Children of the Earth

A child of the Earth.

Same as you.

Your world is being decided right now.

In rooms you will never enter.

For 35 years, in 30 countries, we have done one thing about that.

We help young people reflect, connect and act.

Begin with one thing near you.

Children of the Earth · Since 1990

Despair was never the point.

Children of the Earth

Hope is a practice.

Welcome to Children of the Earth.

Since 1990, Children of the Earth has helped young people in 30+ countries find their voice, find each other, and change what's in front of them.

How We Work

Three movements. One practice.

Every camp, chapter, and project for 35 years has followed the same shape. It's simpler than it sounds.

Reflect.

Young people begin by looking inward. Who am I? What matters to me? Confidence isn't taught — it's discovered.

Connect.

Then they meet — across languages, cultures, borders, faiths. Different is not other.

Act.

Inner change becomes outer change. Community projects, peer support, disaster response. Small. Local. Real.

Our Founder

One woman. One flame.

Dr. Nina Meyerhof, Founder

In 1990, at the World Summit for Children, the Dalai Lama blessed a torch. Nina Meyerhof carried it home.

She has been tending the flame ever since — through 30 countries, three decades, two generations of young people. From Vermont to Rwanda to Kenya to the Lincoln Memorial.

She's still here. Still listening. Still pointing forward.

"My life's work was never really about self-esteem, leadership, peace education, or even global citizenship. It has always been about consciousness." — Dr. Nina Meyerhof, Founder
The Work

What happens when love becomes action.

We are not a big organization. We are a real one. Three scenes from the last year.

A child with her teddy bear
Ongoing since 2021

A bear. A note. A border crossed.

Children in conflict zones receive a teddy bear — each carrying a handwritten note from a child somewhere else in the world. Because children care about other children.

Camp Children of Earth — Togo 2025
Togo · July 2025

350 children. 9 days. One gathering.

Young people from across Africa met across borders and languages — and discovered they were not alone in wanting to change the world.

Youth Empowerment Africa
Africa · Ongoing

Not a curriculum. A practice.

Chapters across Africa run youth programs rooted in the same three movements: reflect, connect, act.

Where We Are

Thirty countries. One flame.

Not franchises. Living communities of young people, held together by trust and personal connection.

Chapters
CameroonDR CongoIndia KenyaNepalNetherlands NigeriaPakistanPhilippines RomaniaRwandaSerbia South AfricaTogoUganda UAEVermont, USA
Hubs
GhanaIsraelLiberia Pennsylvania, USAScotland SwitzerlandToronto, Canada

Each chapter started the same way. One person caught the flame and brought it home.

News

From the field.

Torch of Hope at Lincoln Memorial

The Torch passes at the Lincoln Memorial

19 monks. 2,300 miles. 108 days barefoot. Nina Meyerhof gifts the sacred Torch to Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākaro.

Read more
Nina visits Kenya

A school in Kenya bears Nina's name

Dr. Nina Meyerhof visits the educational center in Rodi, Homa Bay County. A safe environment where children believe in each other.

Read more
Teddy Bears campaign

Teddy Bears: kids caring for kids

Each bear travels with a personal note made by a child from another part of the world. Children care about other children.

Read more