ChildHope has now closed having operated from 1989 to 2023. This section of the website serves as an archive.
Every child has the right to a safe and secure childhood, but for many these rights are denied. Born into extreme poverty and violence, they are at high risk of exploitation and abuse. Our purpose was to draw out and build on the strengths of children and those around them to tackle injustice. Looking at root causes, such as poverty and inequality, we also focussed on influencing the policies and systems that can and must be changed to enable children to thrive.
A world in which all children enjoy a life free from injustice and abuse.
To build on the strengths within children, families, communities and institutions so that children can grow up to become confident citizens.
Many children have been forced into these situations by extreme poverty, climate change and human impact on the physical and natural environment. While many countries become richer, there is growing inequality within and between states, and the children we worked with are facing the consequences.
Girls and children with disabilities can face even greater challenges - the chances that they will be abused, exploited or neglected are even higher. We were committed to increase the visibility, voice and potential of these often ‘hidden’ children throughout our work.
Adopting an ‘ecological model’, illustrated in the diagram, we examined each layer of the system that surrounds the child and built mechanisms that allow them access to support and protection and the means to grow and thrive.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) underlined all our work. The overarching SDG of our programmatic work was Goal 16 - Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies. Under Goal 16, we supported access to justice, tackling human trafficking and modern slavery, promoting the right to documentation and birth registrations, preventing sexual abuse and sexual exploitation, encouraging participation in decision-making at all levels, and working towards ending violence against children.
Goal 16 targets most applicable to our work were: