2024: A Year of Challenges and Hope

As we approach the end of 2024, it’s crucial to reflect on a year that has been marked by profound global challenges and moments of remarkable human resilience. And while our collective spirit has been put to the test, I’ve found strength through personal glimpses of hope that lift me up and help keep me moving forward as the CEO of Children Believe.

Unprecedented Problems

Ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East continue to dominate global headlines, overshadowing the forgotten humanitarian crises, such as the Sahel in West Africa where Children Believe is growing its work. All of it fueling what remains the biggest displacement disaster since the second world war. Far too many people are living on the edge of survival.

And far too many also live on the margins of progress. We must remain mindful of emerging technologies like AI which are dramatically changing how the world works. These breakthroughs can be a huge help to humankind, but if we don’t take the right steps to address inequities, they will be a hindrance for global stability. One might think that AI will have the biggest impact on older workers with outdated skill sets, but it’s actually marginalized young people who will be disproportionately affected. Consider that by 2030, the number of people between the ages of 15-30 will grow to 1.3 billion. Young people, especially girls, from the global south without access to an education won’t have the knowledge or skills they need, leaving them further behind. This could further increase the threat to world peace and security for everyone.

Education is everything. Because education means choices.

That’s why working at Children Believe makes me proud because of our work to empower young people to remove the barriers to their education. Last year 589,699 boys and girls, teachers, parents and caregivers benefited from our inclusive, high quality, education-focused program interventions. Each and every one is a remarkable story of individual resilience — but also represents global cooperation and goodwill. Let me share five examples where I experience that during this past year.

Fred’s Top Five Moments of 2024:

1. Trip to Ghana. Earlier this year I travelled with Children Believe’s Board of Directors to directly witness the impact of our work. We were inspired by so much, but a true highlight was meeting former sponsored children who are now productive adults who are making their communities stronger. We met Najat, who overcame immense challenges, finished her education and chose to become an entrepreneur. See her story.

2. International Cooperation Futures Forum. In October I was in Ottawa to meet over 350 change-makers from Canada and around the world. People representing civil society, government, the private sector, philanthropy and academia who are all driven by innovation and impact. It was inspiring because this kind of complete, inclusive, societal engagement is the best way to address global crises and improve the health of the planet.

3.Markham Board of Trade Business Excellence Awards. Since our move last year to our new offices at 90 AllState Parkway in Markham, Ontario, we have engaged actively to be a good local community member. Our efforts were recognized by the Markham community as we were selected as a finalist for the 34^th Annual MBT’s Business Excellence Awards in the Community Relations and Cultural enrichment category. This recognition gave us a great opportunity to introduce Children Believe as a gateway of goodwill to the wider Markham Business community.

4. ChildFund Alliance World Index As the Canadian member of the ChildFund Alliance of 11 global organizations, I attended the launch of our 2024 World Index in New York. Knowing can truly be half the battle — and this report, which ranks 157 countries, revealed the reality about global rights for women and children. We learned that Canada had fallen to 20^th in the world and re-affirmed that Children Believe works in some of the toughest places. It’s this kind of information that can be a wake-up call for leaders here at home and around the world, to do more.

5. G7 Education Coalition. Speaking of which, I’m so happy to see that Children Believe, as part of the Canadian International Education Policy Working Group coalition, is uniting efforts as Canada assumes the G7 presidency in the coming year. Together, we’re urging our country to build on its legacy as a champion for the next generation. Because education is the single most powerful tool for children to change their world for the better. Much more on that to come in 2025!

Canadian Compassion

As Canadians, we have much to be grateful for: our stable democracy, robust social support systems, multicultural society, and the freedom to actively participate in creating positive global change. Our commitment to peace, inclusivity, and mutual understanding can be a beacon of hope in turbulent times.  Together, let us enter the next year with hope, empathy, and a renewed commitment to making our world more just, sustainable, and compassionate.

About Children Believe

Children Believe works globally to empower children to dream fearlessly, stand up for what they believe in — and be heard. For 60+ years, we’ve brought together brave young dreamers, caring supporters and partners, and unabashed idealists. Together, we’re driven by a common belief: creating access to education — inside and outside of classrooms — is the most powerful tool children can use to change their world.

About Childfund Alliance

A member of ChildFund Alliance, Children Believe is part of a global network of child-focused development organizations working to create opportunities for children and youth, their families and communities. ChildFund helps nearly 23-million children and their families in 70 countries overcome poverty and underlying conditions that prevent children from achieving their full potential. We work to end violence against children; provide expertise in emergencies and disasters to ease the harmful impact on children and their communities; and engage children and youth to create lasting change and elevate their voices in decisions that affect their lives.