Friends of the Street Children

---

Nkana West, Kitwe, Zambia
In Partnership with Street Child Africa

The organisation Friends of the Street Children (FSC) works in Kitwe, one of the five mining towns of Zambia's Copperbelt region. This region has been severely affected by fluctuations in the Copper Mining industry, exacerbating poverty and unemployment. It is against this backdrop that FSC work with street children in their community.

 

Many children are separated from their families because of poverty or domestic violence, and rapidly increasing HIV/AIDS infection rates. Family breakdown, high unemployment and inadequate child protection laws also force children onto the streets.

 

Since 2001 Friends of the Street Children (FSC) has aimed to change perceptions of street children, working to find long term solutions; providing refuges, high quality street-based services and offering much-needed friendship, guidance and support. Their principle objectives are to:

 

• enable street children to return to their families or foster care or other appropriate solutions
• provide the material support the children require while in their care.
• provide education and life skills training appropriate to individual child to become responsible person in society
• provide the children with social, moral, spiritual and cultural guidance in order to instil in them positive values and behaviour patterns.
• create public awareness of the plight of the street children and its causes.
• promote community involvement in finding solutions.
• advocate the cause of the street children and to promote and protect their human

Street Child Africa

Street Child Africa is the leading UK charity devoted to helping street children across Africa. They work in partnership with African organisations who adopt a street-based approach to seek out and befriend street children, offering them guidance from trustworthy adults, education, medical care, baby care, skills training, vocational sponsorship, a place in the community, and a chance to choose a different path in life.

• Fundraise and raise awareness in support of small African-run agencies working with and for street children across Africa.
• Generate fresh approaches to working with and for street children across Africa.
• Provide a forum for, and share information with, agencies working with and for street children across Africa.
• Facilitate advocacy for any street child and/or street child agency in Africa who needs and requests it.
• Encourage any volunteers in the UK who wish to give up some of their skills and time for the benefit of street children across Africa.