The forerunner of Plan International was "The Foster Parents Plan for Children in Spain" which was founded by journalist John Langdon-Davies and refugee worker Eric Muggeridge in 1937 to care for children whose lives had been disrupted by the Spanish Civil War.

During World War two, Plan expanded its work to include displaced children throughout Europe. In the 1950s, as Europe recovered, it became increasingly evident that children in countries further afield were also in need of help. Plan gradually began working with deprived children throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The organisation was renamed Plan International to reflect its aim of bringing lasting improvements to the lives of children in need wherever they live, whatever their circumstances.Today Plan is one of the world's largest development organisations.

We invest in health, education, livelihood, housing, water and sanitation projects, and cross-cultural learning to benefit children in developing countries.