The International Forum for Child Welfare was founded in June 1989 at Haikko, Finland representing approximately three hundred child welfare Non Governmental Organisations on six continents with Mr Alan Davis, one of the founding members, elected as the first president of the IFCW. The IFCW's mission, as envisioned by the founders, is to encourage, nurture and strengthen new child welfare initiatives.

The IFCW was granted consultative status with the United Nations in 1995. UN consultative status gives the IFCW official access to UN facilities throughout the world, provides IFCW with UN reports and current data related to child welfare, and allows the IFCW input into relevant UN meetings and sessions.

Cape Town Child Welfare Society became a member of The Forum in 2002 and hosted the first Worldforum on African soil during 2003 when the forum was held in Cape Town, South Africa. During the IFCW's Worldforum 2012 held in Naples, Italy Mr Niresh Ramklass was unanimously elected as President of The International Forum for Child Welfare, becoming the first African bestowed with this honour.

The Board, management and staff of the organisation wants to congratulate Mr Ramklass on this astounding achievement!