We are Plan International Ireland; we work with children and girls in over 80 countries to create a world where we are all equal.
We believe that when girls are educated, safe, and empowered, they transform their lives — and their communities. Founded in 2003 and part of the wider Plan International federation, Plan International Ireland has grown into one of the country’s leading international NGOs. At the core of our work is a focus on girls’ rights and education in the world’s most vulnerable communities and in crisis contexts.
We aim not only to improve the daily lives of girls but also to advance their position and value in society, whilst actively working with boys and young men to champion gender equality.
We believe in advancing children’s rights in all contexts, including during conflict and emergencies, where girls are faced with additional dangers.
Our programmes deliver lasting change against discriminatory norms, policies and laws. We listen to the voices of children in the community, especially girls whose views and needs are frequently overlooked, to ensure that our work is relevant and effective.
We work to strengthen the capacities of governments and encourage them to meet their obligations towards child protection and fulfilling children’s rights. We form effective partnerships to address the systemic and structural causes of child rights violations and inequality, and support other humanitarian groups in order to extend our reach beyond the communities we work in.
We embolden young people to become active drivers of change by educating them on their rights and supporting their activism.
Plan International was founded in 1937 by British journalist and broadcaster John Langdon-Davies to support children orphaned during the Spanish Civil War.
He wanted to provide not only food, shelter and education to the children but also a sense that someone, somewhere, was thinking about them as an individual. This was the beginning of child sponsorship that is still at the core or our work.
What began as an emergency response in Europe grew into a global movement. Over the decades, Plan shifted from wartime relief to long-term community development, always centred on the rights and wellbeing of children. Today, we are present in more than 75 countries worldwide, still driven by the belief that every child deserves protection, education, and the chance to reach their full potential.
Supporting education programmes in West Africa and enabling rapid humanitarian responses.
Funding long-term development work in education, protection, and climate adaptation.
Backing disaster risk reduction and emergency response programmes across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
