In 2014, a boys’ team and a girls’ team will be coming from Nicaragua to Rio de Janeiro to represent their country in the Street Child World Cup. Your partner organization is Casa Alianza Nicaragua.

Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in Latin America, with a population of 5.8 million. At least half the population live below the poverty line, with a significant number living in extreme poverty. In urban areas children work on the streets selling merchandise, cleaning car windows or begging. Some children are forced by their parents to beg, and some are ‘rented’ out by their partents to organized groups of beggars. Child prostitution is a widespread problem in Nicaragua, particularly in Managua, port cities, and near highways. Without intervention many children simply do not survive the streets.

Casa Alianza began a programme in 1998 to work with children at risk, in response to thousands of vulnerable children living on the streets in Nicaragua. Their first crisis centre and an additional transition centre were opened later that year. They expanded again in 2001 to open a Mothers and Babies centre to look after young mothers who were looking after their babies on the street and for pregnant teenage girls.

Today, Casa Alianza Nicaragua works with an average of 5,000 street children a year. Many of these are the victims of sexual exploitation or were trafficked for sexual purposes. The vast majority have problems with addiction, have broken family ties and all are considered to be at high risk.

By raising money for Team Nicaragua, you will help them on the Road to Rio and ensure that they have the chance to be heard at the Street Child World Cup 2014.