FOUNDED BY CHILDREN & YOUTH · 2005
Young People Changing the Way We Protect Children
Who We Are
OneChild was founded by children and youth in 2005, led by then-teenage children’s rights advocate and later Nobel Peace Prize nominee Cheryl Perera. Today, we’re the first organization in the world solely dedicated to empowering a movement of children and youth to co-lead the fight against the sexual exploitation of children (SEC).
What makes us different is how we work. We don’t see children only as people who need protection — we also recognize them as leaders, advocates, and experts whose perspectives and lived experiences can help shape better solutions.
By bringing together the perspectives and real-life experiences of children and youth with the knowledge and experience of older generations, we create practical solutions that help prevent exploitation, strengthen how children are protected, and better support survivors.
For more than 20 years, we’ve been pioneering a different approach to ending the sexual exploitation of children — one that recognizes children and youth, especially those with lived experience, as leaders, advocates and experts who help shape solutions alongside older generations.
children and youth directly impacted
countries, with millions more influenced through our work
OUR WORK
Prevention Education
Children and youth don’t just participate in prevention education — they lead it. From classrooms to courtrooms, we equip children, youth, families, educators, law enforcement, court officials, judges and other professionals with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to the sexual exploitation of children. Through EmpowerVention — Canada’s innovative school-based, youth-driven prevention education program on the issue — and other initiatives funded by children and youth, we’re strengthening child protection in Canada and around the world.
Research
We work with children and youth, universities and researchers to generate new knowledge on online safety, children’s digital rights, and how children — including those who have experienced sexual exploitation — can help prevent the issue. Our research helps shape new ways of working in partnership with children, informs policy, and strengthens programs that protect children.
Advocacy
Through education, training and tools focused on lobbying and campaigning, we’ve mobilized children and youth to hold decision-makers accountable. Together, they’ve influenced governments, the United Nations, the private sector and others to create and amend legislation, policies, programs and resources to be child-safe.
Survivor Care
Working with trusted partners, we’ve helped hundreds of children around the world who have experienced sexual exploitation access shelter, health and legal services — made possible in part through funds raised by children and youth themselves.
Survivor Empowerment
We believe every child survivor deserves the opportunity to thrive. By investing in education and alternative income generation opportunities, we help them build brighter futures and reduce the risk of re-exploitation. For those who choose, we also provide training in children’s rights, advocacy and leadership so they can safely use their voice and experiences to shape policies, programs and solutions that better protect children.
FEATURED INITIATIVES
PROJECT W.H.Y. · NATIONAL
Working Hand-in-Hand with Youth: shaping the fight against online child sexual exploitation
Children and youth across Canada — especially survivors and those at heightened risk — are working hand-in-hand with policymakers, government officials, child protection professionals, law enforcement, researchers, educators and technology leaders to identify and advance solutions to OCSE.
Through youth-led consultations and workshops, training for professionals, a national Child-Adult Summit, and a National Youth-Led Advocacy Network, Project W.H.Y. is creating pathways for young people to influence the laws, policies, programs and services designed to protect them — and to hold decision-makers accountable for what happens next.
EMPOWERVENTION
Giving students the knowledge to stay safe and the inspiration to make a difference
Our pioneering, school-based prevention education, early intervention and youth leadership program, co-created with youth. It equips students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to recognize risks, understand their rights, stay safe online and offline, and become advocates for a safer Canada for them and their peers.
YOUTH ADVISORY SQUAD (YAS)
The first-of-its-kind leadership accelerator, fellowship and scholarship program
YAS prepares Canadian children aged 14–17 to become informed, confident and influential advocates against the sexual exploitation of children. Our young fellows learn from experts about SEC, advocacy and leadership; design their own community impact projects; and gain access to mentorship, scholarships, reference letters, summer internships and other paid opportunities, and platforms to help shape a safer country for children.
RESEARCH · A RIGHTS-BASED PARTICIPATORY STUDY
Understanding and upholding youth digital rights in Canada
In partnership with Trent University, we’re engaging youth in research on children’s digital rights and how young people can help shape safer online spaces, stronger policies and more effective responses to online harms.
PARTNER
Know a young person who wants to make a difference?
Help a young person discover opportunities to learn, lead and create change in the fight against the sexual exploitation of children. Whether they’re interested in developing leadership skills through our Youth Advisory Squad (YAS) or contributing their ideas through Project W.H.Y., we may have opportunities for them to get involved.
LATEST FROM ONECHILD
See how our work is making an impact
Explore our latest newsletter for recent milestones and our latest impact.
SUMMER 2026 NEWSLETTER
From Project W.H.Y.’s launch to the achievements of our Youth Advisory Squad
Discover our latest stories, milestones and impact.
The sexual exploitation of children is a global crisis and a grave violation of children’s rights. Every day, children are groomed, exploited online, bought and sold, and abused in homes, communities, schools and across digital spaces. The consequences can last a lifetime.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
This is preventable.
Through prevention education, advocacy, research, survivor care and survivor empowerment, we’re bringing children, youth and adults together to prevent exploitation, support survivors, and build a protective future for every child.
Become a monthly donor and be part of the solution.
TAKE ACTION
Book a Speaker
Bring learning and inspiration to your community. Whether you want to educate students, parents or school staff about the sexual exploitation of children and online safety, inspire youth to take action, learn about OneChild’s innovative youth leadership model, or explore how your organization can partner with children as experts of their own experiences and changemakers — we have speakers who can meet your goals and audience needs.
Learn & Understand
Creating safer communities starts with informed children and adults. Explore resources designed for children, parents, educators and professionals to better understand the sexual exploitation of children, how to stay safe, and how to support children as leaders and advocates for change.
Raise Awareness
Pay your knowledge forward. Whether you’re a parent, educator, business leader, faith leader or organization, you can help prevent the sexual exploitation of children by sharing trusted information, starting important conversations, and encouraging children and youth to use their voices to help create safer schools, communities and online spaces.
Share the Opportunity
Know a school, youth group, educator or young person who would benefit from OneChild’s programs? Help us connect more children and youth with prevention education, leadership opportunities and resources by sharing our programs within your community.
Fundraise
Bring your community together to protect children. Every dollar you raise helps expand prevention education, advance child-safe laws and policies, support young leaders, and support the healing and recovery of survivors of sexual exploitation.
Partner with Us
Stronger together. Whether you’re a government agency, multilateral organization, business, foundation or child-serving organization, let’s combine our 20+ years of experience, deep subject-matter expertise, strong youth networks and an innovative approach to child protection.
Give
Make OneChild your charity of choice and invest in a future where every child is safe, valued and free from sexual exploitation.
Become an Ally
Join a community that seeks to end the sexual exploitation of children and believes children have the right — and the power — to create change. Receive invitations to events, information on opportunities to learn and take action, inspiring stories about young leaders, and practical ways you can help build a world where children are protected, heard and empowered.
Thank you to our supporters
Join our list of supporters today. Contact us.
