World Childhood Foundation

The World Childhood Foundation, often referred to as simply Childhood, was founded by HM Queen Silvia of Sweden in 1999 in an effort to reach and support children at risk around the world. The foundation's focus is on protecting children from sexual abuse as well as supporting those whom have already fallen victim, with a concentration on girls and young mothers.

Childhood currently supports over 90 programs in 15 countries, including Brazil, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Ukraine and the United States. The foundation also works actively to raise awareness about children's rights and to spread information about the exploitation of children taking place around the world. Childhood has offices in Sao Paola, Brazil, New York, USA and München/Berlin, Germany. The foundation's headquarters are in Stockholm, Sweden. Secretary General of the foundation since its conception is Gunilla von Arbin.

Childhood has a group so-called Co-Founders, each of whom contribute $1 million dollars. Currently, these are:ABB, The Axel Johnson Group, The Barbro E. Heinz Family, The Charles B. Wang Foundation, The Curtis L. Carlson Family Foundation, The DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund, Heimbold Foundation, The Jan H. Stenbeck Family, The Jane and Dan Olsson Family, The Oriflame - af Jochnick Foundation, SAP AG, Skandia, Sven-Philip Sörensen Family, The TeliaSonera AB

Childhood has a focus on corporate responsibility and has, since 1999, engaged a long list of corporate sponsors who have contributed not only through direct monetary donations, but through integrating Childhood into their advertising and branding strategies. So-called Major Partner companies have each signed a three year co-operation contract with the foundation, working with Childhood in its cause-related issues. The Major Partners include: Volvo Cars Sweden, Vattenfall and ICA.

External links

* [http://www.childhood.org Official website]
* [http://www.childcentre.info/projects/institutions/ifid1210.html Foundation Projects in Russia and the Baltic States, January 2001]
* [http://www.childhood-usa.org World Childhood Foundation USA]