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2024 Annual Report
Letter from the Founder
Dear friends,
In 2024, War Child Canada celebrated a major milestone: our 25th anniversary. Looking back, I am proud of how far we have come. What started as an idea – an aspiration to build a more effective, responsive, sustainable, and local community-led humanitarian organization - has turned into a global movement committed to helping children recover from the legacy and trauma of war. A quarter century ago, we were a volunteer staff of one, and now there are more than a thousand War Child staff throughout the world, more than 99% of whom come from war zones and who are running and leading our operations.
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Country Profiles
War Child’s model of humanitarian action is rooted in collaboration and is locally driven and locally led. We work to foster the capacity of children, their families, and their communities to develop resilience, self-reliance, and self-determination in overcoming the impacts of violence and displacement.
War Child's Impact in 2024
Education
Globally, a staggering 250 million children are out of school, with many denied their right to learn because of armed conflict. For a quarter of a century, War Child has pioneered creative and innovative solutions to bring children back to the classroom. Recognizing that the complexity of war creates a wide array of barriers to education, War Child tailors its approach to meet the unique challenges that children face. From giving young refugees a chance to catch up on missed years, to providing distance learning when it is impossible to get to school safely, War Child believes that whatever it takes, every child should have the opportunity to learn.
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Opportunities
War and armed conflict directly affect families’ ability to earn money and support themselves. Farmland becomes inaccessible, markets are destroyed, livestock is looted, manufacturing materials are unavailable, and banks are closed or inoperable. These, and a host of other challenges, contribute to
a cycle of poverty that is difficult to break.
In coping with intractable poverty, people turn to strategies of last resort, such as early and forced marriage, overuse of natural resources, reduced investments in children’s education, and even criminality and corruption. War Child provides vocational and skills training to parents and young people and offers guidance and financial support to help them establish sustainable businesses. By helping people lift themselves out of poverty, War Child empowers them to make positive decisions for themselves and their families and regain a sense of security and independence.
Protection
The rights of women and children can only be protected if everybody knows what they are. This is why War Child spends a lot of time and energy promoting them within communities. This can take many forms, from youth-led initiatives on peace and conflict management, to radio broadcasts on the rights of children, to programming that gives women a lead role in both the design and implementation of the work.
War Child seeks to empower women and young people with the skills and tools to advocate for themselves and to build the capacity of the whole community to be their champions. A population-wide understanding of women and children’s rights is the most powerful way to ensure they become the bedrock on which a more secure and peaceful future can be built.
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Stories of Success in 2024
The inspiration of radio
“May God bless this teaching method. I hope it will continue to help more children.”
Angelique struggled at her community primary school in the DRC. She suffered from learning difficulties and could barely write her name by Grade 4. She began to lose all motivation and finally dropped out altogether. Fortunately, her mother Sarah heard about War Child’s radio-based learning through an awareness campaign in her community. With nothing to lose, she decided to enrol Angelique. “I'm amazed at what she’s experienced since she joined” Sarah told War Child. “She's very motivated, she doesn't miss a day.”
Angelique has started to read and occasionally speak French. “I think it’s the radio that's bringing about this change. May God bless this organization and this teaching method. I hope it will continue to help more children.”
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Finding Strength Through Support
“I thought my problems would never change, but I learned that every problem has a solution if we seek help.”
After the death of her husband, Shararah was left as the sole provider for her four young children. She was struggling financially and completely overwhelmed. The weight of her burden took a heavy toll on her mental and physical health, leading to severe anxiety.
When she discovered one of War Child’s mother and child health centres, her life began to turn around. She received psychotherapy, counseling, and medical support, helping her regain confidence and learn coping strategies to manage stress. With renewed hope, she
now envisions a better future for her children. “I thought my problems would never change,” she says. “But I learned that every problem has a solution if we seek help.”
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A Second Chance at Education
“I have received support to return to school, and I want to help others who dropped out like me.”
The death of Dorothy’s father caused severe financial problems for her family, and Dorothy was forced to drop out of school. It seemed unlikely that she would complete her education, which would have thwarted her ambition of becoming an accountant. Fortunately, War Child’s Accelerated Education Program gave her the second chance she craved. With support for school fees, materials, and uniforms, Dorothy passed her national exams and is now studying for her Advanced Level, the equivalent of final exams taken before applying to university.
Her dreams are alive again. “I have received support to return to school,” she told our staff.
“I want to help others who dropped out like me.”
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Anya's Tea Triumph
“My business is now thriving, and we can send our children to school!”
Anya a 31-year-old mother of five living in a refugee settlement in Uganda. She knows what it means to build something from nothing. What began as a humble tea stall with a single kettle and a handful of cups has blossomed into a shop offering not just tea, but a nourishing breakfast.
War Child intervention was a turning point in Anya’s life. We organized her and her peers into a Village Savings and Loan Association, providing training in business management, and savings and loan procedures. "We learned how to invest wisely," Mary explains. "I took out a loan, invested it in my business, and repaid it within a month. My business is now thriving,
and we can send our children to school!”
War Child's 25th Anniversary Gala: The World That’s Possible
On December 5, 2024, 400 people came together at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto for a gala dinner to mark War Child’s 25th anniversary. We honoured some remarkable individuals – Stephen Smith with our Philanthropy Award, Margaret Atwood with our Changemaker Award, and Denise Donlon with our Founder's
Award - enjoyed inspirational speeches, and a special performance by Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo. Through the generosity of our sponsors, donors, and supporters, we raised an incredible $1,193,000 to support some of the most vulnerable children in the world. In increasingly volatile times, this support is truly encouraging.
Watch the excitement in this short gala highlight video here
A Festival of Hope
On June 22, War Child and Oxfam Canada presented A Festival of Hope: World Refugee Day 2024. Staged at Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto, thousands of people danced to music from around the world performed by newcomers to Canada, some of whom fled violence in their home countries. Focused on sharing stories of resilience and hope, the festival
highlighted the importance of providing quality education to refugee children and youth so they can find pathways to self-sufficiency despite trauma and challenges.
Watch the highlight video here
Our 2024 Gala Supporters
Thank you to our generous supporters, major partners, and donors.
$150,000
Anonymous
$100,000 - $125,000
Hatim Shafique
$25,000 - $50,000
BMO
CIBC
Krembil Foundation
Mantella Corporation
Margaret Atwood
Maverix Private Equity
Mike and Penny Eizenga
Ronnen Harary
The Slaight Family Foundation
$10,000 - $25,000
Anthem Entertainment Group
Alberta and Peter Stringham
Blink49
Danielle Stampley and Daniel Bach
E-L Financial
EY Canada
Fairstone Bank
Forum Asset Management
Geotab
Kate and David Daniels
KPMG
Linamar Corporation
Live Nation Canada
Mags and Andrew Moor Fund
McCain Foods Limited
Michael Stollery
Peter Gilgan
Ray Danniels
RBC Capital Markets
Remington Group
Saporito Foods Inc.
Schneider Family Foundation
Shilpa Madon
Staples Canada
Stikeman Elliott
TD
Torys LLP
The Totten Wealth Advisory Group
Uber Canada
Victor and Maureen Dodig
Viking Capital Corp.
Gifts in Kind
Air Canada Foundation
Alex Lifeson
Ash and Mona Singh
BVD Group
Cory Vitiello
The Globe and Mail
Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor
Jonathan Gushue
KPW Communications
Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy Foundation
Sangita Patel
Shania Twain Foundation
The Tragically Hip