EUROPEAN ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT 2024
A closer look at the work of Save the Children across Europe
In 2024, while Europe stood tall as a beacon of hope and global powerhouse, too many children were still left behind. Across the continent, millions of children—especially those facing poverty, displacement, or discrimination—continued to experience hardship, exclusion, and violence.
Approximately 20 million children—1 in 4 in the EU—were growing up at risk of poverty or social exclusion, despite historic frameworks like the European Child Guarantee. This figure would be even higher if EU candidate and potential candidate countries were included. At the same time, only in 2024 at least 180 children lost their lives while trying to seek refuge in Europe, and hundreds more suffered abuse at the EU’s external borders even as the long-awaited EU Migration and Asylum Pact entered into force. The devastating war in Ukraine entered its third year, depriving millions of children of their childhoods. Meanwhile, children’s rights in the digital environment remained under threat, with growing numbers of children exposed to social media addiction, cyberbullying, and, most gravely, online child sexual abuse as EU regulation failed to provide adequate protection.
But in the face of these challenges, Save the Children showed up—loud, proud, and determined. Across 23 countries, we reached more than 3 million children and adults with life-changing support, education, protection, and hope. We stood beside children, not just for them—amplifying their voices, fighting for their rights, and making sure they were heard at every level, from local communities to the halls of the EU. From child protection to access to education, from mental health to migration, we worked to make sure children in Europe are seen, heard, and protected.
As Europe turned a new political page, we also stood strong for children. Together, we launched bold campaigns like the Child Rights Manifesto and backed young changemakers determined to shape a more just, inclusive, and resilient future. Because children aren’t just the future of Europe—they are its present. And every action we take today builds a better tomorrow.
It is no stretch to say that our future, and Europe’s future, depends on how we treat our children today.
WHO WE ARE
Our vision and mission
Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organisation for children. Our vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation. Our mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.
Photo: Claire Thomas/Save the Children
Photo: Claire Thomas/Save the Children
Driving change from the ground up
We promote change from the ground up, engaging children, families, and communities, while working with local organisations, governments, and international institutions to put children’s rights firmly on the political agenda. We hold leaders accountable for their commitments and advocate for strong policies and systems that protect all children.
Photo: Camille Delbos/Save the Children
Photo: Camille Delbos/Save the Children
Protecting and empowering children across Europe
Through our programmes in Europe we empower children to understand their rights and share their views with decision-makers. We provide psychosocial, educational, legal, and in-kind support to children and families in vulnerable situations, including at Europe’s land and sea borders and in local communities. We strengthen child protection online and offline through the operation of hotlines, helplines, and other essential programmes and services.
Photo: Sabela González/Save the Children
Photo: Sabela González/Save the Children
Partnership at every level
We work in close partnership with local and national governments, EU institutions, fellow civil society organisations and the UN to ensure the most vulnerable children are protected and supported across the continent.
OUR IMPACT IN NUMBERS
In 2024, Save the Children invested an overall budget of more than €252 million to implement more than 260 projects* to save and improve the lives of more than 3 million children and adults across 23 countries in Europe.
These projects are dedicated to strengthening child protection, combating child poverty and social exclusion, supporting children on the move, helping children into education, strengthening children’s rights and child participation, fostering mental health through psychosocial support, as well as working on digital issues, climate and gender equality.
*Projects implemented by Save the Children Iceland, Save the Children Switzerland, Save the Children UK and Save the Children in Ukraine Country Office are not captured in the number above.
>3M
CHILDREN AND ADULTS REACHED DIRECTLY
>252M
BUDGET, INCLUDING 25M EU FUNDING
>260*
PROJECTS
23
COUNTRIES WE WORK IN
*Projects implemented by Save the Children Iceland, Save the Children Switzerland, Save the Children UK and Save the Children in Ukraine Country Office are not captured in the number above.
WHERE WE WORK
Denmark
Save the Children Denmark
Finland
Save the Children Finland
Germany
Save the Children Germany
Iceland
Save the Children Iceland
Lithuania
Save the Children Lithuania
Norway
Save the Children Norway
Romania
Save the Children Romania
Sweden
Save the Children Sweden
Switzerland
Save the Children Switzerland
The Netherlands
Save the Children Netherlands
United Kingdom
Save the Children United Kingdom
Albania
Save the Children in Albania National Office
Kosovo
Save the Children in Kosovo National Office
Georgia
Save the Children Country Office
North-West Balkans
Save the Children in NW Balkans Country Office
Ukraine
Save the Children in Ukraine Country Office
Poland
Save the Children Poland Regional Response Office
Greece
Partnership with the Greek Council for Refugees
Moldova
The Institute of Mother and Child
Brussels
Save the Children Europe
Geneva
Advocacy Office
HOW WE CREATE CHANGE
As Save the Children works across Europe to protect and promote the rights of children, especially those in vulnerable situations, we focus our efforts in five main thematic areas that affect children’s lives:
01. Child poverty
Despite Europe’s wealth, too many children still face poverty and social exclusion — we work to ensure every child has the education and support to thrive.
02. Children on the move
Children arriving in Europe in seek of protection often endure discrimination and hardship — we work to ensure they are protected, cared for, and included.
03. Protecting children
We protect children from harm offline and online, advocating for stronger safeguards while supporting those at risk of abuse.
04. Child participation
We empower children to lead and influence decisions that affect their lives, including through the EU’s first Children’s Participation Platform.
05. Climate impact
Children in Europe are already suffering from climate impacts, we work to protect their rights and ensure they have a voice in shaping climate action.
OUR WORK ON THE EUROPEAN ELECTIONS
In 2024, ahead of the European Elections in June, Save the Children led a powerful coalition to put children’s rights at the centre of European policy, launching the Child Rights Manifesto, amplifying the voices of over 9,000 children through the 'Our Rights. Our Future. The Europe We Want' survey, and successfully re-establishing the European Parliament Intergroup on Children’s Rights—securing concrete commitments from policymakers to protect and empower every child.
LOOKING AHEAD
Our daily commitment
Save the Children has stood with millions of children across Europe for many years—and we will continue to do so every day. Our mission is clear: to provide direct support to children and families, and to advocate for policies that guarantee a better present and future. This is the commitment we uphold—now and always.
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko/Save the Children
Photo: Oleksandr Khomenko/Save the Children
Delivering practical support
Alongside our advocacy in the 23 countries we operate in Europe, we will continue:
- Securing access to quality education, psychosocial support, and protection for children on the move.
- Supporting children and families facing poverty and exclusion.
- Providing safe spaces, emergency relief, life-saving aid, and trusted information.
- Expanding initiatives that promote digital literacy and online safety while offering protection for children that have been abused.
- Empower children to know their rights and fight for them.
Photo: Kahlil Alachawi/Save the Children
Photo: Kahlil Alachawi/Save the Children
Driving policy change and shaping Europe’s future for children
At both EU and national levels, we will use evidence from our programmes and research to influence the child-centred implementation of key policies, including the European Child Guarantee, the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, the Digital Services Act, and the Enlargement Package. Looking ahead, we will also champion new EU initiatives with the potential to transform children’s lives, such as the first EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, legislation on Child Sexual Abuse, an Action Plan on Cyberbullying, an EU-wide inquiry on social media, the EU Returns Regulation, and the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) recognising that when EU funding is allocated and used effectively, it can transform children’s lives today and help build an inclusive Europe for the future.
With children, partners, and policymakers, we will turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities—and ensure every child grows up safe, included, and empowered.
Photo: Daria Rotaru/Save the Children
Photo: Daria Rotaru/Save the Children
Built with Shorthand