play areas designed to promote early learning through play! More than 500 kids have boosted their motor and social skills through out- door play activities because of this.

Successful StudentsWe know that learning today leads to a better tomorrow. That’s why we’re reaching more kids than ever through our Literacy Boost programs around the world. Take Zambia, where we helped more than 1,000 students in 7 schools and 5 reading camps last year! Together, we give kids the tools they need to build their reading skills, comprehension and confidence.

Empowered TeensSponsorship builds skills for a brighter future in places like Vietnam, where parents and young adults are using communication to work out their differences. Thanks to the 150 events we sponsored last year to promote family communication, more than 6,000 parents and caregivers boosted their knowledge and ability to talk with their teens about sensitive subjects like gender norms, early marriage and abuse.

BRIGHTENING OUR SHARED FUTURE

15new schoo ls &playgrounds bui l t

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Hai

ti

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Zam

bia

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Vie

tnam

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Bol

ivia

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Moz

ambi

que

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Indo

nesi

a

A creative way of showing thanks from sponsored children in Indonesia.

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Afg

hani

stan

Every child deserves a chance to succeed, even in the farthest away places.

LAST CHILD

United States

El Salvador

Mali

Egypt

Ethiopia

VietnamBangladesh

Philippines

Indonesia

AfghanistanBhutan

Uganda

Niger

Mexico

Zambia

Malawi

Myanmar

Bolivia

Haiti

Nepal

Mozambique

REACHING EVERY

SPONSORSHIP YEAR IN REVIEW 98 SAVE THE CHILDREN

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Mya

nmar

With your help, we reached more than 2.5 MILLION CHILDREN in 2018. That’s 2,537,803 children across 21 COUNTRIES living better lives BECAUSE OF YOU.

SPONSORSHIP YEAR IN REVIEW 1110 SAVE THE CHILDREN

UNITED STATES

40 K CHIL DREN RE ACHED Breyanna isn’t writing her own legal judgements … yet. But, as her

letter below shows, she has quite a way with words. When she joined us in Los Angeles, CA to celebrate International Day of the Girl, Breyanna helped us raise awareness and highlight the importance of making sure girls have a strong start in life, so they can grow up to be whatever they want to be.

Now a fifth-grader, Breyanna has participated in Save the Children’s afterschool literacy programs and SummerBoost camp for five years.

Imagine the Honorable Judge Breyanna sitting on the bench someday – living proof that girls everywhere can write their own future.

Thanks to sponsors like you, 28% more children are reading at or above grade level!

In 2018, we piloted our new math program which helps develop early numeracy skills in young children as well as strengthen their under-standing of math and accelerate their achievement. This daily program includes hands-on activities and visuals so children can learn in a more interactive way. We are excited to share results with you in the future.

Breyanna celebrates International Day of the Girl with her parents and CEO of Save the Children Carolyn Miles.

Photo: Save the Children U.S. Programs

Phot

o: P

resl

ey A

nn

REACHING EVERY LAST CHILD

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n U

.S. P

rogr

ams

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n U

.S. P

rogr

ams

MEET JUSTICE BREYANNA

12 SAVE THE CHILDREN

REFUGEE SPONSORSHIP

28 K CHIL DREN RE ACHED

There was nothing poetic about it. Just an hour after her family fled in terror from nearing air strikes, bombs destroyed not only their house but their entire neighborhood. Homeless, 4-year-old Aseel and her family traveled from Syria to Lebanon and then to Egypt.

Today, Aseel is a fifth-grader at a sponsored school in Cairo where she studies alongside fellow Syrian refugee children. She enjoys drawing and gymnastics, but especially writing poetry. “The change in Aseel is apparent,” her mother says. “Now she loves to talk … she’s always questioning everything!”

Who knows, maybe one day Aseel will be a published poet, confidently reciting her work and inspiring shy, quiet children like she once was!

Phot

o: V

icto

ria

Zeg

ler

Photo: Victoria Zegler SPONSORSHIP YEAR IN REVIEW 13

Watch this video to see a heartfelt reading of Aseel’s extraordinary poetry … by the author herself!

REACHING EVERY LAST CHILD

How You Can Help

With over 1 million refugees, Uganda is now the largest refugee- hosting nation in Africa. Syrians like Aseel* (pictured far right) and her family make up 62% of refugees in Egypt … sadly, almost half of them are children.

We’re committed to giving refugee children like Provy and Aseel the childhood they deserve … but we need your support. Use the code below to learn how you can become a refugee sponsor.

Because every child, everywhere, deserves a future.Early learners are making exciting progress in our brand new refugee sponsorship programs in Uganda! Now that more sponsored early learning centers are equipped with print-rich classrooms and enhanced play-based learning, the number of children moving up to primary school rose from 34% in 2017 to 74% last year.  

Through our health outreach programs in refugee communities in Egypt, we’re doing all we can to keep vulnerable girls and boys healthy and safe. In 2018, we made a lifesaving difference by providing first aid kits, vision screenings and health education for 815 refugee and asylum-seeking children.

MEET POET ASEEL

Pho

to: F

redr

ik L

erne

ryd

Our sponsors are helping refugee children like Provy get the support they need to learn and thrive in their new home.

Syria, my country, don’t think that I forgot you because you are inside me. I miss you so much. I miss your aroma, your sand. You will be forever in my heart. My country, wait for me.

– Poem by Aseel, sponsored refugee child in Egypt

*Child’s name changed for protection

Click here to learn more about how you can help Provy and other refugee children.

CLICK ME

CLICK ME

SPONSORSHIP YEAR IN REVIEW 15

“ I know that going to school is very important because it allows me to gain knowledge that I can share with others. If I work hard, I can have something in the future. It can open doors for me.”

– Awa, sponsored child in Mali

Photo: Save the Children in Zambia

In Malawi, girls often skip school or perform poorly because they lack the supplies they need to manage their monthly periods. We’ve increased the number of schools offering modified girls’ bathrooms and sanitary pads because we’re committed to giving every girl what she deserves – a fair chance to succeed in school. 

Our sponsorship programs in Niger have hit the ground running to promote healthy hygiene practices for kids. We’ve already built 25 school bathrooms and supplied 40 schools with soap for handwashing stations. We also distributed mosquito nets to keep kids safe from malaria, the leading cause of death among children in Africa.

14 SAVE THE CHILDREN

Sponsorship is helping Awa write a different future for herself. Awa lives in Mali and has benefitted from sponsorship programs since they were introduced in her community four years ago. According to her mom, sponsorship has made all the difference for Awa, who once struggled with writing. “She’s now engaged. Her attitude towards school has completely changed.” And she has a new favorite subject: reading! Awa’s excited about being able to read letters from her sponsor and write letters back. “I enjoy writing to my sponsor,” she explains. “I like to write about my village.”

Awa participates in Save the Children’s Literacy Boost reading camp at her school. This innovative approach helps kids learn early literacy skills in fun and creative ways. Sounding out words, drawing and playing games with letters are Awa’s favorite reading camp activities. She also likes reading stories to her friends.

When Awa becomes an author one day, maybe she’ll include her sponsor in one of her stories! 676 K

CHIL DREN RE ACHED

AFRICA

Pho

to:

Vic

tori

a Z

egle

r

Pho

to: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Nig

erPh

oto

: Sav

e th

e C

hild

ren

in M

alaw

i

REACHING EVERY LAST CHILD

MEET AUTHOR AWA

Photo: Save the Children in Bangladesh

968 K CHIL DREN RE ACHED

SPONSORSHIP YEAR IN REVIEW 1716 SAVE THE CHILDREN

Sonu’s society is changing. In the small Nepali village where she lives, it’s long been customary for girls to attend school only until 7th grade. This allows them to grasp only a basic education before finding a husband. In Sonu’s community, parents are afraid that if girls become educated, they won’t be obedient or want to get married.

Sonu is in 11th grade and hopes to be allowed to complete her final year of secondary school and then continue her education. “I’d like to become a social worker,” she says. She’s taking the first steps toward that dream by serving as a facilitator in the Choices, Voices and Promises program at her school.

Choices, Voices and Promises works to debunk local gender norms and encourage dialogue within families and communities. Although her parents were hesitant at first, they agreed to participate with Sonu.

Sonu has already seen the difference. The fact that her 19-year- old brother now helps with the laundry and dishwashing proves that the younger generation is getting the message and leading the way for change. This change in mindset is huge!

As a social worker, Sonu may one day help families like hers embrace changes that give girls a say in their own future..

ASIA

“ I want to spread awareness to help girls like me pursue their dreams.”

– Sonu, sponsored child in Nepal

Phot

o: V

icto

ria

Zeg

ler

REACHING EVERY LAST CHILD

Issufo stands proudly in front of his class as he solves a problem on the board.

We collaborated with community partners in Myanmar to celebrate Global Handwashing Day. New sanitation facilities were unveiled at 12 early learning centers while themed events in 14 villages highlighted the importance of hand hygiene for kids, families and communities.

In Bhutan, one in three children age 2-9 lives with at least one disability. That’s why we provided hearing and visual assistance devices to more than 500 sponsored children with impairments last year. We’re also working with government partners to create a national strategy to protect the rights of children with disabilities.

MEET SOCIAL WORKER SONU

Phot

o: V

icto

ria

Zeg

ler

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Bhu

tan

SPONSORSHIP YEAR IN REVIEW 19

Issufo stands proudly in front of his class as he solves a problem on the board.

To make sure girls and boys have quality learning spaces in sponsored schools in Yucatán, Mexico, we built 26 reading libraries. We also stocked them with books on topics like children´s rights, livelihoods and the environment. ¡Feliz lectura (happy reading)!

We’re working in Haiti to make it easier for teens, especially those in remote villages, to access sexual and reproductive health information and services. We reached more than 1,700 young people last year through mobile clinics and saw a 34% jump over 2017 in the number of adolescents taking advantage of the sexual health services available to them.

It’s dangerous to be a child in 11-year-old Anderson’s rural community in El Savador … so dangerous, in fact, that thousands of kids drop out of school every year due to violence. Anderson’s school is located smack in the middle of rival gang territories, and it’s among the most violent in El Salvador.

Today, Anderson’s school has made incredible strides in creating a safe and engaging environment for children to learn. To help with these efforts, we joined forces with local community and government partners to position security personnel outside of the school to protect students. With sponsored afterschool activities in place, kids like Anderson can explore art, music and science without worrying about being safe.

Through sponsorship, Anderson has learned that he’s capable of achieving more than he realized. Anderson hopes to become a famous painter one day, creating bold and beautiful expressions of his childhood hopes and dreams..

LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN

“ If I could give one piece of advice to every child, it would be to keep working hard because you can accomplish everything you want. Don’t give up!”

– Anderson, sponsored child in El Salvador

256 KCHIL DRENRE ACHED

Watch Anderson’s video to see how child sponsors like you are helping kids create art … along with a whole new future!

REACHING EVERY LAST CHILD

Phot

o: V

icto

ria

Zeg

ler

Photo: Victoria Zegler18 SAVE THE CHILDREN

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Hai

tiPh

oto:

Car

olin

e Tr

utm

ann

Mar

coni

MEET ARTIST ANDERSON

CLICK ME

16

598K CHIL DREN RE ACHED

MIDDLE EAST & EURASIA

Photo: Save the Children in Afghanistan SPONSORSHIP YEAR IN REVIEW 21

Issufo stands proudly in front of his class as he solves a problem on the board.

Last year in our empowered teen programs in Egypt, 507 young entrepreneurs were born! When adolescents learn money manage- ment skills and have access to microloans, they can innovate to create small businesses that can help contribute to their family’s income. 

Young people in Afghanistan are gaining awareness of their rights and responsibilities through disaster risk reduction training.  They’re also spreading the word about what families and communities can do to protect children from risks like early marriage, physical punishment and unsafe commutes to school, especially for girls.

Amany may live in a small community, but she has big dreams. She hopes to become a doctor when she grows up so she can help people, and she’s taking her first steps toward that goal by doing her best in school.

Because 14-year-old Amany has special needs, she faced many challenges during her first year at school. Her peers made fun of her and excluded her from activities. Her teachers, like most in her community in Egypt, had never been trained to help students with disabilities. Sadly, Amany failed her first year.

Then we introduced inclusive education at Amany’s school. We trained Amany’s teachers on how to improve the learning environment and help children cope with and report cases of bullying. What a difference it made for Amany and her peers!

When Amany earns her M.D., perhaps some of her former classmates and their families will be her patients, and they’ll be grateful she was empowered to fulfill her dream.

“ When her classmates started to treat her better, I was very relieved. Amany wants to be a doctor, and I will do everything I can to help her achieve her dream.”

– Father of sponsored child Amany in Egypt

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Egy

pt

REACHING EVERY LAST CHILD

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Egy

ptPh

oto:

Sav

e th

e C

hild

ren

in A

fgha

nist

an

20 SAVE THE CHILDREN

MEET DOCTOR AMANY

TOUGH CHALLENGES? NOT A PROBLEM. WE THINK ON OUR FEET.In Uganda, children with disabilities and special needs are at risk of being denied an education. These students are more likely to drop out because they lack access to the equipment and training that give kids with special needs a fair chance to succeed. Teachers in most schools in Uganda also have limited knowledge of how to work with girls and boys with special needs.

Here’s where you come in. Because of you, we've rolled out a groundbreaking inclusive education initiative to train teachers in 21 schools to ensure that all children have equal access to a quality education in a safe and welcoming learning environment. Together, we’ve already made incredible strides by reaching more than 6,500 children in our first year!

Next up? With your help, we're making sure we can reach even more children with special needs by adding 60 more schools to our program in 2019.

INNOVATING FOR IMPACT

SPONSORSHIP YEAR IN REVIEW 2322 SAVE THE CHILDREN

Sponsors like you are helping ensure that all children -- including girls -- have the opportunity to learn in the Philippines.

CHILDREN

DRIVINGCHANGE FOR

TIME FOR CHANGE? WE’RE ON IT. AND WE’RE STARTING EARLY.Young children are confronted by many gender stereo- types … not just in their communities but also in school. These biases hinder young kids’ experience in school, limiting their engagement in activities and learning. They also create the foundations for gender discrimination and inequality inside and outside the classroom.

Here’s where you come in. Your support allows us to work with early childhood teachers in the Philippines so young girls and boys can have a more equal learning experience right from the start. How? We’re piloting a Gender Equality Toolkit to train early childhood teachers to reflect on their own biases related to gender and understand the impact these biases can have on children’s learning and perspectives.

Next up? With sponsors like you by our side, we’ll continue to make sure more teachers have the strategies they need to enable all children to reach their highest potential and establish equal rights, regardless of gender.

Photo: Save the Children in the Philippines

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Uga

nda

Thanks to our inclusive education initiatives in Uganda, Fred (center), who suffers from speech challenges, is beating the odds to become a lawyer in the future.

Our best-in-class solutionsput kids first.

SPONSORSHIP YEAR IN REVIEW 2524 SAVE THE CHILDREN

MEET COLLEGE GRADUATE TAMALIKATamalika wants to do something no one in her family has done before … earn a college degree.

In a place where girls are often forced into marriage at an early age and deprived of an educa-tion, 20-year-old Tamalika from Nepal is forging her own path to success. Through sponsorship, Tamalika learned how empowering an education can be and was able to stay in school to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. Now, Tamalika teaches in the same school she once attended and is on her way to earning a college degree.

Tamalika is proud to be a role model for her students, showing them first-hand how a sponsored child can succeed. She credits the letters she received from her sponsor for instilling faith in her abilities to thrive in school and inspiring her to learn English so she could write back. “I was 12 years old when I began participating in sponsorship programs,” Tamalika recalls. “Without sponsorship, I wouldn’t have the confidence today to stand at the front of the classroom and teach.”

Maybe once she graduates, Tamalika will show her students her college diploma and inspire them to reach for their dreams, too!

Watch Tamalika’s video to hear her tell her own sponsorship success story. You’ll be glad you did!

Photo: Victoria Zegler

MEET TEACHER DANY

Dany still remembers the day he met the Save the Children community mobilizers who came to his village when he was a young boy. They encouraged his family to allow him to attend the primary school in his community and explore his aspirations of becoming a teacher himself one day. The rest, as Dany puts it, is history.

“I learned so much from sponsorship,” Dany recalls. “I studied reading, writing and math, but I also practiced speaking Portuguese, which is different from the local language I speak at home.”

Through sponsorship, Dany not only built connections within his community, he also made a friend outside the country – his sponsor Giovanni. "I remember receiving letters from my sponsor asking me how I am and reminding me to study," Dany explains.

Maybe one day Dany will inspire one of his students like Giovanni, his sponsor, inspired him.

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Moz

ambi

que

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Moz

ambi

que

Dany poses with his mother and his cousin Sara.

DRIVING CHANGEFOR CHILDREN

“ I have not thought about marriage yet; I want to stand on my own two feet first.”

– Tamalika, sponsorship graduate in Nepal

“ The friendship we established still influences me today because it was my sponsor who gave me the idea to continue my studies and one day realize my childhood dream.”

– Dany, sponsorship graduate in Mozambique

CLICK ME

Sacha may only be 11 years old, but he knows a thing or two about “aha!” moments. He had several last fall while visiting Chimdi, the boy his family sponsors in Ethiopia. Sacha’s dad works at Save the Children’s headquarters, so when he learned about an upcoming conference in Africa, he invited his father and son to join him on the trip of a lifetime.

After exchanging letters with 10-year-old Chimdi for so many years, Sacha wasn’t sure what to expect when they finally met in person. Sacha knew his and Chimdi’s lives were very different before his trip, but seeing Chimdi’s life up close was an eye-opening experience.

“Chimdi’s school is different than mine,” Sacha explains. “We only have about 25 kids in a class and he has at least 70. Every classroom was made of wood or clay and there were no windows or desks or binders. Since there aren’t many cars, they all walk to school and it takes about 30 minutes.”

Sacha’s dad was happy to witness Chimdi’s teacher in action too. “Sponsorship supports a lot of teacher training, so for me, that's what matters most,” he says. “You can have a nice building, but if the teaching isn't good, the kids aren't learning. We’re committed to making sure teachers are doing the very best they can.”

Sacha, we can’t wait to see what life lessons come next for you as a world traveler and budding philanthropist!

MEET PHILANTHROPIST SACHA

“ I definitely felt inspired by how they live a poor life but they have so much fun – they’re always happy. We get upset about the strangest things … but they’re thankful for what they have.” – Sacha, child sponsor

SPONSORSHIP YEAR IN REVIEW 2726 SAVE THE CHILDREN

Watch our video interview with Sacha and his dad as they reflect on their remarkable journey to Chimdi’s school in Ethiopia.

Our sponsorship teams around the world are passionately committed to making sure our sponsored childrens' comfort always comes first. Check out a few of these cute and creative ways we are making sponsorship fun for kids!

LENS BUDDIESOur sponsorship team in El Salvador knows that pictures are important because they give sponsors a way to connect to their sponsored child and watch them grow. But team members noticed that young children were sometimes scared of the big cameras they use since most had never seen a camera before. So, our team partnered with a local organization to create “Lens Buddies”. These cute creatures go around the camera lens and make the children happy … so happy, in fact, that we’re now rolling Lens Buddies out in all Save the Children offices.

YOU HELP US MAKE SPONSORSHIP FUN FOR KIDS!

CHILD CHANGEMAKERSIn Bangladesh, our Save the Children team helped kids take their health into their own hands. These girls and boys organized a campaign to raise awareness about healthy habits and child rights in the Rayerbazar slum community where they live. Armed with a megaphone and colorful handmade signs, these young changemakers shared messages on the importance of regular handwashing, safe drinking water and children’s educational rights with parents and community members. They even made the caps on their heads!

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Eth

iopi

a

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Ban

glad

esh

Sacha (right) and Chimdi

DRIVING CHANGEFOR CHILDREN

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Eth

iopi

a

KIDS WRITING FOR KIDSChildren in Bhutan have limited access to reading materials at home and at school. Children’s books with local stories and themes are in even shorter supply. To address this need, our team got to work on a creative solution that gives girls and boys an opportunity to express themselves through writing and drawing. So far, we’ve collaborated with local school and community partners to publish 30 children’s storybooks written by some very special 6-12-year-old authors and illustrators. Step into their world with a click of a button!

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

El S

alva

dor

Flip through the pages of these remarkable storybooks to see the creativity of sponsored child authors come alive!

CLICK MECLICK ME

Front Cover Photo: Save the Children in the Philippines

501 Kings Highway East Suite 400 Fairfield, CT 06825supportercare@savechildren.org

1.800.SAVETHECHILDREN

SPONSORSavetheChildren.org/Sponsor

BE INSPIREDSavetheChildren.org/SponsorBlog

ENGAGESavetheChildren.org/SignUp

OUR MISSIONSave the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

Phot

o: S

ave

the

Chi

ldre

n in

Mal

awi

WHERE YOUR GIVING GOES87% PROGRAM SERVICES

8% FUNDRAISING

5% MANAGEMENT & GENERAL

87%

8%5%