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Our History

For over 30 years we have worked in more than 18 countries, supporting thousands of children.

Together with our CEO Rachel Bentley OBE, the late Dame Anita Roddick sparked the beginnings of Children on the Edge in 1990, in response to the Romanian Orphanage Crisis.  

After witnessing the appalling conditions in Romanian orphanages first hand, Dame Anita Roddick mobilised her company, The Body Shop International, to help. 

Over 30 years later, we continue to work with children on the edge of their societies. We have partnered with local organisations in more than 18 countries, supporting communities to provide education and protection for those that need it most. 

We currently support over 17,000 of the most marginalised children in some of the toughest situations around the world. 

Rachel continues to lead the organisation to this day and has been awarded an OBE for her longstanding services to the protection and education of marginalised children worldwide.

HOW YOU CAN HELP WHERE WE WORK

THE BEGINNING

1990

Together with our CEO and co-founder Rachel Bentley OBE, The Body Shop’s  late Dame Anita Roddick sparked the beginning of Children on the Edge after they visited orphanages in Romania following the brutal Ceaușescu regime.

BUILDING EXPERTISE

1992

After developing considerable experience supporting and reintegrating institutionalised children in Romania and Moldova, we were invited to expand this work into Albania & Kosovo.

CHILDREN ON THE EDGE

1994

We expanded into Bosnia, working with marginalised children, and those without parental care. At this point, Rachel Bentley co-founded Children on the Edge, as part of The Body Shop.

TEENS IN ROMANIA

1996

Set up support and rehabilitation programmes in Romania for children without parents and teenagers leaving residential care.

KOSOVO CRISIS

1999

When thousands of Kosovan refugees arrived in the town of Korce, Southern Albania we became involved in the relief effort,  providing mobile sanitation and clinic facilities.

SCHOOL BUILDING

2000

Expanded into Kosovo to help rebuild schools and communities devastated by conflict. Working here developed our expertise in supporting children in post conflict situations.

TIMOR LESTE

2001

We were invited by UNICEF to work with traumatised children and young people in post-conflict Timor-Leste. We established a Child Friendly Space to help children heal from the trauma of war.

SPECIAL NEEDS CENTRES

2002

Addressing negative social attitudes towards children with disabilities, we supported special needs centres in Romania and Moldova, helping to prevent institutionalisation. 

INDEPENDENT CHARITY STATUS

2004

Children on the Edge became a Registered Charity, independent from The Body Shop.

DISASTER RELIEF IN INDONESIA

2005

When the Asian Tsunami hit Indonesia, we utilised our skills to help children in the area most devastated by the disaster and support communities to rebuild their lives. 

THAI - BURMA BORDER

2006

We started work on the Thai/Myanmar border, helping Burmese refugees and migrants fleeing persecution from a brutal military regime within their homeland.

SUPPORTING ROHINGYA REFUGEES

2009

We began our work in Bangladesh with the Rohingya refugee community, becoming the only organisation providing education to children cut off from learning in the makeshift Kutupalong refugee camp.

EARTHQUAKE RELIEF IN HAITI

2010

When the earthquake struck in Haiti, we supported children living in some of the toughest areas of Port au Prince to access sports coaching, mentoring and nutrition.

CHILDREN ON THE EDGE AFRICA

2012

We established Child Friendly Spaces in Uganda and began to pilot voluntary Child Protection Teams, now effective in many other communities and districts. In order to do this most effectively we registered a sister organisation in Uganda - 'Children on the Edge Africa'.

WORKING WITH CHILDREN IN MYANMAR

2013

We set up Early Childhood Development and support for children displaced by war and living in remote mountain camps in Kachin State, Myanmar.

WORKING IN INDIA AND LEBANON

2014

We began supporting education for Dalit children facing severe discrimination in Bihar State, India and supported tent schools for Syrian refugee children in Bekaa Valley, Lebanon. 

CAMPAIGNING FOR CHANGE

2016

We began campaigning to change the Ugandan law on child sacrifice, together with Annie Ikpa and Children on the Edge Africa. 

ROHINGYA GENOCIDE

2017

Having worked with the Rohingya refugee community in the makeshift Kutupalong camp since 2021, we were well placed to respond to the huge influx caused by the August genocide, providing humanitarian support and eventually education for over 7,500 children. 

SUPPORTING CONGOLESE REFUGEES

2019

In Kyaka II refugee camp, Uganda, we started working with Congolese refugee communities to provide vital early years learning for the youngest children, gaining international recognition and awards for our innovative approach.

THE PANDEMIC

2020

During the Covid-19 pandemic we found creative ways to ensure the children we support could continue learning through lockdown. We began to pilot ‘cluster learning’ for Congolese refugee children in Uganda, and use video lessons in Bangladesh, to tackle language barriers and bring learning to life for Rohingya refugee children.

CAMPAIGN SUCCESS

2021

The Ugandan Parliament made the momentous decision to pass The Prevention and Prohibition of Human Sacrifice Bill, specifically addressing the crime of child sacrifice. 

UKRAINE CONFLICT RESPONSE

2022

We provided emergency support for Ukrainian refugees in Moldova and Romania, and expanded our work with Rohingya refugee children to Bhasan Char Island, Bangladesh. 

PROTECTING CHILDREN IN KARAMOJA, UGANDA

2023

Building on its’ success in Jinja, our Child Protection Team Model in Uganda was introduced successfully in Karamoja, an area where poverty is rife and children are at risk of abuse and neglect. 

YOU MIGHT LIKE

End of an era: Our 34 year journey with The Body Shop

With the closure of The Body Shop at Home and major changes to the global business, we want to take this opportunity to thank and honour those we have journeyed with since 1990.

First Spark - Anita Roddick and Children on the Edge

We take a look back at our history and what sparked the late Dame Anita Roddick and her company, The Body Shop to co-found Children on the Edge in 1990.

Rachel Bentley Awarded OBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours

Our CEO and co-founder, Rachel Bentley was awarded an OBE in the 2022 Queen’s birthday honours, for services to the protection and education of marginalised children worldwide.

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