Donate Menu

Stories of transformational change

Carmen

Birth Registration • El Salvador • 2024

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

Read Carmen's story

Golu

Education • India • 2024

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

Read Golu's story

Guicho

Education • Guatemala • 2024

“There is a lot of danger in the street- we have been taught that by our teachers.”

Read Guicho's story

Ramos

Birth Registration • Kenya • 2024

“I feel more hopeful about the future.”

Read Ramos' story

Albert

Education • El Salvador • 2024

“I want to be a scientist”

Read Albert's story

Neel

Education • India • 2024

“I used to play the whole day and roam around and was not learning anything.”

Read Neel's story

Mamito

Emergency Response • Kenya • 2024

“The floods hit us hard”

Read Mamito's story

Joseph

Emergency Response • Kenya • 2024

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

Read Joseph's story

Tara

Education • India • 2024

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

Read Tara's story

Matias

Birth Registration • Guatemala • 2024

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

Read Matias' story

Jorge

Livelihoods • Bolivia • 2024

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

Read Jorge's story

Abigael

Livelihoods • Kenya • 2024

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

Read Abigael's story

Ishya

Education • Nepal • 2024

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

Read Ishya's story

Rajani

Birth Registration • Nepal • 2024

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

Read Rajani's story

Syan

Street Outreach • Nepal • 2024

“I felt so alone - I had no one to share my problems with”

Read Syan's story

Anaya

Birth Registration • Bolivia • 2024

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

Read Anaya's story

Chilemba

Vocational Training • Kenya • 2023

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

Read Chilemba's story

Valerie and Eidi

Birth Registration • Kenya • 2023

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

Read Valerie and Eidi's story

Mahesh

Birth Registration • Nepal • 2023

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

Read Mahesh's story

Soneeya

Education • Nepal • 2023

“I want to become a good teacher.”

Read Soneeya's story

Mabling

Street Outreach • Kenya • 2023

“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.”

Read Mabling's story

Tumo

Street Outreach • Kenya • 2023

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

Read Tumo's story

Sparta

Vocational Training • Kenya • 2023

“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!”

Read Sparta's story

Erick

Education • El Salvador • 2023

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

Read Erick's story

Layina

Street Outreach • India • 2023

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

Read Layina's story

Leo

Street Outreach • Guatemala • 2023

“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.”

Read Leo's story

Feba

Education • Nepal • 2023

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

Read Feba's story

John

Vocational Training • Kenya • 2023

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

Read John's story

Elizabeth

Education • El Salvador • 2023

“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.”

Read Elizabeth's story

Manuel

Emergency Response • Guatemala • 2023

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

Read Manuel's story

Alekh

Street Outreach • Nepal • 2023

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

Read Alekh's story

Daysi

Education • El Salvador • 2023

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

Read Daysi's story

Aamir

Education • India • 2023

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

Read Aamir's story

Dana

Street Outreach • Guatemala • 2023

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

Read Dana's story

Telvoh

Birth Registration • Kenya • 2023

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

Read Telvoh's story

Jamila

Education • India • 2023

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

Read Jamila's story

Shyla

Birth Registration • Guatemala • 2023

“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.”

Read Shyla's story

Himanshu

Education • India • 2023

“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.”

Read Himanshu's story

Kancha

Street Outreach • Nepal • 2023

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

Read Kancha's story

Gabriel

Street Outreach • El Salvador • 2023

“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.”

Read Gabriel's story

Alma

Birth Registration • El Salvador • 2023

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

Read Alma's story

Ekram

Street Outreach • India • 2023

“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.”

Read Ekram's story

Amina

Vocational Training • Kenya • 2023

“I faced difficulties in feeding my children, keeping them in school, paying our rent – at one point, we were all sleeping out on the streets.”

Read Amina's story

Simba

Street Outreach • Kenya • 2023

“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.”

Read Simba's story

Betty

Street Outreach • Guatemala • 2022

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

Read Betty's story

Inaaya

Education • India • 2022

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

Read Inaaya's story

The Choc Family

Birth Registration • Guatemala • 2022

“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.”

Read The Choc Family's story

Amaan & Zeeshan

Birth Registration • India • 2022

“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.”

Read Amaan & Zeeshan's story

Hem

Education • Nepal • 2022

“Once, my mother pushed me from the stairs of a public waterspout, and I was badly hurt. I know she was probably just drunk though.”

Read Hem's story

Asha

Birth Registration • Nepal • 2022

“Not having my birth certificate made me feel like a refugee in my own country.”

Read Asha's story

Messi

Birth Registration • Bolivia • 2022

“I lived in fear with my siblings… we were afraid that we would be separated from our mother.”

Read Messi's story

Jaya

Birth Registration • India • 2022

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

Read Jaya's story

Mark & Galaxy

Birth Registration • Kenya • 2022

“We were hopeless since life was difficult and we had no one to turn to for assistance. We felt nobody cared.”

Read Mark & Galaxy's story

Alana

Birth Registration • Bolivia • 2022

“The cold of the streets was the worst thing – it makes you feel like all your insides are frozen.”

Read Alana's story

Tau

Birth Registration • Bolivia • 2022

“The biggest challenge on the street is surviving day to day.”

Read Tau's story

Khushi

Street Outreach • India • 2022

“Before I came to the project, I would sometimes have light snacks or remain hungry at times.”

Read Khushi's story

Athini

Street Outreach • India • 2022

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

Read Athini's story

Samuel

Birth Registration • El Salvador • 2022

“I didn’t have a birth certificate because my mum didn't pursue the case when I was little.”

Read Samuel's story

Ahanna

Street Outreach • India • 2022

“Whenever I roam around with my friends, we often face eve teasing issues from strange men.”

Read Ahanna's story

Monica

Street Outreach • El Salvador • 2022

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

Read Monica's story

Erwin

Education • El Salvador • 2022

“The market is not a safe place for children most of the time - many violent incidents have happened over the years I’d been here.”

Read Erwin's story

Sonrisa

Street Outreach • Bolivia • 2022

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

Read Sonrisa's story

Ikroop

Education • Nepal • 2022

“I used to feel that my future would be in darkness.”

Read Ikroop's story

Aamir

Education • India • 2022

“I used to roam around the streets and trouble my mother a lot - I was unable to think or feel about anything.”

Read Aamir's story

Chinita

Street Outreach • Bolivia • 2022

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

Read Chinita's story

The Ramirez Family

Street Outreach • El Salvador • 2022

“The streets are home now because this is where we live, it’s where I was pregnant with my children and where they spend their time now.”

Read The Ramirez Family's story

Ricardo

Street Outreach • El Salvador • 2022

“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.”

Read Ricardo's story

Abraham

Street Outreach • Guatemala • 2022

“I was recruited by the gang in my neighbourhood – they used to threaten me with things if I didn’t obey.”

Read Abraham's story

Aurora

Street Outreach • Guatemala • 2022

“When I didn’t go to school, I was bored and tired at home on my own.”

Read Aurora's story

Pinky

Street Outreach • India • 2022

“Due to the hot weather, many times food often goes rotten.”

Read Pinky's story

Johny & Marco

Street Outreach • Guatemala • 2022

“It’s scary how easy it would be for someone to hurt us when we go out in the street.”

Read Johny & Marco's story

Chairman

Street Outreach • Kenya • 2022

“To survive, I collect plastics and cartons around the estate and in the river – and on the weekends, I wash cars. It's hard work.”

Read Chairman's story

Khem

Birth Registration • Nepal • 2022

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

Read Khem's story

Sabir

Vocational Training • Nepal • 2022

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

Read Sabir's story

Kajal

Education • India • 2022

“Now I can learn and support my family.”

Read Kajal's story

Alejandra

Birth Registration • Guatemala • 2022

“I didn't have anywhere else to go but the street.”

Read Alejandra's story

Kanci

Street Outreach • India • 2022

“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.”

Read Kanci's story

Ritu

Street Outreach • India • 2022

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

Read Ritu's story

Shaheen

Street Outreach • India • 2022

“I think a lot about going to school and feel sad because when I see the children of my age going, while I’m working day and night.”

Read Shaheen's story

Dhonu

Birth Registration • Nepal • 2022

“With street life, even if you want to do good, leave it behind or get a job, you can't find it quick enough which leads you back to the street.”

Read Dhonu's story

Eva & Lina

Birth Registration • El Salvador • 2022

“I used to feel scared that when I was older, the police would arrest me if I didn't have my birth certificate.”

Read Eva & Lina's story

Zera

Vocational Training • Kenya • 2022

“I was begging in the streets, and it was hard. I couldn’t see any future.”

Read Zera's story

Marta

Birth Registration • El Salvador • 2022

“Before I had my birth certificate, life was so difficult. I had some really tricky moments because I was always scared.”

Read Marta's story

Tazim

Education • India • 2022

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

Read Tazim's story

Adamu

Vocational Training • Kenya • 2022

“I used to feel very lonely because I had no one to share my challenges with. I wanted to do something better than selling drugs but I didn’t know where to start.”

Read Adamu's story

Anesh

Vocational Training • Nepal • 2022

“I felt my life would end on the street.”

Read Anesh's story

Zanthia

Vocational Training • Guatemala • 2022

“When I lived on the streets, I experienced so many horrible things. Everyone ignored me and no one ever respected me as a person.”

Read Zanthia's story

Ines

Birth Registration • Bolivia • 2021

“With our identity document, I now go to school and my parents have stable jobs.”

Read Ines' story

Angela

Emergency Response • Bolivia • 2021

“Take good care of yourselves and don’t stop using your mask, always wash your hands and take care of your families.”

Read Angela's story

Aditi

Street Outreach • India • 2021

“Everyone needs to know that using dirty clothes during menstruation can lead to disease and that it is very important to take special care of cleanliness at such times.”

Read Aditi's story

Savitri

Street Outreach • India • 2021

“Buying sanitary towels was so far from reality and a completely impossible thing to do. When I got my period, I was using old clothes instead.”

Read Savitri's story

Carlos

Street Outreach • Bolivia • 2021

“I would like to start my studies and be able to go to school knowing that I never have to miss a class again”

Read Carlos' story

Chimini

Education • Nepal • 2021

“If I could change one thing right now, it would be for coronavirus to go away, to have enough food and money, and to be able to continue my education so I can stand on my own.”

Read Chimini's story

Mohini

Street Outreach • India • 2021

“Mohini has become a warrior of her community. She is praised, loved and appreciated by everyone for her bravery.”

Read Mohini's story

Tej

Education • Nepal • 2021

“My life has changed a lot since attending the project. I thought I would never be able to continue my education and that I would have to be on the street my entire life to earn a living.”

Read Tej's story

Amir

Education • India • 2021

“I pay a lot of attention to my studies and now speak with confidence to everyone. I love encouraging the rest of the children to study at the education club — I feel very happy when I help others and when I see children playing and studying instead of working.”

Read Amir's story

Reena

Education • Nepal • 2021

“I’m very happy, after joining the learning centre I understood the importance of study and I have started thinking about my future.”

Read Reena's story

Blanca

Birth Registration • Bolivia • 2021

“With my ID I go to school, I have friends and I want to buy a house for my grandmother and my sisters.”

Read Blanca's story

Devi

Street Outreach • India • 2021

“Devi was a self-conscious and introverted child but her involvement in sports and various activities has transformed her personality, she has become an extrovert and shows us that she is fearless.”

Read Devi's story

Sahana

Emergency Response • India • 2021

“I don’t know if we will die of Covid-19, but if conditions keep getting worse, we will starve.”

Read Sahana's story

Sejun

Emergency Response • Nepal • 2021

“Sejun was asked what made him happy, he responded; playing with his friends and said that he really misses them. He also said that he is desperate to go back to school and to the learning centre.”

Read Sejun's story

Emergency support during COVID

Emergency Response • Emergency support during COVID • 2021

“I'm alone with my baby so the support has helped me a lot.”

Read story

Kevin

Birth Registration • Bolivia • 2020

“I miss Kindergarten, playing with my friends”

Read Kevin's story

Tropical Storm Amanda

Emergency Response • El Salvador • 2020

“During the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, at the beginning of June 2020 El Salvador was hit by a devastating tropical storm.”

Read story

Kala

Birth Registration • Nepal • 2019

“I am so happy my mother is back with me and that we can be together. I love school and want to be a teacher one day!”

Read Kala's story

Bibek

Education • Nepal • 2019

“I used to spend most of my time collecting metal coins and sniffing glue down by the river.”

Read Bibek's story

Isla

Vocational Training • Kenya • 2019

“Sometimes you just need someone to hold your hand and set you on the right path, and that changes everything.”

Read Isla's story

Eddy

Street Outreach • El Salvador • 2019

“Participating in dance classes helps me to relax, forget my problems and leave the pain behind for a little while”

Read Eddy's story

Jhalak

Education • India • 2019

“Education has completely changed Jhalak. Before she was very quiet and not confident with her reading and writing but now, she is one of the best students.”

Read Jhalak's story

Carlos

Birth Registration • El Salvador • 2019

“Carlos is one of the estimated 670,000 children in El Salvador whose birth was not registered.”

Read Carlos' story

Delhi slums fire

Emergency Response • India • 2019

“A devastating fire that had destroyed hundreds of homes in one of the communities where we have been working for the last five years.”

Read story

Selina

Street Outreach • Bolivia • 2019

“My children are the most important thing in my life – I don’t know how I would be if something happened to them.”

Read Selina's story