Today, the Consortium for Street Children launches the first ever International Day for Street Children, which aims to put pressure on governments around the world so the rights of the estimated 100 million street children worldwide are realised.
Today, the Consortium for Street Children (CSC) launches the first ever International Day for Street Children, which aims to put pressure on governments around the world so the rights of the estimated 100 million street children worldwide are realised.
The Consortium for Street Children is calling its campaign to establish an International Day for Street Children every year on 12 April, "Louder Together". The campaign is endorsed by Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle and Liverpool and England international footballer Steven Gerrard. It is supported by global insurance provider Aviva, an active campaigner for street children through its Street to School programme which aims to help 500,000 young people back into education or training by 2015.
The International Day for Street Children is being celebrated by CSC members around the world, from London to Guatemala. Events include:
- A street party and concert for street children in Honduras by a popular rapper who grew up as a street child.
- In London, a free "one night only" photography exhibition exploring the lives of street children, sponsored by Aviva. The exhibition will be projected onto the external tower of the National Theatre, beginning at approximately 7:30pm on the 12 April.
- A series of sponsored sleep outs in Cork, Ireland led by the Hope Foundation.
- An art workshop for street children and photo exhibition in Nepal.
Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle said: “Filming Slumdog Millionaire opened my eyes to the horrendous conditions that street children in India are forced to endure on a day to day basis – an unimaginable mix of poverty, hardship, cruelty and abuse. That’s why I’m supporting the International Day for Street Children and the Louder Together campaign. These children need a voice and need to be heard by the international community I urge everyone to go online and pledge their support at www.streetchildren.org.uk.”
People across the world can show their support for street children by:
- Signing up to follow the campaign and adding the free "Louder Together" Twibbon on their Facebook or Twitter profile – available at www.streetchildren.org.uk
England International and Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard said: “Working closely with disadvantaged children has made me realise that kids aren’t just on the streets in other countries but are suffering right here in the UK. That’s why I’m supporting the International Day for Street Children. These kids deserve the same opportunities that most of us take for granted and I hope everybody will support the Day at www.streetchildren.org.uk”
Sally Shire, chief executive at the Consortium for Street Children said: “The international Day for Street Children aims to give a voice to some of the most disadvantaged and invisible children of this world. The Consortium for Street Children brings together 60 charities who work on behalf of these children. Together, through raising awareness and recognition of this worldwide issue we can put pressure on policy makers and create an environment in which street children’s rights are realised – their voices are heard and they are supported by government policy and practice.”
Andrew Moss, group chief executive, Aviva plc, said: “At Aviva, we believe all children should have the chance to fulfil their potential in life. We believe we can make the biggest difference by using our global scale to act as a catalyst for change. That’s why we’ve established our Aviva Street to School programme, through which we work with on-the-ground charities across the world to help street children back into education or training.
"I hope that the first International Day for Street Children awakens many more people to this issue, so children across the world can get the chance in life they deserve.”
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For more information and to discuss possible interview opportunities or further imagery please contact:
Jeremy Lucas, Natasha Jacobs, Veronica Rossini, Nicola Forsyth or Carolyn Hammond
Telephone: 0207 260 2700 or aviva@bluerubicon.com
Francesca Peschier, Corporate Reputation Manager, Aviva
Telephone: 0207 662 8057
Vanessa Rhodes, Head of Corporate Reputation, Aviva
Telephone: 0207 662 2482
Notes to editors:
About Street Children
Street children are those who sleep on the streets, work on the streets or spend a significant amount of time on the streets. They are some of the most vulnerable and marginalised children in the world, living in many instances without the protection from the state or their families/parents. Street children often do not have the means to voice their opinions and concerns to those who can make a real difference to their lives.
About the Consortium for Street Children (CSC)
The Consortium for Street Children is the leading international network dedicated to realising the rights of street children.
CSC has more than 60 members worldwide, including Save the Children UK, International Childcare Trust, Calcutta Hope, Street Child Africa and the Railway Children. Together with its NGO members and partners working in over 130 countries, CSC is the link between grassroots, governments, academics and businesses.
About the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
The International Day aims to give all children working and living on the street a voice and afforded the same opportunities as all children as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child’s four P’s; prevention from harm, protection, participation and provision. Nearly all countries around the world recognise that all children should have these rights realised under this Convention, however many government policies and practices still do not include street children.
About Aviva
Aviva is the world’s sixth largest* insurance group, serving over 53 million customers across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.
Aviva's main business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with worldwide total sales of £47.1 billion and funds under management of £402 billion at 31 December 2010.
Aviva is the largest insurance services provider in the UK and one of the leading providers of life and pensions products in Europe.
The Aviva media centre at www.aviva.com/media includes images, company and product information and a news release archive.
For broadcast-standard video, please visit www.aviva.com/media/b-roll-library
Follow Aviva on twitter: www.twitter.com/avivaplc
* based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2009
About Aviva’s Street to School programme
Aviva’s global Street to School programme aims to help 500,000 street children get back into education or training by 2015. Aviva wants to act as catalyst for change, so street children have the chance to fulfil their potential in life, just as all children should. Street to School was launched in 2009, and there are now 17 partnerships up and running across Europe, Asia and North America. By the end of 2010, 128,000 children were reached through Street to School projects.
Through Street to School, Aviva:
- Creates partnerships with leading charities and experts such as the Consortium for Street Children, Save the Children in India and Railway Children in the UK, amongst others who focus their efforts on improving the lives of children living and working on the streets
- Actively supports initiatives that help street children back into education and training programmes
- Uses its voice and position as a major international company to help its partners raise awareness about the needs and rights of street children
- Engages its employees and partners in fundraising, volunteering and advocacy activities to support our Street to School partners
- Encourages and helps our customers to donate to Street to School programmes and add their voice in support of the needs of street children
- Donates at least 50% of its charitable donations to Street to School programmes.
Aviva supports a mix of projects to help children living on the streets now and to prevent at-risk children from ending up this way. Street to School projects range from awareness and prevention initiatives to health and wellbeing initiatives for street children, as well as education and training programmes.
www.youarethebigpicture.com/street-to-school
About the Steven Gerrard Foundation (SGF)
Steven Gerrard set up the Steven Gerrard Foundation (SGF) in February 2011.
SGF is supported by the Consortium for Street Children whose expertise will ensure the Foundation is managed effectively, guaranteeing that the money raised will make a real difference to the lives of children across a range of deserving charities.
Steven Gerrard has spent the majority of his life in Liverpool and seen many of the issues faced by children. The Steven Gerrard Foundation enables Steven to make a lasting difference to children.
SGF provides relief to children and young people in need, whether through illness, family breakdown, disability, involvement in the streets, financial or educational disadvantage.