Save the Children Sweden started working in Central and Eastern Europe in 1990, after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the other planned economies. The work consisted mainly in support to the establishment and strengthening of local non-governmental organisations.
In November 2005, the Europe Programme was established. It functions as a regional office for Europe, placed at the head office in Stockholm. The programme has a regional, cross-border approach: We cooperate with networks and coalitions covering both Western and Eastern Europe, but also with both long-term and temporary partner organisations in Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine.
Together with our partners, we focus on violence – corporal punishment and bullying – migration, quality education and capacity building/organisational development. In cooperation with the Alliance office in Brussels, we carry out advocacy work for children’s rights towards the European Parliament and other relevant EU bodies.
In the Balkans, Save the Children Sweden supports a.o. the work of Save the Children (Norway) in Albania focused on reducing violence in schools, as well as promoting inclusive quality primary education for Roma/Egyptian children. In Kosovo, we support a programme committed to including Roma/Ashkali/Egyptian children in mainstream education.