Stories of transformational change

“I want every girl to get a chance to study. We can do anything if we are given the opportunity.”

“I was happy that even after what happened to me, I was chosen to be the leader of my group.”

“I want to become someone who can help other children who don’t have much.”

“My friends at the Learning Centre encourage me a lot.”

“My mum is the most influential person in my life. She is a strong woman. She does anything for her family to protect us and keep us safe.”

“Having a birth certificate is a right that everyone is entitled to. It will help open doors to your dreams.”

“At the project we didn’t have to worry about anything, we were protected and we had food.”

“If you want to change your life and help your family you have to go to school.”

“I am getting used to my new life as a mum.”

“I feel that now I can finally hope that the future is bright for all of us.”

“My dreams motivate me to go on.”

“I am going to school more regularly because I got a disability scholarship after I got my legal identity and disability card.”

“I want to work and give my daughter an education.”

“I like attending the project becasues I have learnt how to protect myself and my friends.”

“As an Ambassador for Toybox, I was able to take part in events representing my country. That’s something I’m very proud of.”

“I like to come here to the project, because there are things for children.”

“I like the project because we are all the same, you understand each other and can share your problems without feeling embarrassed.”

“I value my education since it is the gateway to a different life.”

“I want to become an astronaut to explore the world beyond the sky.”

“After the floods came, we were moved to the shelter up in the primary school.”

“Now, I feel the same like other children.”

“I've learned how to protect myself if I ever face a difficult or unsafe situation.”

“Only God can repay them for what they have done for me.”

“I have learned not to hit other children and my rights.”

“I want to be well, stable, and calm.”

“Coming to the farm give us time to play with friends and makes you feel happy.”

“At the project, they help me with my homework, give us food and share with us. Now I feel very good - I'm happy. Now I can read and write.”

“I've made positive connections with my classmates and teachers.”

“Now I can express myself more easily with family and friends”

“My favourite place is the football pitch because I can run and play ball.”

“My favourite place is the park, I like it when my mummy takes us there.”

“I realised that education could give me a purpose.”

“I feel extremely happy because this year I secured third place in the annual exams. I worked really hard to achieve this.”

“My dream of the future is to move forward by helping my mother and studying.”

“I no longer have to worry about where my next meal will come from.”

“I want to study to become a lawyer and help others who do not have identity documents.”

“I feel very happy that I have my new clothes – they have really helped me to keep myself warm.”

“I'm happy that I have a birth certificate and I can go to school like other children.”

“The most important thing is that I now have education and health.”

“My dream when I grow up is to be a policeman.”

“I feel more hopeful about the future.”

“I want to be a scientist.”

“My life has undergone a transformation. I can now confidently hold a pencil, form words, and even read.”

“I'm planning on requesting PKL support us with business capital to start up businesses with other base members. I'm trying to pick myself up.”

“The heavy rains have greatly affected our makeshift shelters.”

“Now I can read and write!”

“I used to watch other children going to school and often wondered if I would ever have the chance to do the same.”

“Now I go to school every morning with my two brothers.”

“I’m proud of myself because I feel that I have improved – it’s as if I've evolved.”

“I feel empowered economically and with a lot of financial freedom, my self-esteem and my confidence have gone up.”

“My favourite thing about coming to the Mobile School is learning and playing with the different panels with my friends.”

“Birth registration is necessary for us - we must make it so that we can study and make our future!”

“Now I understand the value of family.”

“It was difficult for many years without my identity documents. I didn't understand why I didn't have my birth certificate.”

“You can change your life despite your circumstances. You just need to have a purpose and be committed to it.”

“I want to be a police officer when I grow up”

“If I were the President, I would like to give birth registration to all street children and give them free education.”

“I want to become a good teacher.”

“Before the project I didn’t know there was a problem with me. I had stayed for so long on the streets - that was the only life I knew. I believed that was my fate, I guess.”

“I am 13 and live on the streets of Nairobi. I came onto the streets in 2015 when my parents’ fighting became too much.”

“I don’t go to school – I’ve never been to school. I want to go for some vocational skills training and take a course in motor vehicle mechanics because I love it!”

“I’m lucky – I’ve been coming to the project for so long that I don’t remember how different life was before.”

“Street children are not treated with dignity or respect.”

“In my community, there are lots of thieves around and they get angry and hurt you when you don’t have anything of value to give them.”

“Period education is something we really need to discuss with every girl, to break the silence.”

“I like planting seeds and watching them grow. It’s amazing how something so small can turn into a big plant.”

“With my parents working and out a lot, when I’m at the house, I’m alone most of the time. I cook my own food, like rice, eggs and sausages.”

“I know there will be a lot of challenges, but I’m going to support my child with everything I have.”

“We build fires with the textbooks that other people use to study, to keep warm.”

“I go to school and I love it because I can learn more things that I already know.”

“I started ragpicking when my dad became too ill to work.”

“Life was different before - I used to spend my days working with my older brothers.”

“I go around with my mother all day. At the savings group, I love playing with toys and drawing.”

“When we arrived from our village, we had nowhere to live so we had to live on the railway tracks.”

“I lost my ID card when I was getting on the bus, but I didn't think anything of it until I had my daughter.”

“For as long as I can remember, all my family have always all gone out to work, leaving me at home on my own. I used to get so lonely.”

“To be successful we need education, and we need a birth certificate for identity.”

“Being a child in my community is good, although I did used to have more fun before. I had more friends but now many of them have left or have died.”

“My parents didn’t get my birth certificate for me when I was little – I think just because they didn’t want to.”

“I came to Delhi with my mother earlier this year. I make a living by helping my mother with the household work where she works as a cleaner.”

“The thing I like most about having my own business is being self-dependent and gaining respect from the community.”

“In my community, there are many different tribes who speak different languages. Most of the people there scavenge at the dumping site to earn a living.”

“After attending my classes and Puerta de Esperanza, I help my grandmother prepare the the parts she will sell in the afternoon.”

“I don’t have admission to school yet because of the unavailability of official documents and my Aadhar (ID) card.”

“You’ve helped us, you’ve supported us, and even though we’re still going through the process, you don’t give up on the people who need help.”

“When we moved from Nepal to India, we didn’t think about not having the right documents. But when we got here, we couldn’t enrol in school.”

“Now, I actually want to make plans for the future.”

“My mum has proof that we are her children and that we are all one family.”

“School is very important because it will help me to excel in life.”

“I feel safe now.”

“I feel excited. I am part of society.”

“My favourite food is spicy food. I like eating dal, roti and chicken best.”

“My favourite food is chole puri, rajma and roti – I’d never had them before and I love the taste.”

“I want to be a great painter.”

“I have this confidence in myself that from now on, I will be able to revert back to them with much more bravery so they never tease another girl.”

“Studying is the most important thing for me at the moment.”

“I wanted to learn positive things for my life.”

“One of my greatest achievements so far has been getting into football.”

“My school and education will help me have a positive future..”

“Children love to dance, this makes us feel really happy.”

“The football field is my favourite place – it’s where I feel free.”

“I tell her she should go to school to prepare for her future.”

“The most important thing is that children have space to learn and play. We should always have the chance to be creative and use our skills.”

“When I grow up, I dream of being bilingual.”

“When I got accepted into school, I felt excited and a bit nervous about getting homework.”

“It feels very good to eat together with everyone at the project.”

“I’ve learned to respect my mum and treat my whole family with love.”

“I’ve learned life skills like how to stay at peace with other people.”

“I am a citizen of Nepal, entitled to receive services from the government for children.”

“Coming from street life to the point where I can earn money myself is a big thing, isn't it?”

“Now I can learn and support my family.”

“For my daughter, I hope she manages to finish all her education.”

“I want to encourage both women and men to help raise awareness on the challenges we face around menstruation and provide the support wherever needed.”

“I want to tell all the young girls that we should use sanitary pads to stay hygienic and have a carefree period.”

“I’m interested in going to school and I want to be a doctor when I grow up.”

“I can stand tall today with my citizenship.”

“To me, a birth certificate means happiness because without it, I wouldn't be able to study like I do.”

“Now I’m able to provide for my own needs through income from the business.”

“My dream is that my daughter can achieve everything she wants to.”

“Now that I’ve got the uniform, I feel happy.”

“I know I can talk to the project workers whenever I have life challenges.”

“I feel lucky to have the chance to learn to drive.”

“Now I’ve got my own business, I feel good.”