In a year that saw multiple, overlapping crises, 2022 tested Save the Children teams like never before.
Just as the world began to emerge from the disruption caused by COVID-19, soaring food and fuel prices threw millions of families into poverty and hunger. Here in the UK, 30% of children are now growing up in poverty. Extreme weather linked to the climate crisis is becoming far more common and those least responsible for carbon emissions suffer most – from families facing famine in East Africa after the worst drought in 40 years to those in Pakistan where one-third of the country was left underwater by unprecedented floods. The escalating war in Ukraine has led to the fastest and largest displacement of people in Europe since the Second World War. Globally, one in six children are living in a conflict zone.
The numbers are stark. But I know that when we work together, we can achieve great things.
Save the Children’s 2022 annual report is published today, and the work summarised within it shows that helping children achieve their potential is a fantastic investment in our collective future.
There is an entire community that makes our work with and for children possible: a community made up of incredible staff, volunteers, partners and supporters, who believe in a better world for children and are more committed than ever to driving forward our global ambitions on children’s survival, learning and protection. I want to say a big thank you to each and every one of you.
Children believe in a better world, too.
Last year, we spoke to over 54,000 children and young people from 40 countries to form our Generation Hope campaign. 83% of the children participating in our survey have noticed climate change or economic inequality affecting the world around them. They were also firm in their belief that change is possible and 73% believed adults should be doing more to tackle the issues. I completely agree.
Our founder, Eglantyne Jebb, once said “Every generation of children offers mankind the possibility of rebuilding his ruin of a world”. And we must use these words as a call to action.
Together – with children, for children – we can make a better future possible.
