ANNUAL REPORT 2024:
BOLD ACTIONS,
LASTING CHANGE
MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT/CEO
AND BOARD CHAIR
When we all work together, we can change the world for children.
That was demonstrated powerfully throughout 2024. It was another year of crisis – with humanitarian emergencies continuing to upend the lives of millions of children, from Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Thanks to the bond we have with supporters like you, it was also a year of action, together with children. When conflicts raged or disasters struck, you showed up to stand with us to defend children’s rights and to deliver lasting change here in Canada and around the world, even in the most difficult circumstances.
Children have an extraordinary strength — a resilience that shines even in the darkest moments. In 2024, we witnessed that power firsthand. Despite facing unimaginable challenges, children continued to persevere, to hope, and to grow. When we stand beside them — and each other — we can help turn crisis into possibility.
The results are there to see. We reached more than 113 million children in more than 100 countries, helping them to grow up protected and healthy. This includes 12.8 million supported by our Children’s Emergency Fund in 71 countries affected by humanitarian crises. We helped 7.6 million children access learning and education and reached almost 30 million through health and nutrition programs.
These statistics only tell one story. Every number is another story: a life changed, a future rewritten.
We know we need to keep taking bold, innovative, urgent actions to protect every child’s right to survive, learn, and be protected. With you, our supporters, at our side — along with our partners around the world — we will continue to transform the lives of millions of children and their families.
Thank you.
Danny Glenwright
President and CEO
Save the Children Canada
Jill Zelmanovits
Board Chair
Save the Children Canada
"[I got] a book, crayons, a pencil, some notebooks. They taught me addition and subtraction.”
- Alina*, 7-years-old, Central America
Alina* and her family fled their home country and were robbed crossing the dangerous Darien Gap in Central America. At a Save the Children-supported shelter, she received a school kit to continue learning.
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT
In a changing and challenging world, your support of children has been unwavering.
Throughout 2024, you backed efforts at home and abroad to make a real difference in the lives of young people affected by inequality, hunger, conflict, natural disasters, and discrimination.
Thanks to your ongoing support, we reached 356 million people in more than 100 countries.
Working together with partners and supporters, we will continue to fight for children’s rights and strive for a brighter and more resilient future.
113,600,000 children reached worldwide, more than 100 countries where we helped children grow up healthy, safe, and protected
12,800,000 children supported by our Children’s Emergency Fund in 71 countries affected by humanitarian crises
29,900,000 children reached through health and nutrition programs
7,600,000 children reached with learning and education access
2,900,000 children protected from violence and conflict
OUR PURPOSE
To defend the rights of children in a world where these rights are constantly under threat. By uniting and mobilizing Canadians, together with children we make the world a better place — now and in the future.
OUR VISION
We envision a world in which every child’s right to survival, protection, development, and participation is realized. We will achieve this by centring children’s voices and mobilizing Canadians in support of upholding and protecting these rights.
Working with partners in Canada and around the world, and with the support of our community of donors, including you, we took urgent and necessary action to address the needs of children, with a focus on four key areas:
RECONCILIATION AND INDIGENOUS CHILD RIGHTS
The National Reconciliation Program (NRP) at Save the Children works to advance reconciliation and Indigenous rights. We follow leadership from Indigenous communities, supporting their priorities, programs, and initiatives. These include mental health and wellness, climate resilience, and education.
This community-driven, community-led approach and our commitment to centering community voices and cultural safety are integral to our partnerships.
Using guidance from an Indigenous-led and rights-based approach, the NRP establishes meaningful relationships with Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) communities and children, committed to programming focused on Truth and Reconciliation efforts in Canada.
Protecting the waters and wildlife
Spanning 50,000 square kilometers in northern Manitoba, the Seal River Watershed is a vital landscape where Indigenous peoples have lived in relationship with the land for generations. The Seal River Watershed Alliance — a partnership of four First Nations — is leading efforts to protect this pristine region as an Indigenous Protected Area rooted in community values, culture, and stewardship.
Through our National Reconciliation Program, Save the Children supported the work of youth Land Guardians in each of the four Nations in 2024, helping to advance this vision. Their leadership is strengthening Indigenous-led conservation and creating pathways toward a potential Provincial and/or National Park Reserve.
This important progress was made possible through the generous support of our valued partner:
Métis youth go Back to Batoche
In 2024, the National Reconciliation Program supported over 20 Métis youth from Alberta, aged 12 to 29, on a transformative journey to the Back to Batoche gathering in Saskatchewan.
Organized by the Otipemisiwak Métis Government, the trip celebrated Métis identity through culture, ceremony, and connection — from traditional fiddle music and beadwork to a powerful visit to Batoche National Historic Site.
Youth were joined by parents, siblings, and grandparents, creating moments of deep intergenerational learning and pride. As shared in the trip report, the experience will leave a lasting legacy, as youth carry these teachings forward to future generations.
This important progress was made possible through the generous support of our valued partner:
“I dream that war will end and peace will be, and I will have a puppy.”
- Mariia*, 8-years-old, Ukraine
The conflict in Ukraine means Mariia* has only ever had school lessons online. She goes to a Digital Learning Centre supported by Save the Children to supplement her studies and meet other children.
GENDER EQUALITY
With your support, we have made significant progress in reducing gender inequality, bringing us closer to a world where every child, regardless of gender, has an equal right to survive, grow, and thrive. Our programs are designed to address the unique needs and barriers faced by girls, boys, women, and men, driving lasting, community-led change. Together with families, leaders, and young people, we are tackling the root causes of inequality to create a more just and inclusive future for all children.
Through our FOUNDATIONS project - which takes place in Mali, Niger, and Sierra Leone - we're strengthening girls' empowerment by engaging girls and boys in conversations about their gender, health, and sexuality. We're also training health providers in inclusive and accessible sexual and reproductive health and rights services, and helping women and girls’ rights groups advocate for better sexual and reproductive health laws and policies.
Empowering girls to decide for themselves
Child, early, and forced marriage (CEFM) remains a serious issue in many countries. In response, Save the Children launched the My Body. My Decision. My Rights. project to help reduce CEFM in Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone by empowering girls to make informed decisions about marriage, pregnancy, and their futures.
In Burkina Faso, we work with local partners MAIA in Haut-Bassins and Munyu in Cascades. In Sierra Leone, our partners are MoRRD (Movement for Rural Resettlement and Development) in Kailahun, and Street Child in Western Rural.
A major breakthrough occurred in June 2024, when Sierra Leone banned child marriage, making it illegal to marry before age 18.
I am the one who is responsible to take such a decision [about use of contraceptives] because it’s my body and I was taught from this project that it is my body, my right, and my decision to make.”
Adiatu* at home.
Adiatu* at home.
I felt trapped in a life that offered me no hope, no dreams and no opportunities.”
Zawadi*, 4, received lifesaving treatment for mpox at a refugee camp in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His older brother had died of the virus - so when Zawadi showed symptoms, his mother Esther* ran with him to a Save the Children-supported mpox isolation unit.
CLIMATE JUSTICE
The climate crisis affects children’s future, yet they have contributed the least to the destruction of the environment. With your support, we work with children, families, and communities to increase their climate resilience and help implement smart solutions, which ensure families are better prepared when a climate disaster hits.
Our entire village now comes together to prepare for disasters and support each other."
Shamila* a mother from Sri Lanka lives in a flood-prone area with her husband and children. Save the Children has been working with her and other community members to strengthen climate disaster resilience through an approach that prioritizes women’s leadership and children’s voices.
Save the Children Ambassador Sir Mo Farah meets Aisha and her malnourished son Hassan who is receiving treatment from Sabaad. | Photo: Mustafa Saeed / Save the Children
Save the Children Ambassador Sir Mo Farah meets Aisha and her malnourished son Hassan who is receiving treatment from Sabaad. | Photo: Mustafa Saeed / Save the Children
Drought caused a lack of nutrients and inadequate food for my child."
In the shadow of a brutal famine, families in Somaliland face a cruel combination of recurring droughts, a worsening climate crisis, and limited healthcare. Baby Hassan* – one of Aisha’s* five children – developed malnutrition but, with care and treatment by a locally-trained Save the Children health worker, his condition began to improve.
Building Climate Resilience from Indigenous Perspectives
Indigenous Peoples have a deep relationship with Mother Nature and have long protected the land and water, yet they face some of the harshest climate impacts—and receive only a small share of global climate funding.
The Building Climate Resilience from Indigenous Perspectives (BCRIP) is a four-year project, backed by $12.5 million from Global Affairs Canada in 2024, aims to change that. Save the Children partners with Indigenous organizations to support climate action in Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala, and Peru, co-designed with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis in Canada.
BCRIP seeks to challenge traditional international development narratives by:
- Strengthening Indigenous knowledge systems and science;
- Supporting the rights of Indigenous peoples, their autonomy, self-determination, and climate leadership;
- Advancing nature-based solutions by strengthening climate governance in Indigenous communities;
- Promoting joint advocacy, environmental governance strengthening, and knowledge exchange between Indigenous peoples.
Our program partners are the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) and the Continental Network of Indigenous Women of the Americas (ECMIA SUR), through the Organización Nacional de Mujeres Indígenas Andinas y Amazónicas del Perú/the National Organization of Andean and Amazonian Indigenous Women in Peru (ONAMIAP).
"I want to be a doctor so I can help others."
- Zebirehan*, 13-years-old, Ethiopia
Zebirehan* is an active member of the girls' empowerment club at her school. Save the Children supports with enabling children in Waghimra, Ethiopia, to be healthy and educated, and to become nurturing caregivers and positive contributors to their community.
CHILDREN IN CRISIS
When violence escalates or a natural disaster occurs, we are often the first to respond, and we stay to help children and families rebuild their lives. In 2024, we responded immediately to major humanitarian crises in 71 countries including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gaza, Haiti, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan, and Ukraine. During and after emergencies, children are at an increased risk of abuse, exploitation, and missing out on education. Your help allows us to protect children, and fulfill their rights to learn, play, and enjoy their childhood.
"I’m incredibly grateful to Save the Children — they brought hope back to five kids. I used to think it was impossible to find good people, but they changed my perspective on humanity."
Hala*, 19, is the primary caregiver for her four younger siblings after their parents became stranded outside Gaza when the war started. She received mental health support from a Save the Children partner organization, which also ensured the family had a tent at a shelter.
Save the Children staff member holds newborn baby Sara* at mobile clinic, Sudan. | Photo: Mussab Hassona / Save the Children
Save the Children staff member holds newborn baby Sara* at mobile clinic, Sudan. | Photo: Mussab Hassona / Save the Children
When I met with the Save the Children doctor, she helped me a lot, so I named my newborn daughter after her, and I hope she will become a doctor like her."
After escalating attacks in her home city, heavily-pregnant Asma* and her five children walked for two months to a centre for displaced people. She then gave birth to baby Sara at a mobile health clinic run by Save the Children.
Yadigar*, 35 and Fidan*, 9 sit on the rugs the received with new electric heater. | Photo: Ayşe Nur Gençalp / Save the Children Türkiye
Yadigar*, 35 and Fidan*, 9 sit on the rugs the received with new electric heater. | Photo: Ayşe Nur Gençalp / Save the Children Türkiye
If I had a magic wand, I would build a home. I would live with my family."
Fidan*, 9, lives in a tent with her parents in Türkiye after the 2023 earthquake destroyed her home. Through Save the Children's winter distributions, displaced children and families received heaters, rugs, blankets, and electric ovens.
PARTNER PROFILES
Bringing Joy Through Movement: Ferrero Canada’s Impact
Ferrero Canada’s Kinder Joy of Moving program is transforming children’s lives by promoting joyful, active play—especially in underserved communities. “We believe a happy child today will be a successful adult tomorrow,” says Laura MacCarthy, Kinder’s Vice President of Marketing. Their partnership with Save the Children grew from a shared belief that all children deserve to thrive and a commitment to culturally respectful programming through the National Reconciliation Program.
“Partnering with Save the Children helps us reach children who may not otherwise have access to structured, joyful movement,” Laura adds.
Stephanie Cass, Vice President of Institutional Affairs, emphasizes the partnership’s foundation: “This is a two-way partnership rooted in listening, learning, and real collaboration.” Together, they bring joy and connection—one child, one community, one step at a time.
Powering Play in Crisis: Spin Master’s Global Impact
For nearly a decade, Spin Master has partnered with Save the Children to harness the healing power of play for children facing some of the world’s toughest challenges. Their Toy Movement initiative provides Child-Friendly Space Play Kits filled with games, puzzles, and sports gear that help children regulate their emotions, build friendships, and reclaim a sense of normalcy.
“Save the Children enables us to reach children we wouldn’t otherwise support,” says Nicole McGinn, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager.
In 2024, Spin Master extended its impact to 11 schools in Yukon, collaborating with Indigenous communities. “This partnership is grounded in trust, shared values, and a deep commitment to children’s growth,” McGinn reflects.
SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of the Independent Auditor on the Summary Financial Statements
Year Ended December 31, 2024
OPINION
The summary financial statements, which comprise the summary statement of financial position as at December 31, 2024, and the summary statements of operations and changes in net assets for the year then ended, and related note, are derived from the audited financial statements of Save the Children Canada (the "Organization") for the year ended December 31, 2024.
In our opinion, the accompanying summary financial statements are a fair summary of the audited financial statements, on the basis described in the Note to the summary financial statements.
SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The summary financial statements do not contain all the disclosures required by Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations. Reading the summary financial statements and the auditor's report thereon, therefore, is not a substitute for reading the Organization's audited financial statements and the auditor's report thereon.
THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OUR REPORT THEREON
We expressed an unmodified audit opinion on the audited financial statements in our report dated June 5, 2025.
MANAGEMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Management is responsible for the preparation of the summary financial statements on the basis described in the Note to the summary financial statements.
AUDITOR'S RESPONSIBILITY
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on whether the summary financial statements are a fair summary of the audited financial statements based on our procedures, which were conducted in accordance with Canadian Auditing Standard (CAS) 810, Engagements to Report on Summary Financial Statements.
OUR FINANCIAL PROGRESS
OVER THE YEARS
THANK YOU
Working with an extraordinary network of local partners, supporters, and advocates, we are committed to making positive changes in the lives of children.
Your tremendous generosity in continuing to support the work we do is having a positive impact on children and families around the world.
On behalf of the many millions reached by Save the Children in 2024, we thank you and hope you continue the journey with us.
*Names are changed to protect the person's identity.
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