International Day for Street-Connected Children

We commemorate the International Day for Street-Connected Children by standing in solidarity with young people whose lives unfold on the margins—but whose voices deserve to be at the center.

This year’s theme, Participation, reminds us that true transformation begins when we stop speaking for children in street situations and start listening to them. When young people have nothing, they often feel like they have nothing to lose. But that changes the moment someone listens, believes in them, and acts on their needs.

At Hashtag Gulu Initiative, we recognise the power of listening—not just as a gesture, but as a tool for empowerment. Participation to us means engaging young people in shaping the decisions, interventions, and solutions that affect them. We do this by offering safe platforms where their experiences are shared through dialogue, forum theatre, podcasting, and community outreach.

This year, the national spotlight turns to Mbale City, where our colleagues at Children at Risk Action Network (CRANE) are hosting a dialogue with stakeholders working with street-connected children and youth across Uganda. The conversation explores the deeper roots of street-connectedness and surface collaborative responses to a growing national concern.

We continue to amplify street-connected children’s stories not out of sympathy, but out of belief in their potential. We engage with them through radio broadcasts, our “Street Voices Podcast,” and forum theatre, allowing them to narrate their journeys and propose solutions.

As adults, guardians, families, and leaders, we wield the power to either dismiss or transform these lives. Listening and acting are not just responsibilities—they are the clearest paths to dignity, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

This year, we reaffirm our commitment to create more spaces where young people are not just heard, but also empowered to speak, lead, and thrive.

#InternationalDayOfStreetChildren2025 #NothingForThemWithoutThem #StreetLifeIsNoLifeForAChild