Street Action is a small UK NGO dedicated to support street children in sub-saharan Africa. (http://streetaction.org/)
We are asking for your help in seizing a unique opportunity to help street children in Burundi to help themselves away from the street and into a sustainable future.
New Generation Street Children village in Burundi: Providing a home and future (OVER £10,000 RAISED SO FAR FROM SPONSORED BIKE RIDE and OTHER PERSONAL JUST GIVING PAGES)
"Sometimes donors give, but they then face big problems and they stop. It is very hard to tell a child that you have to go back on the streets. But if we had our own houses and a village, it will be sustainable for us and we can grow food, have a farm, animals. The children can also be involved to help themselves and not to wait every month for donations for food, rent and other needs." Dieudonné Nahimana, SOAS June 2010
At the end of last month we hosted Dieudonné Nahimana, our partner from New Generation, Burundi, here in the UK. Introduced by Professor Stephen Chan at a special event at SOAS, Dieudonné spoke movingly of the challenges facing street children in Burundi, his hopes and vision for the future, and the development of their partnership with Street Action.
With the lack of priority given to the social protection and care of street children in Burundi, New Generation have responded by providing homes, education and re-integration back into the community. The work of New Generation is well-respected by the government of Burundi and they have donated a piece of building land (see photo 2). New Generation has a six month window of opportunity to raise funds to begin building otherwise the land will be taken back by the authorities. Dieudonné spoke of their plan to build a 'New Generation Village' for street children on this land, with up to 4 houses. Each house would be able to generate food (and other income) from agricultural projects set up and run by the street children in the village, and avoid the need to pay rent on an existing house.
Street Action is committed to supporting this project. The cost to build one house, which would be a home for twenty street children, is £25,000 including running costs for the first year, We are excited because this is an innovative and sustainable way of helping children make the transition from the streets back into communities. We want to raise the money to buiild the first of of 4 "Chez Street Action" houses to provide long-term sustainable places for children.
Whatever you can do to help we really appreciate your support. Thank you!
Joe Walker & Nick Turner, Co-founders of Street Action
Unit 307, Bon Marche Centre
241-251 Ferndale Road
London, SW9 8BJ
United Kingdom
Tel: 0207 326 1278
Joe - joe@streetaction.org
Nick - nick@streetaction.org
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