A Renewed Commitment to Children in Latin America and the Caribbean

Gabriella Waaijman, Chief Operating Officer at Save the Children International, recently attended the organisation’s Regional Leadership Meeting and Forum in Bogotá, Colombia (9–11 June).  

Bringing together leaders from across Save the Children, alongside partners, donors and private sector representatives, the gathering provided a vital opportunity to reflect on the challenges facing children in Latin America and the Caribbean and to spotlight the progress, innovation and locally led solutions already making a difference.  

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Standing in the hallway of our hotel in Bogotá, I smiled at the noise around me: the energy, the laughter, the unmistakable vibrancy of Latin America and the Caribbean region. Even with the World Cup echoing loudly in the background, what struck me most wasn’t just the sound, it was the spirit of the region itself.

Before this visit, I’ll admit that my knowledge of Latin America and the Caribbean was limited. I knew it as a vibrant, dynamic part of the world, full of life and possibility. But I also understood that behind that vibrancy, there are profound challenges for children: violence driven by organized crime, widespread displacement, and the growing impacts of climate change.

What I didn’t fully grasp until now is just how complex and urgent this context is. This is a region marked by extreme inequality, where millions of children grow up in environments shaped by violence, food insecurity, and limited access to quality education and services. It is also one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in the world, where shocks like floods and droughts can disrupt children’s lives overnight.

And yet, it's also a region with plenty opportunities. For example, there has been strong infrastructure development and an increase in access to basic services. Also, a lot of work has been done to reach near universal enrolment to education (98%), and a 30% reduction in child poverty in the last two decades.

What I experienced here over these past days has left me deeply inspired and incredibly hopeful. In many ways, this region is showing the rest of us what the future of our work should look like: locally-led, child-led, policy-driven and rooted in partnerships and alliances. 

Focus on Localisation and Innovation

One of the things that stood out the most to me during the Regional Leadership Meeting in Bogotá was the remarkable commitment of our teams across Latin America and the Caribbean.

There is a sharp clarity here about where Save the Children can truly add value and a deliberate focus on that. Teams are not trying to do everything; instead, they are prioritising what matters most for children and where we can make the greatest impact.

What impressed me even more is how this work is done. This is a region that has embraced a locally led approach in a very real way. Our teams are working hand in hand with community-based organisations, civil society groups, private sector and local partners, not just delivering programmes, but strengthening others to lead.

I heard directly from partners how meaningful that support is: from enabling them to access funding, listening to their ideas and solutions and helping them to strengthen their organisational management when needed.  That is what true localisation looks like.

Innovation is another defining feature of the work here. In Colombia, for example, teams have identified online spaces as a growing risk for children, particularly as recruitment into armed groups and criminal networks increasingly happens in the online sphere. Our own research showed that a shocking 44% of children are recruited into these networks online! Rather than reacting late, they have proactively prioritised online child safety, adapting programmes to meet emerging threats.

That ability to understand the context deeply, identify our unique contribution, and act decisively is something I believe the entire Save the Children movement can learn from. 

A Region Showing Us the Future

From a global perspective, I see Latin America and the Caribbean as being at the forefront of where we need to go as an organisation.

This is no longer about large-scale implementation alone. The role of Save the Children here is evolving towards supporting and strengthening civil society, amplifying the voices of indigenous communities, and enabling local actors to lead solutions for children.

What is particularly powerful is the emphasis on child participation. Across the region, children themselves are not passive beneficiaries, they are active contributors, shaping programmes and proposing solutions. Combined with strong advocacy and policy engagement, this shift represents a model of impact that is more sustainable, more inclusive, and ultimately more effective.

A Call for Greater Collective Action

As we opened our conversations to partners, donors, and the private sector during the forum, one question stayed with me: what are we committed to?

For me, the answer is clear: the scale and complexity of the challenges facing children in Latin America and the Caribbean in contrast to the phenomenal opportunities demand greater attention, deeper investment, and stronger collective action across the sector.

This is a region where millions of children are growing up affected by violence, displacement, inequality, and climate shocks. Yet it is also a region rich in innovation, a dynamic private sector, resilience, and locally driven solutions that are already transforming lives.

There is a real opportunity but also a responsibility for all of us: governments, donors, civil society, and the private sector - to invest in what works, to support local leadership, and to partner in ways that drive sustainable, long-term change.

Because protecting children’s childhoods in Latin America and the Caribbean is not only urgent, but also entirely possible if we act together with purpose and commitment.