Every child has the right to safety, education and psychosocial support. Especially in times of war. War Child supports children affected by armed conflict to cope with its impact, with one clear goal: to take the war out of a child. So, there is once again space to laugh, play and catch their breath. To make this impact truly visible, War Child is working with Pipple on a smart, data-driven solution: the Attendance App.
Registration tool
The collaboration began on a personal level. Joep van den Tillaart from Pipple volunteered with War Child and became involved in TeamUp: a psychosocial support intervention for children aged 6 to 18 who have experienced trauma, helping them feel better through play and movement-based activities. In the Netherlands, for example in refugee shelters, as well as in conflict-affected settings worldwide. It is important to keep track of which children participate, whether they continue attending and what impact the sessions have. Paper registration lists were often lost, error-prone and time-consuming. This sparked the idea for a simple digital registration tool: the Attendance App.
Data as a key to better aid
War Child does not use data as a goal in itself, but as a tool to support children as effectively as possible. Destelia Ngwenya, Team Lead – Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) at War Child, explains:
Research shows that children need at least twelve TeamUp sessions to experience positive change. But it was difficult to track how often they participated. Groups are large and sessions take place several times a week.
The Attendance App addresses this challenge. After each session, facilitators can easily register which children were present. That data is stored securely – even offline, which is crucial in remote or low-connectivity settings – and synchronised later. A clear dashboard allows War Child and partners to quickly see how many children have been reached, how often they attend sessions, and where follow-up is needed. The data also helps War Child and partners demonstrate the effectiveness of their interventions, providing valuable insights for learning, accountability, and fundraising.
Learn faster, act faster
The real strength of the app lies in the ability to adjust quickly. When a child misses several sessions, project staff can follow-up immediately. Sometimes a family has relocated, sessions overlap with exam periods, or a child may be struggling. ‘The data allows us to respond faster,’ says Destelia. ‘We make informed decisions more quickly, take action sooner, and continuously improve our programmes. This works both locally and globally.’
Developing and growing together
Pipple developed the app in collaboration with Hulan, a specialist in child-friendly app design. Pipple focused on the data infrastructure: secure storage, clear structuring and user-friendly dashboards. The process also came with challenges. War Child operates as a humanitarian organisation, not a commercial one, and ways of working can differ. In countries such as Uganda, limited internet connectivity added another layer of complexity. ‘What we greatly appreciated,’ Destelia says, ‘is Pipple’s flexibility. They continued to think along with us until the solution worked in practice.’
From the Netherlands to the world
What started in the Netherlands has grown into an international solution. The app is now being used by several partners in Uganda, where more than 4,500 children have already been registered. ‘The impact has been very positive,’ Destelia says. ‘We are very happy with the Attendance App and our collaboration with Pipple. There is a lot of enthusiasm within War Child and partners. Everyone who hears about it asks: can we use it too?’
War Child, Pipple and Hulan are now working on further improvements, including a more comprehensive dashboard, Arabic language version and application within other interventions, such as BeThere – an intervention that supports the wellbeing of caregivers.
Technology with a heart
For Pipple, this collaboration goes beyond technology alone. ‘We want to support NGOs in increasing their impact through smart use of technology,’ Joep says. ‘It feels meaningful to contribute in this way.’ The Attendance App shows how data can strengthen an organisation like War Child: less time spent on administration, more time for what truly matters: helping children be children again.
