Oxfam facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Oxfam

Named after	Oxford Committee for Famine Relief
Founded	5 October 1942; 82 years ago (1942-10-05)
Founded at	Oxford, England, United Kingdom
Type	International NGO
Registration no.	202918
Focus	Poverty eradication Disaster relief Advocacy Policy research Migration advocacy
Headquarters	Nairobi, Kenya
Area served	Worldwide
Director	Gabriela Bucher
Board of directors	Jemilah Mahmood (Chair)

Oxfam is a large group of 21 independent organizations that started in Britain. Their main goal is to help reduce poverty around the world. Oxfam was founded in 1942 and is led by Oxfam International.

It began as the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief in Oxford, UK. Its first mission was to help people suffering from hunger during and after World War II. By the 1970s, Oxfam had grown and was helping people in many countries, including India, Australia, Denmark, and North America.

History of Oxfam

A plaque showing where Oxfam first met in Oxford.

Oxfam was started in 1942 by a group of concerned citizens in Oxford, England. These included Quakers, social activists, and university teachers. They called themselves the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief.

Their first meeting was in the Old Library of University Church of St Mary the Virgin. Their goal was to help people starving in occupied Greece during World War II. They also wanted the British government to allow food to pass through naval blockades.

The first permanent Oxfam shop opened in Oxford in 1947. This shop sold donated items to raise money. Joe Mitty was Oxfam's first paid employee, starting in 1949. He helped turn the shop into a national chain by selling anything people donated.

By 1960, Oxfam had become an international aid organization. The first overseas office opened in Canada in 1963. In 1965, the organization officially changed its name to OXFAM. The original Oxford committee became known as Oxfam GB.

In 1995, Oxfam International was created. This brought together many independent Oxfam organizations from different countries.

What Oxfam Does

Helping People in Need

The first Oxfam shop at 17 Broad Street, Oxford.

Oxfam supplies ready to be sent to people in need in Nairobi, Kenya.

Oxfam provides help during many global emergencies. This includes conflicts like the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and natural disasters such as the April 2015 Nepal earthquake. They also help during famines and droughts, like those in East Africa and the Sahel region.

Oxfam is well-known for providing clean water and sanitation in areas affected by war or poverty. In 2012, Oxfam joined the UK's Rapid Response Facility. This group ensures clean water is available after humanitarian disasters.

Oxfam also highlights the problem of wealth inequality. For example, a 2017 report showed that just eight billionaires had as much wealth as the poorest half of the world's population. Oxfam works to change this unfair distribution of wealth.

Important Campaigns

Oxfam International runs campaigns like "Make Trade Fair." This campaign aims to stop unfair trade practices. One such practice is "dumping," where rich countries sell extra goods like rice or cotton at very low prices. This makes it hard for farmers in poorer countries to sell their own products.

Oxfam also works against high taxes on imported goods. These taxes can stop products from developing nations from being sold in other countries. They also campaign for fair labour rights for women, who often earn less than men for the same work. Another focus is on patent issues that keep prices of important items like medicines and textbooks very high.

Oxfam has also campaigned on issues related to coffee farming. In 2006, they raised concerns about Starbucks and Ethiopian coffee farmers. They wanted to make sure farmers received fair earnings for their unique coffee beans. Later, an agreement was reached that aimed to benefit the farmers.

Oxfam Shops

Oxfam has many shops around the world. These shops sell both donated items and fair-trade products. The first charity shop opened in 1948. The money raised from these sales helps fund Oxfam's work and relief efforts globally.

The shops sell a variety of items. These include handicrafts, books, music, clothing, toys, and food. Many products are fair trade, meaning they are made by producers in developing countries who receive a fair price for their work. This helps improve the lives of these producers and their communities.

As of 2010, Oxfam had over 1,200 shops worldwide. More than half of these are in the UK, including special shops for books, music, furniture, and even bridal wear. Oxfam is the largest seller of second-hand books in Europe. In 2008, over 20,000 volunteers helped in Oxfam shops in the UK.

Oxfam Around the World

Oxfam International has 21 member organizations, called affiliates. Its main office is in Nairobi, Kenya. There are also offices in other major cities like Washington, DC, New York City, and Brussels.

Affiliates	Country/Region	Established	Full affiliate since
Oxfam America	United States	1970	1995
Oxfam Australia	Australia	1954 (as Food for Peace Campaign)	1995
Oxfam Belgique/ Oxfam België	Belgium	1964	1995
Oxfam Canada	Canada	1966	1995
Oxfam Colombia	Colombia	2020	Observer
Oxfam France	France	1988	2006
Oxfam Germany	Germany	1995	2003
Oxfam GB	United Kingdom	1942	1995
Oxfam Hong Kong	Hong Kong	1976	1995
Oxfam Denmark	Denmark	1966 (as World University Service, WUS)	2015
Oxfam Italia	Italy	1976 (as Ucodep)	2012
Oxfam Intermón	Spain	1956 (as Intermón)	1997
Oxfam India	India	2008	2011
Oxfam Ireland	Ireland  United Kingdom	1971 (as Oxfam Northern Ireland)	1998
Oxfam Mexico	Mexico	1996	2008
Oxfam New Zealand	New Zealand	1991	1995
Oxfam Novib	Netherlands	1956 (as Novib)	1995
Oxfam Québec	Canada	1973	1995
Oxfam South Africa	South Africa	2013	2016

Oxfam International Secretariat

Countries/Regions with Oxfam members.

The Oxfam International Secretariat (OIS) helps all the Oxfam organizations work together. It is guided by a board that includes the leaders of each Oxfam affiliate. This board makes sure Oxfam International is open and effective in its work.

Oxfam America

Oxfam America became an independent organization in 1970. This happened in response to a crisis during the fight for independence in Bangladesh. Its main office is in Boston, Massachusetts. Oxfam America works on issues like climate change adaptation, food security, and fair trade.

Oxfam Australia

Oxfam Australia is an independent, non-profit organization. It focuses on aid and development and is a member of Oxfam International.

Oxfam Denmark

Oxfam Denmark started in 1966. It first worked against apartheid in South Africa. Since the 1970s, it has focused on projects in Africa and Latin America. These projects often deal with democracy, education, and the reasons for poverty. In 2015, it officially became part of Oxfam International.

Oxfam GB (Great Britain)

An Oxfam clothing and shoe bank in the United Kingdom.

Oxfam GB's main office is in Oxford, England. Its finance office, which manages the Oxfam shops, is in Newcastle. In 2016/17, Oxfam GB had a total income of over £400 million. It had 5,000 employees and 23,000 volunteers helping with its work.

Oxfam India

Oxfam first got involved in India in 1951. They sent money to help fight a famine in Bihar, which was a very poor state at the time. The British Parliament even praised Oxfam's efforts.

Oxfam returned to India in 1965 to help with a severe drought in Bihar. At its peak, Oxfam was feeding over 400,000 children and mothers. In 1968, Oxfam started its first rural development program in India. Oxfam India was officially created in 2008 and is now a member of the Oxfam International Confederation.

Oxfam New Zealand

Oxfam New Zealand is an aid and development organization. It is also a member of Oxfam International. Oxfam NZ helps with disaster relief, such as after cyclones in the Pacific region. Most of its staff work from their Auckland office. Their funds come from donations and the New Zealand government.

Awards and Recognition

In January 2013, Oxfam was nominated for the Charity of the Year award at the British Muslim Awards.

See also