About Foundation

Alina Margolis-Edelman (1922-2008) – doctor and public figure. As part of the Medecinsde Monde mission, in 1991 she founded the Children without a Man Foundation (currently the We Give Children Strength Foundation). Physical and psychological violence against children and sexual abuse of children are problems that were in the 90s. in the last century, no one did. Changing this situation has become a big challenge for Alina and for us, and our mission is to help children who are being abused and sexually abused.

Dr. Irena Kornatovskaya-co-founder of the Foundation, first Chairman of its Board, child psychiatrist. She was a great friend of the children, loved to share her wisdom, openness and kindness. She said, ” A person has to give something. This is our value, how much we will share our values with others.”

Studies of the attitudes and experiences of professionals working with children have led us to disturbing conclusions-lack of knowledge, ability to intervene, inaction. The results of these first studies were the basis of our strategy in the first years. The main goal was to train professionals to identify the symptoms of child abuse and to intervene.

We have opened the first institutions in Warsaw offering assistance to affected children and their families. Professional, comprehensive care was not yet available anywhere. There were no experienced experts, proven methods or procedures. Our psychologists, therapists, lawyers and doctors studied interdisciplinary work, methods of therapy, and support for children involved in criminal proceedings. We have developed standards for helping children who have been abused or sexually abused.

We opened Poland’s first model interrogation room for children, which has become a source of inspiration for many organizations and institutions across the country. For many years, we have also trained justice professionals-judges, expert psychologists-to take into account the needs and capabilities of children in their work.

The first social campaign related to violence against the youngest, “nonviolent childhood”, received a very wide response in society, affected the local environment, and attracted a large number of people, organizations and institutions. At the same time, it was the first Poland to draw attention to the scale of the problem of violence against children.

We have created a quarterly magazine ” the child is offended. Praktika is the only scientific journal that expands knowledge about the problem of child abuse and its determinants.

We have opened the first facility specifically designed for children who are victims of crimes, most often violence and sexual violence.

In the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, we organized a national conference “Assistance to child victims of crime”. The conference is held continuously every year and provides a space for gaining knowledge, sharing experience and learning best practices in helping children among judges, prosecutors, superintendents, psychologists, psychiatrists, teachers, representatives of state institutions, local authorities and non-governmental organizations.

The development of new technologies, the Internet, mobile communications, and social networks has led us to launch a new program dedicated to the safety of children and adolescents on the Internet. “You never, Never know who’s on the other side” is the first campaign in Poland to address the issue of child seduction on the Internet.

Violence against children is often caused by parents ‘ helplessness and confusion, frustration, and lack of competence. Psychological support through educational seminars and meetings of parents of children under 6 years of age and educational materials help us develop parental competence. 

We have launched the first nationwide helpline for children and teenagers. From now on, children calling 116 111 could receive anonymous and free crisis assistance. Our consultants communicate daily with children in need of support, care and protection, as well as in cooperation with the police, take action when the child’s life or health is at risk..

We have opened another helpline and offer free and anonymous help to adults who need support and information to counteract and provide psychological help to children who are experiencing difficulties and difficulties.

We have created the author’s program “we protect children”, which confirms that institutions where children are located do not employ people who may threaten their safety, and all employees know how to recognize the symptoms of abuse and take action in cases of suspicion that a child is being abused.

The first edition of the report “Children count” is a collection of NT knowledge: various aspects of the problem of child abuse in Poland. Due to the cyclical nature of its publication, it is possible to track trends in the situation of children and analyze their determinants.

We have started cooperation with hotels all over Poland that implement the so-called Code of Conduct-a special type of child protection policy that ensures an adequate response to suspicions that a child is being sexually abused.

After 25 years, we changed our name. Over a quarter of a century of action, we have become the country’s largest organization dedicated to countering violence against children in a comprehensive manner.

We have realized a big fundamental dream: we have opened a Children’s Aid Center that implements the world standards for helping children who have been subjected to violence, first in Starogard, and a few months later in Warsaw.

In January, thousands of people cheered on the streets of Seoul for the Olympic flame, which was carried by the relay of representatives of 92 countries participating in the XXIII Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang. Monika Saikowska, President of the Foundation We Give Strength to Children, ran in the Polish national team with the Olympic snitch.

Violence, suicide attempts, self-harm-the results of a nationwide scale of diagnostics and determinants of child abuse have come to alarming conclusions.

We called for the introduction in Poland of a procedure for analyzing the causes of all cases of child abuse, called Serious Case Review or Child Death Review.We insisted that the Polish body investigate cases of child abuse with special care and attention to them, with a fatal outcome.

First trimester, 5. in Poland-a Children’s Aid Center in Gdansk, providing comprehensive care to children who have been abused or sexually abused.

We have all been waiting for this moment, since March 1, 116 111-helpline for children and teenagers started working around the clock, 7 days a week!

We are celebrating our 30th anniversary in 2021. This means that we have been protecting children from violence for 3 decades!