World Childhood Foundation supports approximately 120 projects in 14 countries. These countries are: Brazil, China, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine and the United States.

All projects supported by Childhood are aimed at children at risk with a special focus on girls. The target groups are street children, children living in institutions, young mothers and sexually abused children. Childhood identifies, evaluates, and supports existing organizations and efforts that are aligned with our mission. The aim is to support projects more effectively by funding local organizations that work towards established goals and directly with children in need. Childhood also works actively to raise public awareness about how vulnerable and exploited children are suffering in various parts of the world.

Each project is specifically developed to meet the needs of the most vulnerable children ? the ones most often ignored and forgotten. Childhood wants to draw attention to sensitive children's issues that otherwise would go unnoticed. Since its inception, Childhood has identified such projects to highlight issues that are difficult to identify, complicated to address, and even more complicated to discuss and seek support for.

Childhood does not employ its own staff in the field but evaluates, monitors, and reviews project applications from other organizations, and provides funding for services for children in need. The personal involvement and commitment of the organizations? staff are an important evaluation tool and measure for potential funding. Childhood strives to work as closely to the children as possible. What we call the 'Childhood model' is built on closeness and participation in the process of developing and managing the projects, including conducting frequent visits to assure follow-through while encouraging their efforts.

Each country has a designated Childhood country manager, principally responsible for a country and/or region. For more information about a specific Childhood country, click on the name of the country listed to the right or go to the menu on the left and click on our target group links.

USA

Childhood USA targets urban, suburban and rural areas to help improve services for many different groups of children and youth. In order to achieve measureable results, Childhood USA is developing its project portfolio as well as funding strategy on an ongoing basis. The Foundation reached into new regions in the US in 2008 and this expansion will continue in 2009.

Childhood USA also contributes money raised in the US to support global projects. Previously, Childhood USA has supported the sister foundation in Brazil, in addition to projects in Moldova, Russia, Thailand and Ukraine via the foundation in Sweden. In 2009, Childhood USA is slated to support projects in Cambodia and Kyrgyzstan.

Charlotte Brandin, Executive Director for Childhood USA, is country manager for the portfolio in the US and responsible for overall project strategy and development for the US Foundation.