History
War in the Balkans
Our story began in 1993. War Child was formed by social entrepreneur Willemijn Verloop and filmmakers David Wilson and Bill Leeson. The trio visited the former Yugoslavia during the Bosnian war to call attention to the plight of children there - and were horrified by the violence and ethnic cleansing they witnessed.
Musical workshops for children in bomb shelters
Photo: War Child archive
The War Child team in 1998
Photo: War Child archive
Hope amid the bomb shelters
Yet the trio also saw some small signs of hope. In the midst of the fighting, they observed musical workshops for children being held in the bomb shelters of Bosnia - and were convinced of the benefits of this creative approach for young survivors of armed conflict across the world.
Providing psychosocial support
Willemijn returned to the Netherlands and resolved to take action. She began to organise fundraising events in support of children growing up in the midst of war. These small fundraising drives grew rapidly in scale and War Child was born. Within just three years we were present in Sudan, Ingushetia and in Pakistan, where we provided Afghan refugee children with vital psychosocial support.
Today we are active in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East - and reach hundreds of thousands of children every year.
Where we work
War Child works in areas affected by armed conflict. This may be during the conflict or after it has ended. Working in these areas presents a variety of challenges ranging from insecurity to political and logistic constraints.
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Burundi
Rebuilding social structures to protect children from violence and abuse - and improve their future prospects
Go to country page1 project
710,000
Children affected by conflict
54,500
Total Participants
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DR Congo
Providing children and youth with education, protection, psychosocial support and livelihood opportunities to improve future prospects
Go to country page4 projects
7,000,000
Children affected by conflict
33,900
Total Participants
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Colombia
Enabling children to build resilience and fulfil their potential - free from trauma and violence
Go to country page5 projects
1,423,296
Children affected by conflict
14,322
Total Participants
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Iraq
Working to provide emergency child protection, education and psychosocial support in conflict-affected regions
Go to country page1 project
3,300,000
Children affected by conflict
13,271
Total Participants
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Jordan
Delivering innovative education and vital psychosocial support to refugees and vulnerable children
Go to country page3 projects
1,200,000
Children affected by conflict
1880
Total Participants
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Lebanon
Safeguarding fundamental rights for children from both refugee and host populations
Go to country page7 projects
1,100,000
Children affected by conflict
20,367
Total Participants
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Sri Lanka
Strengthening child protection systems and supporting youth to build an improved future for their country
Go to country page3 projects
900,000
Children affected by conflict
8290
Total Participants
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The Netherlands
Working in support of refugee children as part of the TeamUp coalition
Go to country page1 project
27,000
Children affected by conflict
4,344
Total Participants
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occupied Palestinian territory
Children in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) grow up in an uncertain atmosphere where the threat of violence is never far away
Go to country page4 projects
800,000
Children affected by conflict
13,029
Total Participants
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Uganda
Enabling children to build their resilience, free from trauma and violence
Go to country page4 projects
840,000
Children affected by conflict
36,422
Total Participants
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Sudan
Utilising technology to provide conflict-affected children with quality education - no matter where they live
Go to country page1 project
2,600,000
Children affected by conflict
2,667
Total Participants
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South Sudan
Providing child protection, education and psychosocial support for children and youth in the world's youngest nation
Go to country page2 projects
1,400,000
Children affected by conflict
11,671
Total Participants
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Germany
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Sweden
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