We are thrilled to share that Toybox has been awarded a grant from the UEFA Foundation for Children to support our ongoing work with children and young people in street situations in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. This exciting partnership recognises the power of sport as a gateway to children’s rights and will play a vital role in helping some of the most marginalised children in Bolivia access legal identity, education, healthcare and long‑term stability.
Sport as a gateway to children’s rights
In Santa Cruz, a growing number of children and young people live without having any legal identity documents. Many births go unregistered, while others lose paperwork while living in unstable or unsafe situations. Without a legal identity, children are effectively invisible. They are unable to access healthcare, enrol in school, gain formal employment later in life or receive the social protections they have a right too.
For children already facing the dangers of street life, this lack of legal identity creates a cycle of exclusion, discrimination and extreme vulnerability. Toybox’s project, “Kicking off rights – sport as the gateway to legal identity and other child rights,” puts sport at the heart of change. Through activities such as football and Zumba, children are offered safe, welcoming spaces where they can build trust with our partner teams, develop confidence and resilience, and begin engaging with vital support services.
What the project aims to achieve
Funded by the UEFA Foundation for Children, the project will use sport as the catalyst to help children move from the streets towards safer futures.
By June 2027, the project aims to achieve:
- 720 children supported to obtain their legal identity documents
- 50 street or high‑risk children participating in weekly sport and play, leading to access to education and healthcare
- 120 children enrolled in education
- 30 health workers trained and actively supporting street children
Alongside sport, the project includes street outreach, birth registration and ID support, school enrolment, early learning activities, healthcare check‑ups and disability assessments. All these project elements in place to ensure children receive holistic support that addresses both immediate risks and long‑term barriers.
A powerful partnership for inclusion
The UEFA Foundation for Children supports initiatives around the world that promote children’s rights and social inclusion through sport. We are proud to work alongside the Foundation and honoured by their belief in Toybox’s approach and the children we serve. This funding will allow us to deepen our impact in Santa Cruz, strengthen partnerships with local services, and help ensure children who have been excluded for far too long are finally seen, supported and protected.
Thank you for helping children build brighter futures
At Toybox, we know that lasting change is only possible through meaningful collaboration. We would like to thank the UEFA Foundation for Children for their support, trust and shared commitment to ensuring every child has the chance to thrive.
We look forward to sharing updates on the project’s progress — and the lives changed — over the coming months. Together, sport can open doors, restore rights and help children move from the streets towards safer, brighter futures.
