Our work
Find out more about the SCWC 2026 in North America.
Learn more about the Street Child Cricket World Cup.
During the Olympics in Rio we hosted Olympic-styled Games for street-connected young people.
We host a variety of programmes to empower the Young People sustainably.
About us
What have we achieved? And how do we measure it? Find out more.
Every child needs a legal identity, protection from violence and education.
The SCU Young Leaders bring about change in their communities and worldwide.
The SCU Ambassadors promote our mission globally.
Stay uptodate on what's new and what's coming.
Street Child United in North America
Get involved
Support our work by becoming a volunteer for an upcoming event.
Gather friends, family and colleagues and raise funds to support our work.
Become a company sponsor to support our work on a larger scale. Your employees will love you ;-)
We are always happy to answer questions and receive feedback. Reach out!
Support 1.000.000 and 1 street children get legal identity by the World Cup 2026. Join the movement!
Street Child United was founded in 2009 by our CEO John Wroe following a life-changing encounter in South Africa. There, John met a boy named Andile, who explained
‘When people see us by the side of the street, they say that we are street boys. But when they see us play football, they will say that we are not the street boys. They will see say that we are people like them.’
Realising the power of football to create a sense of empowerment and belonging, John set up the first ever Street Child World Cup in Durban, South Africa, in 2010. This initiative brought together teams of street-connected children from various countries to play football, share their stories, and call for their rights. And so, Street Child United was born!
SCU’s ultimate mission is to challenge the widespread stigma faced by street-connected children and raise global awareness about the unique obstacles they face, making sure every street-connected child is protected, respected, and supported to achieve their fullest potential.
Everything we do comes back to this core goal. We envision a world where every child can access their rights, regardless of their background, and believe in a future where street-connected children receive the support, understanding, and opportunities needed to leave the streets permanently.
Since SCU’s inception, we’re proud to say we’ve made significant strides in improving the lives of street-connected children.
By leveraging the global momentum of major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, and Cricket World Cup, SCU has organised several Street Child World Cups and Street Child Cricket World Cups – six so far! These events bring together street-connected children from around the world to play sports, engage in arts festivals, and participate in congress sessions focused on their rights.
But our impact also extends beyond these events. SCU has successfully secured hundreds of identity documents and birth registrations so far, which are crucial for accessing education, healthcare, and other essential services. Our initiatives also address protection from violence and advocate for gender equality, making sure we approach the support of street-connected children holistically.