About
Children Relief Service
Building Hope, Protection and Opportunity
Children Relief Service (CRS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children, empowering vulnerable communities, and creating lasting change through education, child protection, food security, and sustainable livelihoods.
Who We Are
Building Hope, Protection, and Opportunity Since 2014
Children Relief Service (CRS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2014 and officially registered in 2022. Based in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Malawi, CRS works alongside refugee and host communities to protect children, empower youth and women, strengthen families, and improve livelihoods. Through community-led programmes in child protection, education, food security, gender-based violence response, and economic empowerment, CRS helps vulnerable people build safer, healthier, and more resilient futures.
Our Story
From a Community Vision to Lasting Impact
Children Relief Service (CRS) was established in 2014 with a commitment to supporting vulnerable children, families, and communities affected by displacement and hardship. Beginning as a community-driven initiative in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, CRS has grown into a registered nonprofit organization serving refugee and host communities through programmes focused on child protection, education, food security, girls’ empowerment, youth development, and sustainable livelihoods. Over the years, CRS has continued to work alongside communities, building local capacity and creating opportunities that help children, youth, and families achieve safer and more resilient futures.
Our Mission, Vision & Core Values
Our work is guided by a clear mission, an inspiring vision, and core values that shape every programme, partnership, and community we serve.
Our Mission
To protect children’s rights and empower vulnerable children, youth, women, and families through education, child protection, sustainable livelihoods, food security, and community-led development.
Our Vision
A future where every child is protected, every young person has the opportunity to thrive, and every community is resilient, food-secure, and empowered to achieve sustainable development.
Core Values
- Child-Centered Integrity
- Compassion
- Inclusion
- Accountability
- Empowerment
- Collaboration
- Sustainability
WHAT WE DO
Transforming Lives Through Community-Led Programme
Children Relief Service delivers integrated programmes that protect children, empower youth and women, strengthen families, and build resilient refugee and host communities. Through these initiatives, we create opportunities for lasting social and economic change.
Child Protection
Education
Girls’ Empowerment
Youth Empowerment
Feed the Hungry
Gender-Based Violence Response
Our Impact
Creating Lasting Change Since 2014
Every number represents a life touched, a family strengthened, and a community empowered. Together with our partners and supporters, we continue to create meaningful and lasting impact.
3000+
Children Supported
2000+
Youth Empowered
2,200+
Girls and Women Empowered
12+ Years
Serving refugee and host communities
Behind every number is a child, a family, and a community experiencing renewed hope, dignity, and opportunity. These figures represent real lives changed through access to education, protection, skills development, food security, and community support. Together with our partners and supporters, CRS continues to create lasting impact and build stronger, more resilient communities.
Why Our Work Matters
Building Hope Where It Is Needed Most
Millions of children, youth, and families around the world face challenges that limit their opportunities, safety, and ability to thrive. In communities affected by displacement and hardship, CRS works to create pathways of hope, protection, and empowerment.
Millions of children, youth, and families around the world face challenges that limit their opportunities, safety, and ability to thrive. In communities affected by displacement, poverty, and hardship, many children continue to experience barriers such as hunger, limited access to education, disability-related challenges, health concerns, and protection risks. Without timely support and meaningful interventions, these challenges can have lasting impacts on their lives and future opportunities.
Children Relief Service works alongside vulnerable communities to create pathways of hope, protection, and empowerment by strengthening child protection systems, expanding access to education, improving food security, supporting livelihoods, and creating opportunities that help children, youth, and families build safer and more resilient futures.
Meet Our Team
Our dedicated team works together to advance the mission and vision of Children Relief Service. United by a shared commitment to protecting children, empowering communities, and creating lasting change, we bring diverse skills, experience, and compassion to design and deliver impactful programmes that improve lives, strengthen communities, and build a brighter future for vulnerable children and families.
Executive Leadership
Founder & Executive Director
Provides strategic leadership, organizational vision, partnership development, and overall management of Children Relief Service.
Vice Director
Supports the Executive Director, oversees organizational operations, and ensures effective implementation of strategic priorities.
Communications Officer & Secretary
Leads organizational communications, manages public relations, maintains records, prepares meeting minutes, and coordinates official correspondence.
Administration & Operations
Programme Coordinator
Coordinates programme planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting to ensure quality service delivery across all CRS programmes.
Operations Officer
Oversees daily administrative and operational activities, logistics, procurement, and organizational support systems.
Finance Officer
Manages financial planning, budgeting, accounting, compliance, and financial reporting to ensure transparency and accountability.
Programme Team
Child Protection Officer
Leads child protection interventions, case management, safeguarding initiatives, and child rights advocacy.
Food Security & Sustainable
Livelihoods Officer
Leads agriculture, nutrition, climate-smart farming, livelihood, and household resilience programmes.
Youth & Girls’ Empowerment Officer
Implements programmes that promote youth and girls’ leadership, education, protection, life skills, and economic empowerment.
GBV Prevention & Response Officer
Coordinates gender-based violence prevention, survivor support, awareness campaigns, and community engagement.
Technical Advisors
Our Technical Advisors provide strategic expertise, professional guidance, and external support that strengthen the organization’s impact, sustainability, and long-term growth. They work closely with the leadership team to expand partnerships, secure resources, and enhance programme quality.
Global Partnerships Advisor
Connecting CRS with the world.
Builds and strengthens strategic relationships with international NGOs, academic institutions, churches, corporations, and development partners to expand collaboration and increase the global impact of CRS.
Fundraising & Resource Mobilization Advisor
Identifies funding opportunities, develops grants, builds donor relationships, and advises on resource mobilization strategies to strengthen the sustainability and growth of CRS programmes.
Building connections that create opportunities.
Provides strategic guidance on stakeholder engagement, networking, and partnerships to expand fundraising opportunities and strengthen CRS’s visibility and growth.
The People Behind Our Mission
Together, our Technical Advisors bring international expertise, strategic insight, and specialized knowledge that strengthen Children Relief Service’s ability to build global partnerships, mobilize sustainable resources, measure impact, and deliver high-quality programmes that improve the lives of vulnerable children, youth, and communities.
Strengthens CRS programmes
Through leadership, guidance, and commitment while working collaboratively to advance the mission of protecting children, empowering communities, and creating lasting change
Strengthens CRS programmes
Through leadership, guidance, and commitment while working collaboratively to advance the mission of protecting children, empowering communities, and creating lasting change
Organizational Structure
Strong leadership, effective governance, and coordinated teamwork.
Children Relief Service (CRS) is structured to ensure clear leadership, effective governance, strong programme delivery, and efficient community support. Each level works collaboratively to advance our mission of protecting children, empowering communities, and creating lasting change.
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FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Overall Leadership & Direction
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┌──────────────────────────────────────┐
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Governance & Strategic Oversight
└──────────────────────────────────────┘
↓
┌──────────────────────────────────────┐
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT
Planning, Coordination & Management
└──────────────────────────────────────┘
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┌──────────────────────────────────────┐
PROGRAMME & TECHNICAL TEAMS
Programme Delivery & Technical Work
└──────────────────────────────────────┘
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┌──────────────────────────────────────┐
SUPPORT & OPERATIONS
Finance, Admin, Logistics & Comms
└──────────────────────────────────────┘
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┌──────────────────────────────────────┐
│WORKERS & VOLUNTEERS
│Community Support & Implementation
└──────────────────────────────────────┘
Together, our leadership, staff, technical teams, workers, and volunteers work collaboratively to deliver programmes that protect children, empower communities, and create sustainable change.
Our Approach
Community-Led. Child-Centered. Sustainable.
At Children Relief Service (CRS), we believe lasting change happens when communities are actively involved in identifying challenges, shaping solutions, and building their own future. Our approach places children and vulnerable families at the center of our work while strengthening the capacity of youth, caregivers, and communities to create sustainable change.
| Approach Principle | How We Apply It |
|---|---|
| Child-Centered | We prioritize the safety, rights, dignity, and best interests of children in everything we do. |
| Community-Led | We work alongside communities to identify needs, develop solutions, and strengthen local ownership. |
| Empowerment & Inclusion | We equip children, youth, girls, women, and vulnerable families with knowledge, skills, and opportunities to become more self-reliant. |
| Partnership & Collaboration | We work with communities, churches, institutions, organizations, and other partners to expand impact and strengthen our programmes. |
| Sustainability & Resilience | We promote practical solutions that strengthen livelihoods, resilience, self-reliance, and long-term community wellbeing. |
| Evidence & Learning | We use community feedback, programme experience, monitoring, and learning to continuously improve the quality and effectiveness of our work. |
Our Partners
Working Together for Greater Impact
We collaborate with organizations, institutions, churches, businesses, and community leaders who share our commitment to protecting children, empowering communities, and creating lasting change. Through these partnerships, we expand our reach, strengthen our programmes, and create sustainable opportunities for vulnerable children, youth, and families.
Become a Partner
We welcome partnerships with NGOs, UN agencies, government institutions, foundations, faith-based organizations, corporations, and individuals who share our mission.
Policies & Accountability
Protecting People. Upholding Integrity. Strengthening Trust.
At Children Relief Service (CRS), we are committed to responsible, ethical, and transparent operations. Our policies and accountability systems help protect children and vulnerable people, promote safe and respectful environments, guide ethical conduct, and ensure that resources are managed responsibly
| Policy | Commitment |
|---|---|
| Child Safeguarding & Protection | We are committed to protecting children from abuse, exploitation, neglect, and harm in all areas of our work. |
| Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) | We maintain zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse and promote safe, respectful environments for everyone. |
| GBV Prevention & Response | We work to prevent and respond to gender-based violence while promoting dignity, safety, and access to appropriate support. |
| Code of Conduct | We expect staff, volunteers, and representatives to uphold professional, ethical, and respectful standards of conduct. |
| Safeguarding & Accountability | We promote responsible programming, transparency, community participation, and accountability to the people we serve. |
| Financial Accountability | We are committed to responsible stewardship of resources, sound financial practices, and transparency in the use of funds. |
Complaints & Feedback Mechanism
CRS welcomes feedback, concerns, and complaints from children, community members, staff, volunteers, partners, and other stakeholders. We are committed to listening, responding appropriately, protecting confidentiality, and using feedback to improve our programmes and services.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Whether you’re looking to partner with us, volunteer, or support our work, your involvement has the power to transform lives. Together, we can protect children, empower youth and families, strengthen communities, and create lasting, sustainable change for generations to come.