I am Carolyn Miles, CEO of Save the Children and I visited Syrian children in the Za'atari refugee camp this afternoon, AMA!

How much of every dollar donated goes towards the children?

In 2012, 89% of all of our expenditures went to program services. You can check out our full financial reports here: http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6229505/k.5C4E/Financial_Information.htm?msource=wessnmis0114

Has Athene played a big role in this?

Athene's been a fantastic supporter of our work for kids around the world. We're so happy that we've had the chance to connect with his community.

What are the conditions like for children in the camp?

Kids need help with everything, both with basic needs like food and shelter , as well as getting back to school, having a place to play and starting to come to grips with some of the horrible things that have happened to them. There's over a million child refugees from Syria spread out throughout the region.

How do the kids and families get the necessities that they need to survive when they are in the camp?

Organizations like Save the Children, working with the UN, and supported by many around the world work together to deliver food, provide shelter and education.

One example of another partner we're working with, is TOMS shoes, who have provided warm winter boots for the kids in our programs. Here's a picture of some we handed out to the kindergartners today: http://t.co/h6rg6yeEQp

What percentage of the money directly helps the people, and how much gets eaten up in admin fees, transport costs, etc?

In 2012, 89% of all of our expenditures went to program services. You can check out our full financial reports here: http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6229505/k.5C4E/Financial_Information.htm?msource=wessnmis0114

What can the average person do to help?

Two things:

1) Learn more about what's happening and speak out for children. They are the innocents caught in this conflict and no matter what you think politically, we can all help kids.

2) Donate funds to an organization that's helping. The needs far outstrip the resources at this point.

Also, does your organization have people in the field? Or do you outsource that? If so, are they local nonprofits/groups, or int'l bodies?

Yes, we have international staff from the region, Jordanian staff and Syrians who are working with us to help reach children.

Thank you for doing what you are doing!

Do the kids have any sense of the geopolitical aspect of the conflict? Like who President Putin is supporting and who President Obama is supporting?

Am I dumbing the conflict down too much if I think of it as a proxy fight between the USA and Russia?

Lastly, in the American media a it seems the sensationalize any altercation between the 'rebels' and Christians. Are the rebels really targeting Christians?

Thanks again!

For the most part the kids belong to families who were caught in the crossfire, they often aren't sure who was actually fighting.

Many of the kids are too young to comprehend the political aspects of the conflict.

How do the various humanitarian groups divide up all of the work to be done helping Syrian refugees? It seems like it would be easy to duplicate efforts, but I'm sure there must be some good systems in place to collaborate resources. I'm curious what the systems are?

The UN has the responsibility in emergencies to help coordinate all the actors. They divide those who are helping into sector groups like education, shelter, health, etc.

Those groups meet on a regular basis and talk together about how they will divide up the work. Unfortunately there is usually too much work to go around.

No question, just thank you .

No, thank you for caring about kids in Syria.

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We have many types of donors, including governments, individuals, companies and foundations.

Unfortunately Syria is a hard crisis to raise funds for, unlike natural disaster. In both cases, children are the ones who suffer the most and who are innocent in conflict or natural disaster.

any interesting stories from the kids or people you met???

Yes, I met a young girl today who told me about her harrowing journey out of Syria which took 4 days crossing the desert at night. At one point, the group she was with was attacked and everyone scattered. She was separated from her mother and luckily found her again the next morning. She finally came to Jordan to be safe, but sadly her father was killed.

Thanks for the work you do! How can we help the people of Syria?

Two things:

1) Learn more about what's happening and speak out for children. They are the innocents caught in this conflict and no matter what you think politically, we can all help kids.

2) Donate funds to an organization that's helping. The needs far outstrip the resources at this point.

With do many children being born daily and medical advancements constantly growing is overpopulation and lack of resources a reasonable fear to have? What do you think the world would have to do to avoid these things?

Our mission is to help any children who are in need. Period.

Plus, data shows us that as child mortality decreases - less kids die - fertility rates decrease - people have fewer children.