We build a global platform for street children, so they can demand the protection, support, and opportunities every child deserves.
Identity
SDG 16
Many street-connected children don’t have a birth certificate or official identification. Birth registration helps ensure children can access healthcare and education.
Protection
SDG 16
SCU works to end the abuse, exploitaton, trafficking and all forms of violence against street children who, due to their status have little, if any, access to justice or social services.
Right to Education
SDG 4
Education enables upward socioeconomic mobility and is a key to escaping poverty. Street-connected children are rarely able or allowed to go to school or access education that supports the specific challenges they face.
Gender Equality
SDG 5
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. Street girls are less visible that street boys and particularly vulnerable.
Who are we?
John Wroe
Co-Founder and CEO
Gianni Buttice
Head of Fundraising
Julia Pimenta
Head of Teams & Programmes
Hannah Fowles
Head of Marketing & Communications
Tom Rensmann
Head of Operations
Raluca Bogdan
People and Education Coordinator
Anya Welch
Fundraising & Programme Coordinator
Ann Mills
Data and Evaluation Manager
“I know from personal experience just what power sport can have to inspire and change young people’s lives whatever their background or nationality. This is what the Street Child World Cup is all about and I give it my full support.”
David Beckham OBE
Ambassadors
Ella Masar, Prof. Footballer & SCU Ambassador
Young Leaders
What are Young Leaders?
Street Child United are proud to work with exceptional young people identified as future leaders. Our goal is to help them become advocates for street-connected children, who can bring about social change in their respective communities.
Our Young Leaders
Liya 🇬🇧
Liya is a law student studying at the university of Sheffield. She participated in the 2014 SCWC and 2016 Games. Liya was also a Young Leader at the 2018 World Cup in Moscow. She’s undertaken work experience at Street Child United and spoke at the international summit on the protection of street children’s rights in Brazil.
Erica 🇵🇭
“I was from a very poor family. And my mum is a single parent. We barely ate a full meal. Most of the time I was out with other poor kids walking around the streets. Because of poverty, we sought help, hoping for a better future. At the home for poor, abandoned, orphaned and abused children, we found another family. We were loved.”
Ibrar 🇵🇰
“Participation in the Street Child World Cup Moscow 2018 and our victory was a turning point in my life. Subsequently, witnessing so many people turn up to receive us upon our arrival in Pakistan at the airport and being paraded in my local hometown as a hero was a moment that changed my life for ever. It was the single biggest moment in my life as the affection of the people towards me was something I had never experienced before.”
Nagalakshmi 🇮🇳
Nagalakshmi has been living in the girls’ shelter at Karunalaya in Chennai for as long as she can remember. After being part of the team that won the first ever Street Child Cricket World Cup, she hopes to continue playing sport and would like to become a social worker to help vulnerable people.
In Chennai it is thought there are 75,000 street children alone. Karunalaya works in Chennai to provide care, protection and rehabilitation for runaway street children with the goal to reintegrate children with their families.
Eswari 🇮🇳
Eswari lives and studies at Karunalaya – a shelter providing care, protection and rehabilitation for street children in Chennai India. As a young child, Eswari was raised by her single mother who worked selling flowers on the street to be able to fund Esawari’s school. Eswari took part in the Street Child World Cup Moscow 2018 and featured in Street Kids United 3 which was featured at film premieres around the world.
Samantha 🇬🇧
“Street Child United allowed me to reach new heights, they have supported me in more ways that what I thought was possible. My life has completely turned around since the Street Child World Cup; I am now at University studying a passion that I found in Russia. I now have this huge platform to share the voices of other street-connected children who were unheard just like I was.”
Husnain 🇵🇰
Husnain is 25 years old and works as a Social Mobiliser for Muslim Hands and has been engaged with Street Children, a project launched by Muslim Hands, since 2015. He would like to impact other people’s life through projects that give street-connected children a strong platform.
Jessica 🇧🇷
“I want to be a professional soccer player, so I always look for my goals, I want to achieve dreams and climb mountains for that dream to come true, I’m always trying to be a humble person who always helps others, who doesn’t judge anyone.”
Abdallah 🇪🇬
“I like walking by myself, alone and listen to the Holy Quran, also I like listening to music, talking to myself, making videos, watching movies, cooking, writing, running (two days a week), helping people and I love talking with pure people. I am trying to make a YouTube channel, help my family, graduate school, learn English extensively, travel aboard, start my own project and to be independent.”
Jas 🇬🇧
“Young people in the UK are stereotyped – people associate us with gangs, drugs and violence. We are so much more than this. We demand from the government more funding for mental health awareness and support, educational programmes and opportunities, a level playing field for all young people, and a platform for our voice. Will you listen?”
