FAQ
What exactly does Street Kids International do?
Street Kids International provides training resources and workshop curriculum to youth workers around the world. We educate youth workers on how to use our Street Business, Street Banking and Street Health programs in partnership with youth organizations around the world. Youth workers then deliver these trainings to street kids in their communities. As a result, these street kids become equipped to make safe, smart decisions regarding drug use, sexual health, and how to support themselves and better their lives.
Does Street Kids International say that children should work?
No. We recognize that street-involved youth and other marginalized young people are forced to work in dangerous or illegal situations to provide for their basic needs. To respond practically to this reality we have developed livelihood programs that enable young people to earn a steady income in healthy, productive and safe ways.
Where does Street Kids International have offices?
Street Kids International is a registered charity in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Our operations are based in Toronto (Canada) and London (UK). Instead of having field offices, we support and partner with youth serving organizations in the countries where we actively deliver training. We work with these local agencies to deliver programs most appropriate to their regions.
Does Street Kids International fund overseas organizations?
Street Kids International works actively with local organizations in partnership but does not operate as a funding organization. To become engaged with Street Kids International, most local partners have established relationships with us, explored our tools and are keen on adding their own experience to our materials. To turn a relationship into a partnership, we co-develop a proposal and submit it to potential funders for consideration. We are always interested in hearing from organizations with similar mindsets and passions for bettering the lives of street youth, but are unable to fund projects directly.
Do you give street kids money to start their own businesses?
Our programs give youth the skills and knowledge required to start their own businesses. When funding permits, youth who have developed business plans are provided with credit or start-up capital. In some instances, we have linked with local microfinance institutions to allow lending independent of us.
Do you work in North America?
Though we primarily deliver our programs internationally, we have delivered a number of innovative programs in Canada.
Streetjibe was a three-year Canadian pilot project funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation and based in York Region, Ontario, active from 2006 until 2009 . This program brought together diverse local organizations that work with marginalized young people, in order to share knowledge and skills.
As a result of a series of webcasts called Street Talk held in 2007, an ESL curriculum resource was developed for Ontario high schools. This curriculum meets the Ministry of Education expectations and is currently being used by several Toronto area teachers. For more information please visit the teacher resource page.
Do you work in the UK?
We don’t currently have any active projects in the UK. In the future we hope to develop materials for use in UK schools and are keen to find partner schools to work with us in the development of those. The the demand in the UK for youth enterprise programmes is already well met by other organsiations, and as such have no plans to replicate the programmes we run overseas for youth in the UK.
Do you support students doing research about street involved young people?
Street Kids International believes it has an important role to play in public education on the issue of street involved youth. We have a resources section on our website with various articles and research available free of charge. We are not proprietary and encourage people to share the information they gain from our resources. Unfortunately, we are not equipped to respond to individual requests for information.
Do you have volunteer placements overseas?
Street Kids International participates in the International Youth Internship Program, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency. This program runs from 2009-2012 and more information about the program can be found here: http://www.streetkids.org/what_we_do/youth_internships.php
What is Street Kids International’s legal name and registration?
Legal name in Canada: Street Kids International, Registration No. 12890 7870 RR0001
Legal name in US: Street Kids International, Registered as a 501 (c) 3 No. 22-3257716
Legal name in the UK: Streetkids International UK, Registration No. 1125483 Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered in England & Wales, No. 06617629
Where do you get the money to do your work?
We receive support from government, corporations and foundations and individuals. If you would like more details about our supporters and financials, please refer to our latest annual report.
page last updated:
Sept 8, 2011 2:17 AM