Creating Lasting Change: 2023 Annual Report

On Behalf of the World's Children

Dear friends,

If all you had to go on was social media or the evening news, it would be challenging to be optimistic about what the future looks like for today’s children. Across the country and around the world, children are at risk, whether from conflict, climate change, poverty or a combination of all those and more.

2023 was no exception.

Save the Children responded to 121 emergencies in 59 countries. Some of the most significant of these included earthquakes in Syria and Türkiye, ongoing conflict and mass displacement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, wildfires in Hawaii and the crisis in Gaza, which has only escalated in the months since.

We saw children facing malnutrition and displacement, forced out of school and into marriage, and far too worried about where their next meal or safe place to sleep would come from to dream about their futures.

But what we also saw—that not everyone does—were glimmers of hope. Progress, however incremental, toward the lasting change that will help ensure that all children are able to survive, be educated and thrive.

In the pages that follow, we’ll introduce you to programs underway focused on nutrition, education, mental health and climate-resilient livelihoods. We’ll update you on our advocacy efforts and our extensive work in rural America. We’ll showcase some of the partnerships that make this work possible and increasingly powerful. And we’ll recognize the tremendous generosity of Save the Children (U.S.) supporters, who came together to generate more than $974 million in 2023.

Along the way, you’ll hear from some of the children and families impacted by these programs and better understand how our work can help them surmount the challenges they’re facing today and move toward a safer, healthier and more resilient future.
You’ll meet Jamilah* from Ethiopia, whose 20-month-old daughter, Leila, recovered from malnutrition after visits from a Save the Children-supported health center.

You’ll hear from 12-year-old Safeer, who’s continuing his education in a Save the Children Temporary Learning Center after floods destroyed his home and school in Pakistan.

You’ll celebrate with Simon*, 13, reunited with his family with the help of Save the Children after fleeing conflict in Sudan.
And you’ll learn how we’re working with five local partners on innovative solutions to food insecurity in rural New Mexico, Mississippi, West Virginia, North Carolina and California.

While there’s currently no shortage of crises and challenges facing kids and families worldwide, Save the Children remains committed to creating lasting, positive change together with our network of local partners, supporters and advocates. And, despite these many obstacles, the resilience, hope, creativity and determination of our teams and the children we work with is deeply inspiring.

We were certainly inspired ourselves in 2023 as we had the opportunity to see our programs in action in Ukraine and other locations. Together, we’re undoubtedly working toward a brighter, stronger tomorrow. We thank you for your interest in and support for our work and hope you’ll continue to join us as we focus on the progress, we can help make possible.