Member-only story
Women’s History Month
The Woman Who Disliked Children
Established a charity that has helped over one billion.
The only international language in the world is a child’s cry. — Eglantyne Jebb
The year — 1919.
Eglatyne Jebb, a 43-year-old Cambridge graduate, stood in front of a judge after being arrested. Her crime? Passing out flyers of starving children.
Eglatyne pleaded for mercy with such a fire and resolve to help children, that the judge paid her fine and joined her cause.
You can say that he indirectly made the first donation to Save the Children
Fund.
But how could a woman who didn’t like children establish a worldwide charity impacting over 1 billion children still in existence over a hundred years later?
It’s a story of conviction and love.
Her early years.
Eglatyne (1876) was born into a world where poor children went to work at age nine in factories and mines, working 12 hours a day with little nutritious food. These children were lucky to have a crust of bread and watery soup.
Her mother was part of the movement of affluent women whose life work was charity. Their maxim…
