The International Day of Street Children

Brief background:

The International Day of Street Children was launched (IDSC) on 12th April 2011 by the consortium for street children in the United Kingdom (U.K). It is currently celebrated in the world by children o the streets and street child organizations.

The day’s celebrations take place on the 12t of April annually. The day provides platform for millions of street children around the world to speak out so that their rights cannot be ignored.

In Uganda the first IDSC was celebrated on 12th April, 2013 by street children, street child organizations, policy makers business and individuals.

The theme for 2022 was “Recognizing challenges facing children on the streets and the effects of the frontline workers.”

In Jinja, IDSC celebrations were organized by all partner organizations that work with street connected children. These included Jinja Connection, Child Restoration Outreach (CRO, Jinja), SALVE International, Street Child Project, Experience Hope International, GIASCO, X-Suba, Spring of Hope and One More Child. The celebrations were staged at the mayor’s garden, City Hall.

It all started with children assembling at one venue where they all carried out a general wash-up of themselves, had breakfast and then had morning devotion led by a child.

This was thereafter followed by a band led procession across the City Centre of Jinja. The procession ended the mayor’s garden where children were gathered and the chief guest the Lord mayor of Jinja City, among other guests addressed children. There were also some performances done by the children at the venue.

Breakfast

Procession

Games

Performances

The entire event was summed up by lunch that was provided to the children from the venue. They as well had games which included bouncing castles, bicycle ride soccer to mention but a few all in all the children had lots of fun and enjoyed themselves.