Paula Guillet de Monthoux and Kenneth Bengtsson are the Secretary General and Chair of the Board, respectively, of World Childhood Foundation. As 2025 now draws to a close, they extend their sincere thanks to everyone who, in different ways, has contributed to Childhood’s work. Read their greeting below.
Dear Childhood Friend,
You are part of something big. You are part of something that began as a bold idea in 1999 and has grown into a global network of dedicated people working to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation. You are part of the World Childhood Foundation.
As 2025 draws to a close, we want to thank you for being with us.
At Childhood, we work with a long-term perspective. We therefore want to begin by looking back 20 years to when Sweden’s first Barnahus opened in Linköping – thanks to Childhood. Our founder, HM The Queen, had the idea a year earlier during a state visit to Iceland. With equal amounts of courage and patience, The Queen brought others along. Today, there are 33 Barnahus in Sweden.
Over these 20 years we have spread the model to Moldova, Poland, Germany, Ukraine, and most recently, Brazil. It is the result of the work of brave, persistent, and dedicated individuals. It is the result of the long-term commitment of people with a passion for our cause:
From HM The Queen to you and everyone who, in different ways, protect children. From small villages in Southeast Asia to major cities like Munich, New York, São Paulo, and Stockholm.
We move between different arenas and mobilize actors. Locally and globally. Always with the same goal – to strengthen the protection of children and stop perpetrators. A true champion who shares this goal is this year’s recipient of the Childhood Award – Elin Nelly, analyst at the Police Authority in Stockholm.
In 2026, we will continue to expand our network of dedicated people. You can help us do that. Tell others about what we do – tell them that, together, we create lasting change for children. Now and in the future.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year!
Paula Guillet de Monthoux, Secretary General, World Childhood Foundation
Kenneth Bengtsson, Chair of the Board, World Childhood Foundation
Photo: Charles Mingo Bennström
