Mission and Priorities Our Mission Save the Children is the leading, independent organization creating lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. We are a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, comprising 27 national Save the Children organizations working in more than 120 countries to ensure the well-being of children. Our Achievements: Highlights From Our Annual Report In order to continue to accomplish sustainable change, Save the Children has identified the following four Priority Goals for children. Here are just some examples of ways that, with your help, we have accomplished these goals in the communities we serve.  1. Children are protected from harm through physical and psychosocial assistance Save the Children provided emergency assistance to 3 million children and families in 26 countries in 2008, including cyclone-devastated Myanmar and hurricane affected areas of the U.S. Gulf Coast. 2. Children learn and develop with age-appropriate care and education In the last year, we expanded the number of early childhood programs to more than 6,200 sites in over 15 countries, including 60 in the U.S. 3. Children are healthy and well-nourished In 40 countries worldwide 9 million children under 5 die each year. Our community-based model for health care delivery is helping to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of children who might otherwise die from treatable or preventable causes.   View our 2008 Annual Report 4. Children thrive in food-secure and economically viable households In 2008, we provided nearly 130,000 metric tons of food worth more than $76 million to reduce hunger and malnutrition among families in 16 countries. Our safety-net programs also enabled families to buy food locally with cash or vouchers and provided work for people in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Sudan, Tajikistan and other at-risk nations. By tailoring our programs to achieve one or more of these goals we have evolved into an effective international relief and development organization, providing communities with a hand up, not a handout. Last Updated May 2009