Your support can provide safety, hope and a brighter future for vulnerable children

In South Africa, 1 in 3 children has experienced violence, often in spaces meant to provide safety, such as schools or homes. Many vulnerable children face multiple forms of violence, often at the hands of someone they know.

 The Challenge:  Children across the country are at risk of domestic violence, sexual abuse, neglect, and cyberbullying. Even more alarming, violence has become normalized in everyday life, affecting countless young lives and shaping South Africa’s future generations.

But together, we can help break this cycle of violence and create a safer environment for every child.

 In South Africa, violence against children remains a widespread and growing issue, with damaging consequences for the country's future: 

 Domestic violence, neglect, and orphaned children:  Many children face physical and emotional abuse at home, compounded by substance abuse, poverty, and the ongoing HIV crisis, which has left millions of children orphaned and vulnerable, heading households without care or protection.

 South Africa faces a child protection crisis:  Official statistics reveal that over 50% of children experience violence—whether physical, sexual, or emotional—before the age of 18. While the rise of digital adoption exposes children to cyberbullying and harmful online content.

 In 2022, 42,289 cases of violence against children were reported:  a tragic reflection of how many young lives are impacted every day. The issue cuts across all demographics, affecting both boys and girls, and is further compounded by poverty, inequality, and lack of access to essential services.

 The Solution:  Every child, no matter where they are born, deserves to grow up in a world free from violence, where they feel safe, loved, and have the freedom to explore, dream, and simply enjoy being a child.

 Your generosity can be the turning point between a life of safety and hope or continued vulnerability for a child in need.  By supporting our efforts, you help provide safe spaces, counseling, and essential services to protect children from abuse, neglect, and violence. Together, we can ensure that every child, especially those in vulnerable and underserved communities, grows up in a secure environment where they can thrive and build a brighter future.

 With your help, we can continue to focus and provide: 

 Support for victims of abuse and vulnerable households:  Providing safe spaces, counseling, and resources for children who have experienced violence, including those in child-headed households affected by the HIV crisis, ensuring they receive care and protection.

 Parenting interventions:  To equip caregivers with tools to create safe and nurturing homes. UNICEF South Africa’s parenting programs support families by promoting positive parenting practices, effective communication, and non-violent discipline. These interventions are designed to help address challenges at home, reduce the risk of violence, and build stronger family relationships.

 Combating gender-based violence:  Working with communities to prevent gender-based violence, empowering girls and young women, and providing programs to safeguard their futures.

 Promoting digital safety for children:  Educating children and families about online dangers and advocating for stronger protections against cyberbullying and harmful content.

You can make a difference today - support safe childhoods!

Every donation, big or small, makes a vital impact on the lives of vulnerable children across South Africa.

 The time to act is now, as children are the future.  Your generosity through UNICEF directly impacts children's lives, giving them the opportunity to thrive and pursue their dreams.

Your donation will support vital programs that protect children from violence, provide safe spaces, and ensure that every child in South Africa has the chance to grow up in safety.

Got questions? We've got answers:

We don’t currently have offline fundraisers collecting donations for UNICEF.

If you are approached by anyone claiming to be UNICEF, do not give any personal details or transfer funds.

You can support our efforts in helping vulnerable children by donating online on this secure official webpage. In case you have doubts about the authenticity of the page, please contact us at pretoria@unicef.org.

Please do not share any sensitive/banking card information with any individuals who may ask you for this type of information, either online or offline. 

You can securely make a one-time and/or a monthly donation, on this page, by clicking on the donation buttons. Please select the donation amount that you want to give, then continue with the next steps to finish your donation.

No donation is too small, and any donation can help save children's lives. 

You choose for how long you wish to donate: monthly or only once. In order to contribute to a fundamental change in the lives of vulnerable children, the longer you choose to get involved, the more powerful your donation will be. Vulnerable children’s lives can improve if you are a part of and contribute to the work that we are doing, and to the solutions that we are providing. By donating, you become an active part of the solution and change process.

A monthly donation is a recurring gift amount that you choose to send each month, and it is even more impactful, as this means that you'll be helping children every single day. 

Your monthly gift will also enable us to plan effectively in our upcoming work, reduce costs and most importantly, reach even more children in need. The support and generosity of monthly donors contribute significantly to UNICEF's efforts to help vulnerable children. 

Your donation is used to support UNICEF's programmes for children in need in South Africa.

UNICEF encourages monthly donations to help us deliver sustainable, long-term solutions for children both in the region and globally.

Donating online through our UNICEF official websites is just as safe as any other online payment.

We use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption to protect your information and ensure that your donation is secure. Your card and personal data will be safe and secure.

UNICEF does not have access to your bank card details, we will only have access to the contact details you provide in the donation form: name, surname, e-mail and phone number. 

Yes, you will receive an automatic "Thank You" email which can be used as a receipt for your donation.

UNICEF does not offer sponsorship of individual children. Instead, your donation goes to help many more of the most vulnerable children in South Africa. This may include public health emergencies, quality education, ending child poverty, protection against violence and providing safe, clean water. 

You can reach out to us by sending an email to pretoria@unicef.org. We are here to answer any questions or address any concerns you may ​have.

For more information or any questions, contact us at pretoria@unicef.org