Our History Creating the Foundation 1919: In the aftermath of World War I, the Save the Children Fund is established in England. Founded by activist Eglantyne Jebb, the organization provides aid to young survivors in war-ravaged Vienna. ‘20s - Creating the Foundation 1923: Eglantyne Jebb writes the Children's Charter, which is subsequently adopted by the League of Nations as The Declaration of the Rights of the Child. This historic document lays the foundation for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, an international treaty that by 1998 had been ratified by all but three countries. '30s - Beginning in the United States 1932: Save the Children (U.S.) is founded in New York by John Voris and other concerned citizens to help needy Appalachian children through programs that help families better provide for their children. Within a year, Save the Children is working with families and communities in five states. 1938: Save the Children implements its first sponsorship program. This program offers individuals the opportunity to sponsor one-room schoolhouses in Appalachia, help communities repair school buildings, and provide students with meals, books and school supplies. Save the Children's "Hot School Lunch" program (later adopted by the U.S. government nationwide) is launched in nine states. In addition, a comprehensive initiative to upgrade educational services in poor areas is implemented, which reaches 200 schools by 1940. Save the Children expands overseas when it comes to the aid of children in England, France, Germany, Italy, Austria and Finland during World War II. '40s - Responding to Disasters at Home and Abroad 1940: Save the Children initiates individual child sponsorship programs to help war-affected children in Europe. 1948: When a blizzard hits the southwestern United States, Save the Children offers relief, self-help programs, and school sponsorships to Native American children and families on Navajo reservations. A loan program in Lebanon. Learn more about how it is shaping our mission today. '50s - Expanding Self-help Initiatives 1952: Community development programs are begun in Lebanon. These programs use a child-family-community approach, which helps children by involving their families and communities in program design and implementation. This same approach remains fundamental to our work today. 1954: Community development programs are launched in Malakassa, Greece. '60s - Reaching More Children and Communities Through Sponsorship 1962: Save the Children moves its international headquarters from New York to Connecticut. 1963: Child sponsorships to support community development programs are established in Colombia. Within three years, similar programs are introduced in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Lebanon and Vietnam. 1969: Save the Children expands into Africa with sponsorship programs in Tanzania. '70s - Increasing Women's Participation 1972: A new sponsorship and development approach is launched in the Dominican Republic that provides community programs in targeted regions called impact areas. Concentrating program activities in targeted areas helps maximize benefits to children and communities. 1975: Save the Children's "Community-based Integrated Rural Development Model" is embraced by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as a leading community development tool. 1977: The International Save the Children Alliance is formed to link and coordinate efforts of Save the Children organizations in Canada, Denmark, Great Britain, Norway and the United States. 1978: Save the Children adopts policies designed to increase participation of women in all development projects. This same year, a Family Day Care Network is launched in the United States that provides training for women to start in-home child care centers and offers referrals to parents seeking safe, affordable child care in their communities. 1979: The United Nations declares the International Year of the Child, which significantly raises public awareness about children's needs. '80s - Continuing Rapid Expansion and Innovation 1984: Comprehensive child survival programs begin in Bangladesh, Ecuador, Indonesia, Zimbabwe, and Bolivia. When a devastating famine strikes Ethiopia and Sudan, Save the Children joins concerned citizens along with the international relief and development community in providing assistance to those affected by the famine. 1988: A Children and War program is initiated in southern Africa to reunify Mozambican families and provide psychosocial support to refugee children affected by this country's brutal civil war. 1989: The UN General Assembly unanimously adopts the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a comprehensive treaty, based on Eglantyne Jebb’s 1923 declaration of rights and protections for children. History - 1990 and Beyond