Why they matter
Street children depend on the streets to survive. Some live there, others work there, and many rely on the streets for support, protection or community, each shaped by different circumstances. Poverty, family breakdown, abuse, displacement and social exclusion are among the reasons children end up there. Our own research in Mbale found that although most children on the streets have living parents, only a small fraction of those parents are still living together, a sign of how far family breakdown is driving children away from home.
Advocacy is what makes our other programmes possible. Without local leaders, government departments and communities standing behind these children, rescue and rehabilitation cannot lead to lasting change. This is the work that opens doors for everything else we do.
What we do
CRO advocates for the rights and protection of street connected children at all levels of society through:
- Lobby meetings and dialogue with local leaders and government departments to promote child friendly governance.
- Radio talk shows on local FM stations, raising awareness of children's rights and seasonal risks to their safety.
- Community sensitisation meetings with local leaders, child wellbeing committees and partner organisations.
- Talks in schools and churches on issues such as violence against children, teaching alternative, non-violent approaches to discipline. Domestic violence is one of the leading reasons children flee their homes for the streets, so this work allows us to address the problem at its root, before a child ever reaches the street.
We also make sure children speak for themselves. CRO facilitates their participation in events such as the International Day for Street Children and the Day of the African Child, where children carry banners, engage local leaders and call for their rights and inclusion.
Our impact in 2025
940 children took part in IDSC and Day of the African Child celebrations across our four centres. 438 stakeholders were sensitised on child protection, leading UWESO and the Uganda Red Cross to fund education and health services for street connected children.
In the Field
Every voice counts. Whether it is a child holding a banner, a local leader signing on to child friendly governance, or a radio host raising awareness on air, advocacy turns quiet suffering into public accountability.
Get involved
Advocacy only works when more voices join it. Partner with us, support our sensitisation work, or make a donation to help us keep opening doors for street connected children.