Celebrated each year on April 12, the day was established by the United Nations to raise awareness of issues affecting youth forced to live on the streets. The Consortium for Street Children founded the International Day for Street Children in 2011 and is the leading international network dedicated to realizing the rights of street children worldwide.
“While education is always the primary goal, Salesians know that children living on the street need a stable environment and basic needs met before they can think about going to school,” said Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions. “Salesian programs aim to help children live safely, meeting their basic needs, while providing the emotional support and education that will help them live independently later in life.”
In honor of the International Day for Street Children, Salesian Missions is proud to share programs around the globe that provide street children hope for a better life.
DR CONGO
Youth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo received healthy nutrition thanks to a partnership between Salesian Missions and Rise Against Hunger, an international humanitarian organization growing a global movement to end hunger. The rice-meals were sent to the Salesian Projects Office of the Central Africa Province and distributed to Salesian programs in the second half of 2022.
One of the recipients was the Bakanja Center, which serves youth who arrive from the Salesian Bakanja Ville, which acts as a drop-in and reception center for homeless youth who are looking to escape the challenges of living on the streets.
At the Bakanja Center, youth can access more long-term services that help with their recovery and education. Sami Mujinga Lapp is one of the youth who received the rice-meal donation at the Bakanja Center.
Lapp said, “I feel at home in this center that has welcomed me after living on the street. After receiving my education with the Salesians, I would like to be a great mechanic. I think that I would like to move to Zambia to earn a living. I want to contribute to society and help other street youth.”
NIGERIA
Salesian missionaries operate the Bosco Home Child Protection Center in Lagos, Nigeria. The center is a beacon of hope for youth who face uncertainty and despair. Currently, the center can accommodate 20 children, but Salesians are mobilizing to start a new project that will accommodate 80 vulnerable girls and boys. In addition, there is a Salesian Vocational Training Center that provides youth the necessary skills for employment to help them become self-sufficient.
A Salesian described the situation of homeless children in Nigeria. He said, “The city of Lagos, the most populous city with its 24 million inhabitants, has more than 100,000 children living on the streets. The situation they face is not simple. First of all, a differentiation must be made between street children, those who live on the streets of Lagos, and minors who are forced to beg or steal during the day but who still have a home to return to every night. These two situations combined generate very high numbers of children forced into insecurity, theft, delinquency or pick-pocketing. This is caused by extreme poverty, neglect, abuse and domestic violence.”
The center responds to the needs of these youth through a specific rehabilitation program that includes accommodation, meals, education, medical care, clothing, counseling and psychotherapy sessions, acquisition of professional skills, contacts with the family, and reintegration.
UGANDA
Salesian missionaries run Don Bosco Children and Life Mission (Don Bosco CALM), located in the town of Namugongo, just northeast of the city of Kampala, Uganda. The Salesian organization rescues, rehabilitates and reintegrates street children back into society. Salesians meet basic needs and provide education, socio-cultural activities and recreation like sports programming to help youth have a bright future.
Don Bosco CALM works primarily with homeless boys and those who have been orphaned, battered, and neglected. They also work with other vulnerable youth and children, including those who are HIV/AIDS positive. Currently, the organization has 165 children in its care. All of the children are in school with some attending Don Bosco Primary School, Salesian secondary schools and vocational training institutes.
Peter is one of the youth at Don Bosco CALM. When he was only 9 months old, his mother placed him in the care of his grandmother and then disappeared from his life. At age 6, Peter lost his father. When none of his other family members could take care of him, he spent seven years on the streets. Thanks to intervention by Peter’s aunt, he went to live at Don Bosco CALM, where he had trusting adults to provide support.
ZAMBIA
Salesian missionaries in Makululu, within the city of Kabwe, Zambia, reach out and assist vulnerable street children through a project started in 2016. Makululu is a disadvantaged area, characterized by lack of employment, high mortality because of HIV/AIDS infections, a high percentage of separated families, heavy alcohol abuse and extreme poverty. As a result of these issues, many children and older youth are forced to live on the streets.
To provide support, Salesians started a community school for street children and school dropouts. Over the years, Salesians increased their support by adding new educational activities and developing new infrastructure, including a specific center for street children and children at risk.
The center offers shelter, rehabilitation and reintegrating programs for 92 boys, ages 7-14. The process of rehabilitation and reintegration depends on the situation of each child and the condition of the parents or guardians. Some of the children can be reintegrated with their families after a few months and continue education at the Salesian school or another school. Others may leave the center to start independent life.
