Molly Childers - Charities

Charities

During World War One, she was involved in politically difficult work with the Committee for Relief in Belgium. Due to the ever changing diplomatic situation with Germany during 1915-1918, the Belgian wartime refugees, displaced by the conflict were put into a cross channel tug of war over supply of desperately needed aid. Molly was involved in the fundraising and awareness of their plight, alongside her sister and mother who combined their efforts. In 1918, King George V, conferred an MBE on her for this work. Childers was also awarded the Médaille de la Reine Elisabeth from Queen Elisabeth of Belgium. Along with her husband Erskine Childers, they were both members of the Irish White Cross Society, the precursor to the Irish Red Cross. She was a trustee, and he was a member of the Executive Committee. Famed Irish actress Maud Gonne was also a member of this society. From 1916 to 1918 she was Honorary Secretary of The Chelsea War Refugees Fund,. After the great war in 1920, she was involved in the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), one of the world's oldest peace organizations, later to be merged into the UNESCO of the United Nations.