Impact that lasts

charity programs that address ALL STAGES OF A CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT


It's a fact: Without the right interventions, children in poverty become adults in poverty …


… and the cycle of generational poverty continues. With your support, Children International works to put an end to generational poverty with a long-term, customized program that stays with children through the first two decades of their lives.

Poverty negatively impacts brain development and well-being

Children and youth growing up in poverty typically lack proper health care and nutrition. They’re also more likely to be exposed to the stress of domestic violence, gangs and drugs. All of this can impair brain development, negatively impacting long-term physical and mental well-being.

Children International contributors invest in the lives of children, helping them get the education, life skills and confidence they need to break free from poverty. The force of their combined efforts starts a powerful multiplier effect that empowers children and youth to change their own lives and futures, transforming their families and communities too.

The right programs at the right time.

We don’t believe in taking a one-size-fits-all approach to helping children. What’s best for a 6-year-old in Zambia is far different than what a 14-year-old in Honduras needs. It’s an approach we call contextualization, which means our programs adapt and change with children’s needs at different ages, matched with the most urgent needs and available services in their communities.

Our programs focus on four key outcomes

Health

THE POVERTY TRAP 

Living in poverty can mean inadequate health and dental care, chronic malnutrition, poor hygiene and unsafe sanitation conditions, a lack of education about reproductive health and mental health, and preventable diseases going untreated.

OUR ANSWER 

Your sponsorship helps children in our communities by providing health programs that focus on two important outcomes:

  1. Developing healthy habits
  2. Connecting children with services when they need help.

Learn about our health programs

45,030: Number of in-person medical exams administered through our centers in the last year of available data.
84,831: Number of telehealth exams provided in that time.

Education

THE POVERTY TRAP 

In many impoverished communities, children don't have resources like books or uniforms, causing them to fall behind without the support to catch up. Youth drop out of school to support their families and never go back. And entire school systems are understaffed, failing to provide adequate education to the children they serve. 

OUR ANSWER 

Through your sponsorship, you help break down the barriers that keep children from kindergarten through high school from getting a good education, including tutoring programs, scholarships, learning spaces, computer training and more. 

Learn about our education programs

94%: Completion rate of those enrolled in our tutoring program, a 12% increase from the year before.

Empowerment

THE POVERTY TRAP 

To truly end generational poverty, children must have hope for the future and see possibilities for themselves beyond their circumstances. Without life skills or coping mechanisms, they are unable to overcome their environment, thus continuing the cycle of poverty for another generation.

OUR ANSWER 

We believe confidence grows as children develop leadership skills, understand social responsibility and take active roles in their communities. Your contribution supports empowerment programs that are specifically designed to teach the value of teamwork and encourage children to make an impact that lasts.

Learn about our empowerment programs

27,000: number of community members impacted by 70 community improvement projects, led by our youth leadership.

Employment

THE POVERTY TRAP 

Opportunities and adequate employment can be hard to come by. Many youth don’t have the basic skills needed to find work, like résumé writing, interview prep or even understanding where to find a job. Unemployed youth often turn to gang affiliation or drugs.

OUR ANSWER 

As a sponsor, you support employment programs that help youth:

  1. Develop job skills
  2. Find and interview for employment
  3. Learn the life skills necessary to be a good employee
  4. Connect with local employers.

This assistance paves the way to a future filled with opportunities they never thought possible.

Learn about our emploYment programs

81%: Completion rate for those enrolling in our Into Employment® program, which helps match local employers with qualified youth.

Measuring the impact

We work with a trusted, independent evaluation organization to measure the impact of our programs, including important metrics such as:

  • Improved availability to health services
  • Increased school enrollment & completion
  • Strengthened competency of essential life skills
  • Enhanced, marketable job skills

We know it's critical to measure results. That’s how we ensure that your contributions — and the efforts of our staff in the field — are truly making a difference. 

Learn more about what we measure


I can’t express what the program means to me. They have helped me in so many ways that I don’t even know what I would say. Being [here] has completely changed my life.”

— Wilson, 19, sponsored since age 3, Honduras
Read his story

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