My history hero: Natasha Kaplinsky chooses Eglantyne Jebb (1876–1928)
Broadcaster Natasha Kaplinsky chooses Eglantyne Jebb as a history hero
In profile
Eglantyne Jebb was a British social reformer who founded the charity Save the Children with her sister Dorothy Buxton in 1919, initially to raise money for hungry children in Germany and Austria following the First World War. She went on to become one of the world’s most influential champions of children’s rights and drafted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which was adopted by the League of Nations in 1924, and adopted in an extended form by the United Nations in 1959.
When did you first hear about Jebb?
I’ve been a Save the Children ambassador for over a decade and have had the privilege to be involved in the incredible work that the organisation, which she started all those years ago, still does today. The more I learn about her, the more I admire her.
What kind of woman was she?
Eglantyne was born into a well-off Shropshire family, with a strong social conscience, and was actively involved with the Charity Organisation Society – which sought to bring a modern, scientific approach to charity – before setting up Save the Children. She had a vision: to achieve and protect the rights of children worldwide. She was driven by the belief that all children – whoever they are, wherever they are – have the right to a healthy, happy, fulfilling life.
Moreover, she believed change was within reach with courage, determination, imagination and good organisation. She was a pioneer, leader and activist known as the ‘White Flame’ for her burning commitment, passion and conviction. A true visionary, she made the world see that children have rights.
What made her a hero?
She selflessly dedicated her life and defied convention, and even the law, to save children’s lives after seeing the effects of the devastating famine following the First World War. And it was her respect for children that, five years later, led her to pioneer the then revolutionary concept of children’s human rights.
At the 1924 League of Nations convention in Geneva, she presented her Declaration of the Rights of the Child to world leaders: “The child that is hungry must be fed, the child that is sick must be nursed, the child that is backward must be helped, the delinquent child must be reclaimed, and the orphan and the waif must be sheltered.” It was adopted a year later, and subsequently in an extended form by the United Nations. The declaration later inspired the landmark 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
What was her finest hour?
Eglantyne and her sister Dorothy launched their Save the Children Fund at the Royal Albert Hall in May 1919, and the audience was poised to retaliate and oppose their vision [because they were seeking to aid countries that Britain had recently fought].
But Eglantyne’s speech was a moment in history, conveying with gravitas her passion. They were overwhelmed with donations and Save the Children was created. It went on to embody their vision to support millions of children around the world.
What would you ask her if you could meet her?
I would thank her for the foundations she laid for how the world views and protects children today. I would ask: “What would be your advice to anyone wanting to make a difference for children in this world, so future generations can grow up healthy, safe and in learning?”
Natasha Kaplinsky OBE has presented the news on BBC One, ITV, Channel 5 and Sky News. A patron of several charities, she is president of the British Board of Film Classification and a Save the Children ambassador.
This article was first published in the June 2024 issue of BBC History Magazine
Authors
York Membery is a regular contributor to BBC History Magazine, the Daily Mail and Sunday Times among other publications. York, who lives in London, worked on the Mirror, Express and Times before turning freelance. He studied history at Cardiff University and the Institute of Historical Research, and has a History PhD from Maastricht University.