A year of changing lives: our work in numbers

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A year of changing lives: our work in numbers

A year of changing lives: our work in numbers

What can your support help us achieve in a year?

As we publish our 2016-17 annual report, we look back at an incredible 12 months of transforming children’s lives around the world. You can read some of the highlights below and download the full report.

Memory in Malawi — Young campaigner Memory lobbied to end child marriage in Malawi

Securing an end to child marriage in Malawi

A phenomenal 42,000 of you stood with our Youth Advocate, Memory, and signed our petition, which helped young campaigners change the constitution and secure an end to child marriage in Malawi.

"Last year, I stood before the First Lady of Malawi to demand the constitution be changed to ban child marriage. I wasn’t alone: I was joined by the voices of the 42,000 Plan International supporters who signed our petition. And we were heard!"

Page 9 in the report.

A child in a refugee camp in Tanzania — Bernice*, 12

Helping children find hope for the future

In Northwest Tanzania, we’ve been working in three refugee camps to match families with orphaned or abandoned children and young people who have fled the conflict in Burundi, helping them finish their education, learn new skills and find hope for the future.

“There is a difference between here and Burundi. Here I am getting food and a place to sleep and I’m getting care from my foster parent. It helps me feel safer," says Bernice*, 12.

* Name changed to protect their identity.

Page 18 in the report.

A woman receiving aid from Plan International during Nigeria's food crisis

Effective response during emergencies

Since July 2016, we’ve responded to 16 disasters across Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East through our emergencies work. When an emergency happens, we respond as fast as possible with life-saving support and supplies like water, food and shelter.

Page 17 in the report.

Children learning lifesaving skills at a survival camp in Thailand

Building resilience in Thailand

In Phangnga Province, Thailand, with vital support from Prudential, we’re helping 2,000 children prepare for disasters, building resilience and helping save lives in an emergency.

“Students have fun and become creative in developing plays and songs related to disasters. This helps them familiarise with disaster and will lessen panic when a real disaster hits,” explains teacher Kanyanee.

Page 19 in the report.

Girls taking part in an FGM awareness session in Egypt

Challenging child marriage and FGM in Egypt

In Egypt, we’ve made 7,000 visits to grandmothers as part of our ‘New Horizons’ project, encouraging them to protect their granddaughters from child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) – and persuade their friends and neighbours to do the same.

Faith, who underwent FGM at age 14, says her younger sisters "have the right to grow up healthy and happy, in charge of their own future."

Page 10 in the report.

Empowering young people in India and Kenya

Last year, our Young Health Programme with biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca reached 13,325 young people in India and Kenya, empowering them to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.

The impact is clear: more young people know how to stay healthy, and more of them are confident about seeking health care.

Page 15 in the report.

Breaking taboos with the period emoji

When we asked if there should be a new period emoji you said a resounding ‘yes’, with 50,000 of you voting for your favourite design.

The campaign aimed to break down the stigma surrounding periods, to make it easier for girls and women to talk about periods with friends, family and colleagues.

Page 12 in the report.

Girls taking part in an evacuation drill in Myanmar

Improving resilience in Myanmar

In Myanmar, our BRACED programme is helping 300,000 people become more resilient to disasters and climate change, as well as enabling women to gain greater economic independence.

In 155 communities, women’s empowerment training is helping women to challenge traditional gender roles.

Page 20 in the report.

A woman receiving seeds from Plan International in Ethiopia

Responding to the food crisis in Ethiopia and South Sudan

When we launched our emergency response in East Africa, we were overwhelmed by your generosity. With your help, we were able to raise £543,000 and respond fast in Ethiopia and South Sudan.

Our appeal helped us to support feeding centres treating malnourished children and families, and reduce the number of children – especially girls – dropping out of school by providing nutritiounous lunches at drought-stricken schools.

Page 19 in the report.

Mamie teaching a class of children in Sierra Leone

The difference a role model can make

In Sierra Leone, over 450 young women have trained with us to become teachers and role models, through specially-designed Open University distance learning courses.

“My father told me educating a girl is a waste of money. I refused to listen, and proved my community wrong! Now, they see that a woman can be a teacher. I’m a role model, and my dream is coming true,” says Mamie, one of the course's trainees.

Page 11 in the report.