Stories of transformational change

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

“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.”

“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.”

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

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

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

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

“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.”

“I thought I’d find the dream on the streets but there is just a rift of abuse.”

“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.”

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

“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 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.”

“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.”

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

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

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

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

“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.”

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

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

“I want to be educated and become a woman of substance so I can be an advocate for other girls who are going through similar abuse.”

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

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

“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.”

“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.”

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

“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.”

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

“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.”

“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.”

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

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

“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.”

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

“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.”

“Fire broke out in the slums of Freetown, Sierra Leone, sweeping through the crowded community, home to street connected families.”

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

“I miss Kindergarten, playing with my friends”

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

“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!”

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

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

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

“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.”

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

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

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