Children playing in a refugee camp in Syria.
Our work

What we do

We help keep children safe and support them to heal, learn and thrive. We understand their needs, respect and stand up for their rights, and put them at the centre of everything we do – because just one child caught up in conflict is one child too many. 

We protect, educate and stand up for the rights of children living through conflict.  

Whether it’s ensuring Iraqi children get an education, providing psychological support to children who have been traumatised by conflict in Yemen, or finding lost vulnerable children in Afghanistan. 

We understand children’s needs, respect their rights and put them at the centre of everything we do. We listen to what they have to say and help to amplify their voices so that they can advocate for change to the systems and practices which hold them back. We boldly campaign on the root causes of conflict to help create a safer future for children across the world.

Our work covers four main areas: 

A War Child staff member and child in Palestine.
Protecting children from harm is at the heart of what War Child does. Credit: War Child Holland.

Protecting children 

We work with children, families, communities, and governments in conflict zones to protect children from danger. Whether they are moving across borders, living in their homes, on the streets or in refugee camps; we support children’s wellbeing, provide safe spaces for them to play and learn, and get the psychological support they need to process their experiences of conflict.  

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Lamegi drawing on a chalk board in DRC.
We work in conflict-affected areas to ensure children have access to safe, quality education; whatever their circumstances. Credit: War Child Holland.

Educating children 

We work to ensure children’s learning continues in times of crisis. We set up temporary learning spaces, provide catch-up classes, rehabilitate schools damaged by bombs and bullets, and support teachers operating in conflict zones. We work with families and communities to ensure they have the resources and knowledge to support their children’s education. 

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A family in Iraq standing outside their temporay home.
When conflicts break out, we intervene quickly and work with young people, families and communities to provide immediate assistance and to protect children who are at increased risk of exploitation. Credit: War Child UK.

Supporting communities 

We provide immediate and long-term support to young people, families and communities living through conflict. We provide families with food, cash relief and access to other life-saving essentials and support young people and caregivers with the skills they need to find apprenticeships and employment. 

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UN Security Council
We engage young people in decision-making, support them to become their own advocates and ensure their voices are heard. Credit: Arete.

Campaigning 

We work to ensure that challenges faced by children are understood and addressed. We boldly campaign to influence global leaders and empower young people to raise issues and campaign for change themselves. 

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Boys play football outside a War Child centre in the Central African Republic.

Where we work

We deliver our vital work in five countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East to protect, educate and stand up for the rights of children in war.

Girl smiles to her classmates as she draws on the board with the help of the War Child Education Facilitator in Jordan.

Quality and standards

For more than two decades, we have worked tirelessly with children, young people and their communities and are committed to ensuring children affected by conflict are safe, heard, and have bright hopeful futures. Find out how we ensure quality, safety and impact wherever we work.