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

Who We Are

Children Relief Service (CRS) grew from what I witnessed in my own life and in the lives of children affected by conflict, displacement, poverty, and limited access to basic rights and opportunities across the communities where I have lived, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and now Malawi.

Over the years, I saw children facing many forms of hardship, including separation from families, child labour, malnutrition, interrupted education, disabilities, exploitation, early marriage, sexual violence, and the difficult realities of life in refugee communities.

These experiences made me believe that children should not have their future determined by the circumstances they were born into or the challenges their families face, because every child deserves protection, dignity, education, care, and an opportunity to grow and reach their potential.

For this reason, together with other volunteers, we decided to establish Children Relief Service (CRS) in 2014 as a way of helping to prevent and respond to the risks and challenges that children were facing, while working alongside our community to protect their rights and help create safer and more hopeful futures.

From a Community Initiative to a Growing Organization

What started with a small group of volunteers responding to challenges we could see around us has grown into a registered nonprofit organization serving refugee and host communities.

Today, we continue to work close to the community through programmes focused on child protection, education, food security, girls’ empowerment, youth development, and sustainable livelihoods.

CHILD PROTECTION
We work with children, families, and communities to prevent abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence and to create safer environments where every child is protected, respected, and able to grow with dignity.
EDUCATION
We support children and young people to access education, strengthen literacy and language skills, and develop the knowledge and confidence they need to succeed in school and pursue future opportunities.
FEED THE HUNGRY AND FOOD SECURITY
We work with vulnerable families and communities to address hunger, improve access to nutritious food, strengthen food production, and promote sustainable livelihoods that help families become more resilient and self-reliant.
GIRLS’ EMPOWERMENT
We help girls and young women build confidence, develop practical and life skills, stay connected to education, and access opportunities that strengthen their independence and future livelihoods.
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
We equip young people with practical, vocational, leadership, and entrepreneurship skills that help them discover their potential, pursue opportunities, build livelihoods, and contribute positively to their communities.
GBV PREVENTION & RESPONSE
We work with communities to prevent gender-based violence, raise awareness of protection risks, support survivors with dignity, and strengthen access to appropriate support and referral services.

Why We Do This

We continue to work alongside our own communities, listening to what people are experiencing and responding with the resources and skills we can mobilize.

We know we cannot solve every challenge, but because we live here, we understand the realities, we see the gaps, and we remain committed to doing our part to create safer, stronger, and more resilient communities where children, young people, and families can thrive.

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.

WHAT WE DO

Transforming Lives Through Community-Led Programmes

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.

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.

WHAT IT REPRESENTS
Founded on 11 May 2014 CRS began serving vulnerable children and communities in Dzaleka.
3,000+ Children Supported Through child protection, education, awareness, and related activities.
2,000+ Young People Empowered Through skills, leadership, entrepreneurship, education, and other opportunities.
2,200+ Girls and Women Empowered Through skills development, empowerment, protection, and economic opportunities.
1,700+ People Reached Through EFL Through English as a Foreign Language (EFL) programmes, helping learners strengthen their English communication skills and access education, information, and essential services that require English.
150+ Families Supported Through Feed the Hungry activities and food-security-related support.
50 Young People Trained in 2026 35 young women and 15 boys completed a six-month vocational training programme in tailoring, hairdressing, makeup, soap making, and glycerine production.
45 Teen Mothers Supported Receiving free vocational training and guidance to continue learning, build practical skills, and create better opportunities for themselves and their children.
70 Learners Enrolled in the New Vocational Cohort A new group of 70 learners began vocational training in July 2026, with training continuing through December 2026.

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.

Meet Our Team

Behind every programme we deliver and every community we serve is a team committed to making a difference.

At Children Relief Service (CRS), we are people who understand the realities of the communities we work with. Our team brings together Board Members, the Founder & Executive Director, Deputy Director, Secretary, Programme Coordinator, Finance Officer, Operations Officer, Programme Officers, Technical Advisors, workers, and volunteers.

Together, we bring our different skills and experience to protect children, empower young people and women, fight hunger, strengthen families, and create practical opportunities for our communities.

We are guided by integrity, compassion, accountability, inclusion, collaboration, and a commitment to lasting, community-led change.

The People Behind Our Mission

Meet the people who lead CRS, deliver our programmes, work alongside our communities, and help build a stronger future for the organization.

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.

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.

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, protect privacy and information, and ensure that resources are managed responsibly.

1. CHILD SAFEGUARDING POLICY

We are committed to protecting children from abuse, neglect, exploitation, violence, and other forms of harm, while promoting their safety, rights, dignity, and wellbeing in all our work.

2. GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE (GBV) POLICY

We are committed to preventing and responding to gender-based violence while promoting safety, dignity, equality, and access to appropriate support and referral services.

3. PREVENTION OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE (PSEA) POLICY

We are committed to preventing sexual exploitation and abuse and to maintaining safe, respectful, and dignified environments for children, adults, staff, volunteers, and community members.

4. PROFESSIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT FOR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

We expect everyone working with or representing CRS to act with integrity, professionalism, compassion, respect, and accountability, and to uphold appropriate ethical and safeguarding standards in their relationships with children, colleagues, partners, and communities.

5. PRIVACY POLICY

We are committed to respecting and protecting personal information collected through our programmes, services, communications, and website activities, while promoting privacy, dignity, and responsible information practices.

6. CRS COMMUNICATIONS POLICY: CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS

We are committed to communicating about children and vulnerable adults in ways that protect their dignity, privacy, safety, rights, and wellbeing, while ensuring that stories, photographs, and other communications are handled responsibly and ethically.

7. CRS FINANCIAL POLICY

We are committed to managing organizational funds and resources responsibly, transparently, and accountably, while ensuring that resources entrusted to CRS are used appropriately and in accordance with organizational requirements.

8. CRS DATA PROTECTION & CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY

We are committed to protecting personal, confidential, and sensitive information relating to children, beneficiaries, staff, volunteers, partners, and other stakeholders, and to handling such information responsibly and securely.

9. CRS FRAUD, CORRUPTION & CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY

We are committed to promoting integrity, transparency, accountability, and responsible management of organizational resources while preventing, identifying, reporting, and addressing fraud, corruption, and conflicts of interest.

10. CRS INCLUSION & NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

We are committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect and to promoting equality, inclusion, equal opportunities, and meaningful participation without discrimination, while giving particular attention to people facing greater vulnerability or barriers.

11. CRS COMPLAINTS, FEEDBACK & WHISTLEBLOWING POLICY

We are committed to providing safe, confidential, accessible, and responsive mechanisms through which children, beneficiaries, staff, volunteers, partners, and other stakeholders can raise complaints, provide feedback, report concerns, and disclose wrongdoing without fear of retaliation.

12. CRS MONITORING, EVALUATION, ACCOUNTABILITY & LEARNING (MEAL) POLICY

We are committed to evidence-based programming, accountability to communities, quality data, learning, transparency, and continuous improvement across all CRS programmes and activities.

Accountability and Continuous Improvement

These policies form an important part of CRS’s commitment to responsible organizational practice. All individuals working with or representing CRS are expected to understand and uphold the standards relevant to their roles.

CRS welcomes feedback from children, families, community members, staff, volunteers, partners, and other stakeholders. Feedback helps us identify areas for improvement, strengthen accountability, and continuously improve the quality, safety, and impact of our work.

Complaints & Feedback Mechanism

CRS welcomes feedback, concerns, complaints, and suggestions from children, community members, staff, volunteers, partners, and other stakeholders. We are committed to listening respectfully, responding fairly and appropriately, protecting confidentiality, and ensuring that concerns are handled safely and without fear of retaliation.

Feedback and complaints help us identify areas for improvement, strengthen accountability, and continuously improve the quality, safety, and effectiveness of our programmes and services.

View / Download CRS Complaints, Feedback & Whistleblowing Policy

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.