5 Organizations Improving The Lives Of Children

While all children deserve to lead healthy and successful lives, a lot of them are unable to do so due to factors out of their control, such as poverty or lack of access to education. Luckily, there are countless groups dedicated to providing children with the support they need to thrive. In no particular order, here are some organizations helping kids all across the world.

First up, at #1, we have World of Children. Founded in 1998, it seeks to improve the lives of vulnerable children by funding, elevating, and educating change-makers worldwide. It supports programs that focus on global issues such as bullying, education, abuse, homelessness, and hunger. Extensive investigations are conducted by one of the world’s leading security firms to ensure that the performances of its grant recipients meet the organization's standards.

Each year, its Hero Awards Benefit pays tribute to past honorees who have shown measurable outcomes and leveraged their recognition and original grant funds to deliver a profound impact on vulnerable children. Among its financial grants is the Youth Award, which recognizes young leaders who have founded or co-founded their own non-profit organizations to advocate for important causes and inspire their peers to make a difference.

Next up, at #2, is Beverly's Birthdays. The organization hosts birthday celebrations for homeless youth in Pittsburgh, with the guests being other children in the program and their families, if applicable. All of the children it serves also receive customized packages filled with gender- and age-appropriate gifts.

Through its Classroom Cheer program, the organization provides teachers in low-income elementary and primary schools throughout the region with kits that contain everything they need to recognize their students' birthdays. Among its other programs is the Birthday Boutique, a mobile fashion truck that allows children and their families to shop for new clothing for free.

Taking the #3 spot is Miracle Foundation. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, it is an international nonprofit that brings life-changing care to orphaned and vulnerable children around the world. One of its core initiatives is to prevent children from entering the system in the first place, by training childcare workers and partnering with community programs that identify and support at-risk kids.

Miracle Foundation's proprietary Thrive Scale methodology allows it to measure progress and assess risk at every stage of its work. Caregivers are held to strict standards, and evaluated quarterly on their ability to reach measurable milestones. The organization follows up on children who have left an orphanage, re-evaluating their family situations on a monthly basis.

Coming in at #4 is Distressed Children & Infants International. Founded in 2003, it helps kids and their families work their way out of the poverty cycle through education, healthcare, and income-generating opportunities. It also connects American youth with less fortunate kids in other countries, educating them about the challenges facing children worldwide and inspiring them to take leadership in humanitarian causes.

The organization's flagship Sun Child Sponsorship Program provides severely underprivileged children with the resources they need to stay in school instead of having to enter the labor force. In addition, the program provides healthcare as well as family and community support in the form of small business development and adult education.

Finally, at #5, we have Star for Life, which seeks to inspire young people to value learning, acquire the knowledge and skills they need for productive work, and to lead healthy, meaningful lives. Its educational program is available through various schools in Southern Africa. The organization's coaches seek to make learners more motivated to invest in their studies, and to make conscious choices to positively influence their futures.

Star for Life's Mobile Health Program complements the coaches' work, providing in-depth adolescent health education through workshops that tackle topics such as safe sex, reproductive rights, and the physical and emotional changes of puberty. The program also engages with learners' parents through various campaigns and special interventions, ensuring that relevant information continues to be disseminated within the community.