Cuts to U.S. Foreign Aid Jeopardize Vulnerable Children Worldwide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:Heather Sabharwal
hsabharwal@childfund.org
804-756-8994

Richmond, Va. (February 13, 2018) – ChildFund International responded to the administration’s budget today with alarm, noting that a 30% cut to the international affairs budget will place already vulnerable children in greater peril.

“In past years, relief efforts supported by the U.S. government helped avert mass starvation, kept global famine deaths at a fraction of previous decades and prevented global infectious disease deaths from rising,” said Anne Lynam Goddard, ChildFund’s President and CEO. “Our country must maintain its leadership by providing resources that protect and help the most vulnerable – the world’s children. When America cuts funding to programs that aid children, we jeopardize not just the individuals, but entire communities trying to escape poverty.”

While the majority of ChildFund’s undertakings are supported through private donations, grants awarded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department strengthen and sustain programs abroad. With the support of U.S. government funding, ChildFund recently created community health centers throughout Senegal that deliver healthcare in a now self-sustaining system and implemented programs to reunite displaced Ugandan children with their families. These endeavors and investments save lives, decrease dependency and confront challenges with long-term solutions.

“The international affairs budget comprises only one percent of the total federal budget, but that small amount creates big impact – supporting programs that enable desperate children to experience a peaceful and secure childhood that will ultimately help create a peaceful and secure world,” said Goddard. “If our country is to remain a moral leader in matters of foreign policy, it is our obligation to create a world that protects all children.”

As Congress considers the administration’s proposed budget, ChildFund calls on lawmakers to protect the international affairs funding and support the assistance that serves as a critical tool for America’s foreign policy and security. In April, ChildFund International supporters and staff from seven of its 25 offices around the world will share this message during the 2018 Global Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C.

“By investing in children today, we help create a world where future generations will benefit and prosper,” said Goddard.

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ChildFund International partners with communities throughout Asia, Africa and the Americas – including the United States – to create lasting, positive change for children. Our programs address the underlying conditions that prevent children and youth from achieving their full potential. Last year, we reached almost 18 million children and family members. Approximately 200,000 Americans support our work by sponsoring individual children or investing in ChildFund programs. Within the U.S. government, we advocate to elevate and advance the issues of international child protection and child well-being across U.S. foreign assistance policy and funding priorities. Find out more at www.ChildFund.org.