About Us

If you believe in charity that is high-impact, accountable, and innovative, we invite you to read on.

Our Story

Our founder was 12 years old in 1995 when he was inspired to make a difference. From one boy’s story of courage to a global movement, our story shows that young people have the power to change the world. And now in our work, we see it happen every day—youth breaking barriers that prevent them from achieving their fullest potential.

Our Mission and Our Model

An international charity and educational partner, Free The Children believes in a world where all young people are free to achieve their fullest potential as agents of change. Before we started, young people were the lowest demographic of volunteers in Canada; today, they’re among the highest.

Results and Impacts

Free The Children is a high-impact, accountable and innovative charity. Our domestic and international programming work together to achieve tangible results with a lasting impact on the youth we work with around the world.

Why We’re Different

Free The Children’s programming cannot be captured in a short sound-bite. Our world is complex; truly effective solutions to world’s most pressing problems require a unique, holistic approach.

Our Team

Our team is young, diverse and shamelessly idealistic. From our headquarters in Toronto to our regional offices around the world, every team member has joined on to make a real difference. It’s not about having a job. It’s about having an impact on the world. It’s a way of life.

Our Core Values

The work of Free The Children is what attracts young people, employees, donors, educators, sponsors and the extended family of supporters to our organization. But it is the core values, which govern our work, that forge such deep and lasting connections.

Our Partners

Partnerships with exceptional businesses and forward-thinking organizations are essential to deepening and extending our work. The reciprocal relationships we forge are helping to change the landscape of how corporations can increase their social impact.

Financials

Our domestic and international programs work together to grow and strengthen Free The Children’s global community. We are committed to honouring every contribution—big or small—to maximize your impact toward our shared mission. We work without pause to ensure high impact, accountability, efficiencies and innovation.

Awards

We are humbled by the recognition and proud of our world-class development model and award-winning accomplishments.

Media Centre

From Spencer West climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to Natalie Portman becoming a Free The Children ambassador to youth engaging in active citizenship, we have all the Free The Children news stories – as well as photos, bios, interview requests and the latest announcements. Get them all here.

Careers

Looking for an exciting career with an award-winning organization? Want to make a difference, meet world leaders and work with some of the most brilliant minds of our time? Be a part of a team that was voted the Top Employer for Young People two years in a row.

Contact Us

Find contact information for each of our departments and regional offices around the globe. We’re waiting to hear from you!

 “Before Free The Children I thought to make a difference you had to go to the source of the problem, like Africa to help with poverty, but now I know you can begin to make the same difference starting in your own community.”

- Domestic programming participant

“I want to put an end to discrimination against women; I wish all women could be given the same opportunities as me. With the formation of women’s groups, Free The Children has enabled us to live in peace by working, eating and sharing together.”

- Jane, Adopt a Village programming participant