ABOUT US
Helping together
WHOM WE HELP
The history of Active Child Aid non-profit organization started in 1997, with five volunteers from Poland in Moscow, Russia. Unable to sit back and simply turn a blind eye to the suffering of literally thousands of lost, homeless children, we decided to make an attempt to bring about a real and positive change to the terrible situation that these destitute children are in. Now we also help children in orphanages and children who grow up in poor families. Some of them need food, clothes and shelter. Others need toys or assistance to participate in activities like other kids do.
MEET OUR TEAM
HANNA POLAK
Founder
EWA LAXA
Leader
BELINDA SHEARS
Second leader
THOMAS JØSUND
Fritidshus coordinator
MARIIA ROMANIUK
Coordinator in Ukraine
LAKSMI GONZALES
Coordinator in the Philippines
MARLENA ZOLADZ
Coordinator in Poland
OLEKSII PALIANICHKA
Project employee in Ukraine
My name is Ewa Laxa and since 2005 I have been the leader of Aktiv Barnehjelp. When I was 21 years old, I lived in Moscow. There my friend and I started helping street children. Every day for a period of time, my friend and I cooked meals for children who lived on the streets. Eventually there were over 100 children who wanted food and we did not have enough money. We took many pictures and made films about these children. The intention was to show how serious the situation was and to get more help. Some films have received awards. That was the beginning of Active Child Aid. Privately, I am a yoga, Pilates and fitness instructor. In Trondheim and Røros I run free activities. Free yoga, pilates, cardio and cooking classes. It is a project called Fritidshus – an activity house through Active Child Aid. Through the organization Active Child Aid, I want to show how important it is to help the children who live in the orphanage and who need help. They must not be forgotten! Helping others in need is an important task for all of us humans. That is what makes us real humans.
1997-2020
OUR HISTORY
The founders of Active Child Aid are Hanna Polak, Erlend Hammer and Ewa Laxa. Hanna is a filmmaker and made the Oscar-nominated film “The Children of Leningradsky”
1997
It all started on the streets of Moscow in 1997. Young children who had neither family nor a place to live begged for food. These children were the first ones we helped.
1997-2000
1997-2000
From 1997- 2000, we worked daily with homeless children in Moscow and tried to support them using our private funds. We got some help from Doctors Without Borders, the International Women’s Club and a few others.
2000
Active Child Aid was registered as an official voluntary organisation in Norway. The idea of a voluntary organisation was inspired by our Norwegian friend who helped us with the children in Moscow.
2000 – 2003
In addition to the work with the street children, we saw that there were many more who needed help. Some of the children informed us that there were others living on the largest garbage dump in Europe, just 20 km outside Moscow. We started by helping them with food and medical help.
2000 – 2003
In addition to the work with the street children, we saw that there were many more who needed help. Some of the children informed us that there were others living on the largest garbage dump in Europe, just 20 km outside Moscow. We started by helping them with food and medical help.
2004
“The Children of Leningradsky” – a short documentary movie was made and released in cooperation with Active Child Aid. We wanted to focus on the children who are not referred to as normal – the homeless children.
2005
We started working with children in orphanages and poor families in Poland.
2005
We started working with children in orphanages and poor families in Poland.
2011
After accidentally coming into contact with a family in the Philippines whose child had cancer, we also started a separate project here initiated by the family itself.
2014
The movie “Something better to come” was released. Hanna Polak told the story of Yula who lived on the biggest garbage dump in Europe for more than 12 years. The courage and determination Yula showed inspired us to make the film. She wanted another life for herself and she finally succeeded.
2014
The movie “Something better to come” was released. Hanna Polak told the story of Yula who lived on the biggest garbage dump in Europe for more than 12 years. The courage and determination Yula showed inspired us to make the film. She wanted another life for herself and she finally succeeded.
2017
We expanded our activities to help children in orphanages and public libraries in Lviv, Ukraine.
2019
Through Hanna Polak’s work on a new film in Iraq, we began sporadic assistance to children and families. Our priority has been war-affected mothers and their children.
2019
Through Hanna Polak’s work on a new film in Iraq, we began sporadic assistance to children and families. Our priority has been war-affected mothers and their children.
2020
Our organisation has more and more volunteers, our ability to help others is increasing. We are constantly getting involved in various and new projects.