Street Child United and Everton in the Community launch ground-breaking training programme for street-connected youth

The curriculum blends comprehensive educational and life skills training. By leveraging the power of sports and community engagement, the programme fosters development and education on child rights. This initiative helps coaches gain essential skills and knowledge that will benefit at-risk youth worldwide.

SCU plans to introduce this curriculum to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in September in partnership with Rawbank, the largest bank in the DRC. Rawbank has funded the development of the curriculum as part of its "1 million d'Espoirs" programme, which supports and strengthens the empowerment of disadvantaged children by using sport as leverage.

The curriculum will be delivered to two programmes in Lubumbashi: BUMI and Malaika. Both programmes are dedicated to protecting and supporting vulnerable children within the local community.

BUMI, a long-standing child protection organisation, and Malaika, a community-driven initiative focused on empowering young girls through education and sport, will implement the curriculum as part of their ongoing efforts. This collaboration aims to increase the impact of these programs, providing children with the tools they need to overcome their challenging circumstances and build a brighter future.

Sadock John, one of the lead trainers, said: “I am proud to be part of this game-changing initiative. I am from Tanzania and know first-hand the difficulties faced by children living on the streets. My experiences have helped shape the teachable moments of the curriculum, and I know that they will have a positive impact on these children. As the program rolls out in the DRC and potentially other regions, it will continue to adapt and grow, driven by the shared vision of a world where every child has the opportunity to thrive.”

Julia Pimenta, Head of Teams & Programmes from Street Child United, said: “The partnership between EITC and SCU marks a significant step forward in the global effort to support street-connected youth. This curriculum aims to create meaningful and lasting change with sport as a vehicle by focusing on education, life skills, and child rights.

EITC’s Anthony Harden, Senior Manager, Youth and Support, commented: “We’re excited to be involved in this collaboration and sharing what we do here at EITC to help change the lives of children in the DRC. At the core, we’re about creating opportunities and making an impact, and that is reflected in the curriculum we have created.”