Millions of children live or work on the streets – some to survive, others trying to escape violence, poverty, or neglect. They face daily violence, exclusion, and even criminalisation simply for being on the street. Yet these children also have extraordinary resilience. At CSC, we believe that given the opportunity, they can be leaders in their own futures – and shape fairer, safer societies for all.

Vision

A world where street-connected children’s rights are realised as they are for every other child

Mission

We exist to mobilise a global movement to protect and promote the rights of street-connected children.

Values

Challenging

We will actively challenge common misconceptions of street children, and the status quo of policies and practices. We will challenge ourselves and our network to identify innovative solutions, leveraging, learning from and building on our knowledge to continually improve.

Collaborative

We will bring people and organisations together to share expertise and create a stronger collective voice

Accountable

We will be transparent and honest in everything we do, a trusted partner for our network and donors, accountable for delivering resources and funds where needed and agreed

Child focused

We focus on the best interests of the children we work with and serve. We will consult with children where we can and ensure that we understand all potential impacts that our work may cause for street children, and take steps to avoid negative outcomes and maximise positive benefits

From streets to systems

At the Consortium for Street Children, change starts on the streets – by listening to and learning from children whose lives unfold there, and the practitioners who support them – and extends all the way to the corridors of power where policies are shaped.

We convene our network of over 200 frontline organisations across 111 countries to strengthen their ability to protect, support, and empower street-connected children in their communities. Drawing on the evidence, expertise, and lived experience of our network, we have helped shape landmark legal reform, including our instrumental role in UN General Comment No. 21 on Children in Street Situations; authoritative guidance on how States can uphold the promises they have already made to street-connected children.

This dual approach means we are responding to urgent needs today, while dismantling the systemic barriers that cause children to turn to – and keep them – on the streets. Every aspect of our work, from pavement to policy, is driven by the belief that no child should be invisible – and every child should have the opportunity to thrive.

Our strategy 2024 – 2029

1. To transform street-connected children’s experience of the streets now, so that they are safer, with better access to services and a sense of belonging in their communities.

2. To close the gap between street-connected children’s rights and the reality of their lives, in the long term, by holding States to account for meeting their obligations to street-connected children, securing their rights

And our cross-cutting priority:

3. To ensure street-connected children are recognised as experts in their own lives and involved in decisions which affect them