What is International Day for Street Children?
12th April is International Day for Street Children, when we come together to amplify the voices of street children around the world. An important day not just in the Toybox calendar, but the opportunity for all of us to raise awareness of the challenges of those who aren’t being heard; the children who can’t see a doctor because they have no birth certificate, the children who have fled an unsafe home, those who have lost loved ones, and as a result are supporting themselves on the street.
At Toybox we believe that no child should be reliant on the street, whether that’s sleeping there, working there, we are here to help street children to break down the barriers they face, at oftentimes, they are facing them alone.
Last year Toybox supported over 100,000 street children, families and community members in different ways depending on what it was they told us they really needed. Toybox supported 8,038 street children and families to receive emergency support due to COVID-19.
3,585 children and young people received counselling and support to manage their mental health. Through the hard work and determination of our overseas partners, Toybox also managed to keep our Birth Registration programme going during what has been a tough time – which proved more vital than ever when some children could not receive government rations as they were not registered.
How can I help on International Day for Street Children?
This International Day of Street Children if you would like to take part in a fundraising activity to support our work alongside street children, to help us reach even more street children, but you’re just not sure where to start, take a look here for inspiration:
Fundraising at home
Start a Facebook fundraiser, ask your friends and family to give a little something, a gift of £3 can provide a child on the street with a hot drink and tasty meal.
Take on a challenge! What have you always wanted to do but not made the time or found the courage to do? Now is the perfect time, whether it’s a fitness challenge, a half-marathon that you’ve always wanted to run, a hiking route you’ve always thought you’d like to see or something else you’ve always fancied pushing yourself out of your comfort zone to take on.
Do something out of the ordinary! Shave your hair or your beard, dye them a whacky colour or wear fancy dress for a day.
We have a sponsorship form available to download for whatever challenge you choose.
Fundraising in a group
Get together to hold a used a book sale, who doesn’t need more books?! £6 raised could provide a street child in Nepal with the stationery kit they need to attend to school.
Similar to the above, get together to hold a car boot or tabletop sale in your street. £12 will provide a street child in India with lovely clean clothes.
What does your group love to do? Bake? Craft? Why not sell some of your passion projects locally? Pop a post in local Facebook groups or on your village noticeboard to let people know when and where they can get your hands on your creations.
Do you have a skill that others would love to learn? If your group crochets, knits, bakes, potter or sew why not invite others to learn? You could hold an in-person class or an online one to share your skills and help others to learn something new which they can also enjoy. Raising £50 could provide a sewing machine for a street child who can generate an income for their family by sewing garments.
Do you meet near the beach? Why not have a sand-castle building competition?
Get in touch if you would like Toybox posters to advertise your event.
Fundraising at work
Birth registration is the heart of what we do here at Toybox, why not ask everyone in the office or the warehouse to bring in a baby photo, you could create a little competition with an entry fee? Have a bit of fun for a great cause!
Guess the number of jellybeans in the jar! Or whatever your sweetie of choice might be. Participants pay to play the game, they make their guess. The winner gets the sweets and the glory of winning! The money raised from entries can be donated to support street children.
Why not have a charity sports contest? Team up and take on another local business or multiple businesses with five-a-side football, badminton or walking netball tournament? Teams can take part in a fun competitive activity and give the proceeds of participating to their chosen charity.
Please remember you can invite a guest speaker to join you online or face to face, to share the voices of street children and information about our work alongside street children with your friends and colleagues.
If you would like to find out more about how you or your organisation can support street children, whether that’s through a one-off fundraising event, making a regular donation or another amazing idea that you’ve had, please get in touch.
Don’t forget to pop the 12th April in your diary!
