Invisible. Unprotected. Forgotten.

Carlos was just 11 when he ran away from home to escape abuse. Since then, he’s lived on the streets of a bustling Latin American city, shining shoes and collecting recyclables to survive. He sleeps in alleyways, has faced police harassment, and struggles with hunger and illness. Like many street-connected children, Carlos is invisible to the systems meant to protect him—without ID, without access to school, and without a safety net. Yet he dreams of becoming a mechanic and finds hope in the small community of children who look out for one another. With the right support, children like Carlos can reclaim their futures—and rewrite the story they’ve been forced to live.

Living on the Margins

Denied education. Denied protection. Denied rights.

Around the globe, up to 150 million children rely on the streets to survive. These street-connected children are among the most overlooked and at-risk members of society—often denied the most basic human rights: healthcare, education, safety, and legal protection. Because they often live outside traditional family structures, they are invisible to governments and too often treated as criminals instead of children in need of care.

Many street-connected children are unaware of their rights, and even when they are, they face immense barriers to accessing the services that could keep them safe, healthy, and in school. Systems designed to protect children frequently exclude those who need them most.

No child chooses the streets lightly. Children end up there for countless reasons: escaping violence or abuse, grinding poverty, social exclusion, displacement from natural disasters or armed conflict. The growing ‘triple planetary crisis’—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—will only push more children into dangerous, unstable situations.

These children do not need pity. They need protection, dignity, and a path toward a better future.

A Global Movement for Street Children’s Rights

The Consortium for Street Children (CSC) is the only global alliance dedicated to making the rights of street-connected children a lived reality. With a powerful network of over 200 partners across 111 countries, CSC brings together grassroots organizations, advocates, and experts to drive systemic change. We champion children’s voices at the United Nations, equip frontline street workers with the tools they need to protect and empower, and support street-connected children to become leaders and agents of change in their own communities.

Real Impact. Lasting Change.

CSC’s global alliance is driving measurable change for street-connected children worldwide:

Over 1,000 frontline street workers trained to provide direct support, protection, and care where it’s needed most.
150,000+ children made visible through CSC’s pioneering child visibility methodology—turning invisibility into action.
96% school retention in Kenya through our inclusive education pilot, proving that street-connected children can thrive in the classroom with the right support.
Legal reforms influenced in countries like Uruguay, Bangladesh, and Sierra Leone, ensuring national laws begin to recognize and protect children living and working on the streets.
60,000+ users each year access our Legal Atlas for Street Children, a groundbreaking tool that helps children, advocates, and governments understand and defend children’s rights.

Every number represents lives changed—and a step closer to a world where no child is left behind.

Your Gift Can Transform Lives

Every dollar you give helps protect, empower, and uplift street-connected children around the world. Here’s what your support can make possible:

$2,500 funds a trained street worker to support and safeguard 50 vulnerable children for an entire year.
$25,000 trains 800 Street Champions across 5 countries—equipping local advocates to drive lasting change.
$50,000 launches a national advocacy campaign, influencing policy and reshaping how governments respond to children on the streets.
$115,000 delivers vital support services in four cities, providing education, healthcare, legal help, and protection to those who need it most.

Your generosity is more than a donation—it’s a lifeline.

Join us

Partner with us to protect and empower the most vulnerable children on the planet.

Together, we can ensure street children are seen, heard, and safe.

Give Street Children a Voice

By Consortium for Street Children

Give Street Children a Voice

Make Their Rights Real