The history of Action Child Aid
Did you know that the story of Action Child Aid begins with Abbé Pierre and Mother Teresa?
Today, Action Child Aid works with long-term projects where the goal is to ensure education, rights and health for vulnerable children through close cooperation with our partners in India. Through local partners, we also have sponsorship programs focusing on education and health. The story of Action Child Aid goes back more than 55 years – join us on the journey below.
TIMELINE
1955
The Catholic priest Abbé Pierre, who among other things is known in France from his ragpicker camps, comes to Denmark. He gains respect with the declaration of “First to help those who suffer the most” and thus motivates the Danes to participate in the ragpicker movement.
1965
Danes who have participated in Abbé Pierre’s international ragpicker camps decide to do a ragpicker action in Copenhagen. The aim is to raise money for milk to be sent to Mother Teresa in India. It will be the starting point for Action Child Aid, but under the name Abbé Pierres Klunsere, S.O.S. Tørmælk (Abbé Pierre’s ragpickers, S.O.S. Dry Milk).
1970's-1990's
Over a period of 18 years, we distribute skimmed-milk powder, rice, sugar, edible oil and beans from the EU Food Programme to our partners in India, primarily to Mother Teresa’s missionaries of charity organisation. In total, almost 5,000 tonnes of food with a value of almost DKK 44 million.
1971
The ragpicker work is being scaled back, but the activities of the organization are being expanded with the Educational Programme, which today is known as the sponsorship programme. This leads, among other things, to a collaboration with selected project partners in India, who help vulnerable children and young people with books, teaching, food and medicine.
Mid 1990's
Over time, Abbé Pierre’s ragpickers, S.O.S. Dry Milk changed its name, most recently to Action Child Aid, Mother Teresa’s Employees in Denmark. In 1994, however, Mother Teresa informed that organisations are no longer allowed to raise money in her name, and that is how we finally become Action Child Aid.
We start working with many of the current project partners and start supporting projects including schools and orphanages, training in crafts and support for young women and families, among others.
Mother Teresa will stop shipping milk powder for a year, extending support to the five existing sponsorship partners Asha Nivas, Bala Mandir, Shanthi Bhavan, St Thomas and Sri Kanyakumari Gurukula Ashram. We are also starting a collaboration with three new project partners: ARM, CECOWOR and SRD, and the support goes to a number of different projects, all of which benefit children.
We start working with many of the current project partners and start supporting projects including schools and orphanages, training in crafts and support for young women and families, among others.
Mother Teresa will stop shipping milk powder for a year, extending support to the five existing sponsorship partners Asha Nivas, Bala Mandir, Shanthi Bhavan, St Thomas and Sri Kanyakumari Gurukula Ashram. We are also starting a collaboration with three new project partners: ARM, CECOWOR and SRD, and the support goes to a number of different projects, all of which benefit children.
2004
A tsunami is hitting India, causing great material and, not least, human damage. Action Child Aid immediately initiates a fundraiser that results in DKK 300,000 for our partners and their efforts in India.
2006
The secretariat in Aktion Children’s Aid is now located at Nørrebro in Copenhagen. In addition, the project committee is created, which over the years will improve the quality of our project work in India. Since then, more voluntary committees have been appointed.
2014
We run a partnership project together with four partners, as we have a desire in Action Child Aid to work more rights-based. This will be our first project, supported by CISU/Danida.
2015
The association Action Child Aid’s Friends is created, which among other things supports us by seeking foundations, grants and pools, as well as engaging members in our voluntary work in Action Child Aid.
In September, our first children’s rights project starts. The project aims to raise awareness of children’s rights and forms the basis for our subsequent development projects.
In September, our first children’s rights project starts. The project aims to raise awareness of children’s rights and forms the basis for our subsequent development projects.
2016
We are starting the Ambassadors Programme, which now makes it possible to work with well-known Danes to raise awareness of our work in India.
You can see the list of our ambassadors – which includes Manu Sareen – here
In addition, we are also starting the first sanitation project, which helps to make health and sanitation a strategic focus area in Action Child Aid.
2017
We are changing the strategy for our development and rights-based work, where the focus is now on sustainable projects. This change allows local people to improve their lives on their own , even after they have been supported.
2020's
Action Child Aid, like everyone else in the world, is subject to the corona pandemic. However, we continue to work in the home offices, and we hold our meetings on digital media instead.
During the lockdown of India in 2020, some of the project activities must be paused or reconsidered. Our local partners distribute emergency aid to the Indian population, which is informed about COVID-19 and how to reduce the risk of becoming infected.
During the lockdown of India in 2020, some of the project activities must be paused or reconsidered. Our local partners distribute emergency aid to the Indian population, which is informed about COVID-19 and how to reduce the risk of becoming infected.
