Child Rescue

Your support means protecting vulnerable children from hunger, violence and exploitation.

Donate now

Child Rescue

Your support means protecting vulnerable children from hunger, violence and exploitation.

Donate now

Vulnerable children face more risks than ever

Every day around the world, children are experiencing harm. Poverty and the impacts of conflict or natural disasters expose them to risks like extreme levels of hunger, violence, neglect and exploitation.

And because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, vulnerable children are facing even greater injustices. With lost jobs and incomes, family tensions and violence have increased. Some parents are resorting to harmful coping mechanisms to survive.

Despite these grave challenges, there is hope. You can help keep children safe and address the underlying causes of child abuse and exploitation.

Children in Afghanistan playing in a child safe space

In countries like Afghanistan, many children are losing their rights to learn and play and are at increased risk of violence and exploitation.

Through Child Rescue, you can help to ensure the world’s most vulnerable children get the education they deserve.

Your donation means helping to keep children safe from harm

Excess funds: In the unlikely event we receive contributions in excess of the needs in this category, we will use the excess in other areas of our work, where funding is needed most.

When you support Child Rescue, you’ll help protect children from harmful practices like child marriage, child labour and trafficking.

Reduce child vulnerability through quality education

Help improve school retention and education quality, provide training for teachers and parents, and teach children about their rights and making their voices heard.

Reduce family violence and improve child protection

Help promote positive discipline practices, raise awareness about harmful norms, improve local child protection networks and services, and set up child friendly spaces in emergencies.

Improve food availability, family incomes and resilience

Help families to grow more nutritious food and develop new income sources, provide cash and vouchers so they can buy essentials in emergencies, and support savings groups and land regeneration activities.

Empower families like Berite's to choose education over child marriage

Berite's parents are farmers in southern Ethiopia. Due to poverty and drought, they could barely provide their children with one proper meal a day. Arranging for Berite to marry an older man would mean one less mouth to feed and one less child to educate.

“I thought marriage was the best option, for her and also for the whole family,” explains Berite’s mother, Tadelech, who was married to Berite’s father at age 13.

“Even though I didn’t wish the same for my daughter, we are leading a desperate life … forcing us to take desperate measures.”

The family started receiving bride-price offers of up to US$970 when Berite turned 11. In sixth grade she dropped out of school, preparing to wed a man she'd never met.

When the World Vision-supported child wellbeing committee in her village learned about her situation, they took swift action. They counselled her family on the legal implications and long-term negative impacts of child marriage.

The family realised Berite belongs in a school uniform, not a bridal gown, and called off the wedding.

“Had we not received the training from World Vision, I would have been married by now," says Berite, now aged 15. "And I would have felt sad when seeing my friends go to school.”

“World Vision’s training and advice have enabled me to continue my education,” she adds. “When I grow up, I want to be a medical doctor to heal ill people.”