Save the Children Extends a Helping Hand Worldwide

By Deborah Lambeth

Back in the 1920’s when the Depression hit the Appalachian Mountain children in Kentucky, a small group of people in New York City decided that they needed to reach out to these families and children to provide them with the necessary items to survive. Food, clothing, clean and sanitary conditions, and opportunities for education were at the top of their list to help these children. The idea came in part from a British organization called the British Save the Children Fund that began in 1919. Out of the core beliefs of these two organizations came the mission of "extending a hand up, not a handout."

The goal of Save the Children is to provide resources so that communities can become self-sufficient and provide for their children. Throughout the past century, Save the Children has been the forerunner of international and global relief agencies specifically geared toward helping underprivileged children.

The Save the Children organization has four concurrent initiatives. One of them, "America’s Forgotten Children," focuses on ensuring that children who live in poverty (one in six children) get the resources necessary to obtain a good education. This means providing funds for books, pencils, paper—the basics that most of us take for granted. In many impoverished communities, there aren’t any libraries or after school programs. Save the Children is going into some of the most impoverished communities in the nation to remedy these shortcomings. They are working in 13 states in order to provide the necessary resources for children to obtain a good education and, hopefully, to stop the cycle of poverty.

Many celebrities, actors, and other prominent people are helping the Save the Children organization by bringing into the public spotlight awareness of the problems that plague children in other countries. Brad Pitt, for example, recently visited Ethiopia to chronicle the needs of children there. Oprah Winfrey has done a lot to bring to the forefront the needs of impoverished children all over the globe. Currently, Save the Children is involved in the rebuilding of the areas hit hard by last year’s devastating tsunami.

Save the Children is now the leading independent organization creating real and lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. It is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, comprising 27 national Save the Children organizations working in more than 100 countries to ensure the well-being of children. Who knew that back in the 1900’s the conceptual idea and eventual implementation of assisting a single community would blossom into such a huge international relief agency that has lent a helping hand to millions? The vision of a small group of people began to change the world in larger ways. Consider holding out your hand to help Save the Children.