Consortium for Street Children and StreetInvest announce merger

The context

Children turn to the streets for survival for many different reasons, which leaves them vulnerable to violence, abuse, and exploitation. Many struggle to access the rights that they are entitled to – the same rights as every other child. 

Existing solutions are not well suited to the complex challenges faced by street-connected children – government responses are too complicated or too slow, where they exist at all. In spite of the extraordinary work being done by members of our network, in aggregate the sector is fragmented, with disconnected solutions dividing resources and limiting effectiveness. 

Compounding this, too often street-connected children are not active participants in the solutions given to them. Where best practice is demonstrated by small, grassroots organisations and frontline workers, organisations often lack the resources, voice, influence, and access to learning to do their work effectively. 

How do both organisations work for street-connected children?

CSC’s global network raises the voice of street children at national, regional, and international levels, working to ensure that States meet their legal obligations to street-connected children and advocating for meaningful changes in policy and practice from the ‘top down’.

StreetInvest’s expertise in a specialist form of youth work with street-connected children, called ‘street work’, increases their safety, strengthens their sense of belonging in their communities, and helps them access vital services like food, shelter, and education. This expertise is working to ensure that civil society plays an active role in developing and modelling practice that works from the ‘street up’.

Both organisations offer different but complementary perspectives on working with and for street-connected children, bringing together views from the ‘top down’ and the ‘street up’. By coming together now, we can do more to ensure that street-connected children are supported both on the streets and in the corridors of power.

Why now?

This is a critical time for children in street situations. Growing inequality, COVID, conflict, and climate change means that the number of children developing connections to the street is growing. 

With our network of over 200 members worldwide, and a combined 45 years of experience, by coming together now we can build on and extend our track record of collaboration, which includes facilitating over 1,000 children to share their views with the UN, resulting in General Comment 21 on Children in Street Situations. 

Moving forward

As we move forward in this new partnership, both organisations will come together under the Consortium for Street Children brand, and we will continue to progress through CSC’s refreshed 5-year strategy. As this strategy maps strongly onto StreetInvest’s own, we are confident that both organisations can work together under this plan ahead of plotting out our next 5-year strategy together in 2023. 

Read more about CSC’s refreshed 5-year strategy here. 

We welcome any questions and comments about this announcement. Please get in touch by emailing communications@streetchildren.org