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Through Toybox projects, children and young people on the streets can relax, make new friends and access the support and guidance of trusted and caring project staff in a safe space.

Through local partner PKL, Toybox supports young people to enrol in vocational training courses such as carpentry, mechanics, hairdressing and beauty therapy. Through the courses, young people gain the skills required to earn a sustainable living, away from the streets.

Within our project activities in Nairobi, children and young people receive counselling to improve their capacity to cope under pressure, without resorting to self-destructive behaviours. Others have also benefitted from music lessons.

Toybox partners have seen first-hand the positive impact that pets can bring for street children. As Esther Mwangi, from PKL, explains, "Since street connected children often feel ostracised by the society, they tend to feel that they share a similar fate with stray dogs and seem to form a strong bond with them. Some pets are group pets (cared for by the entire base) and some are individual pets, where the child specifically assumes overall responsibility for their pet.

Children who own pets in the bases have exhibited a higher level of kindness and care. They are more protective of younger children in the bases. One child reported being less lonely when he is with his pet because he can talk to the pet and the pet can give him company wherever he goes. A few children who own pets have shown a reduced intake of drugs. They report that when playing with their pets they feel happier and do not feel stressed, and therefore they use drugs less, since they mostly turn to drugs when stressed. Generally, pets have been seen to give the children some sort of a purpose bigger than them as they feel the pets look up to them for care, protection and food and they must ensure they measure up to this expectation. This tends to make them happier and feel a sense of achievement.”

Working through local partner PKL, Toybox funds regular youth clubs for street children, offering a safe space for children to play and learn. Former street children also attend the sessions to act as positive role models for those currently living on the streets.

Through Toybox funded projects, street children and young people have the opportunity to attend workshops focused on the safety and well-being. During the sessions, the children have the chance to learn core life skills to support them in dealing with difficult situations in their daily lives. At the sessions they also increase their knowledge and understanding of child rights and protection.

Toybox partner PKL advocates on behalf of the children and young people they work alongside, raising awareness with government officials on street children's lack of access to essential services.

Children on the streets of Nairobi live a hand to mouth existence and are often unsure where their next meal will come from. At a number of Toybox’s project activities, children are offered nutritious meals to help build their strength and keep them healthy.

Children on the streets of Nairobi have limited possessions. Through Toybox projects, children have access to warm, clean clothing as well as other essential supplies like blankets to support them in their daily lives.

In Kenya, living on the streets is considered to be illegal and street children are often discriminated against as though they are breaking the law. They are regularly treated with violence and contempt by state authorities and members of the public. Through Toybox projects, children and young people on the streets have the opportunity to attend workshops focused on their safety and well-being. During the sessions, they have the chance to learn core life skills to support them in dealing with difficult situations in their daily lives. At the sessions they also increase their knowledge and understanding of child rights and protection.

Working through local partner PKL, Toybox funds regular youth clubs for street children, offering a safe space for children to play and learn. Former street children also attend the sessions to act as positive role models for those currently living on the streets.

Toybox provides access to financial and livelihood support for vulnerable families living in Nairobi. Parents living in informal settlements are supported to start small businesses, enabling them to provide basic needs to their children and reducing the need to send their children out onto the streets to work.

Toybox provides access to financial and livelihood support for vulnerable families living in Nairobi. Parents living in informal settlements are supported to start small businesses, enabling them to provide basic needs to their children and reducing the need to send their children out onto the streets to work.