Street Shine

The big date to hang this on would be the International Day for Street Children on 12th April. The angle is we have identified some awe-inspiring sustainable ventures that provide replicable templates and a solution to helping street children en masse, where governments and charities have struggled. These enterprises offer people a way to REALLY help street kids not by giving their money away but instead making aspirational purchases, ranging from a high end handbag to a stay in an eco luxe resort. (The old charity model of making people feel bad and then asking for their hard-earned cash has proved to have little success. Similarly giving money directly to street children is one of the worst things tourists can do.)

 

The stories behind these ventures are powerful and include:

– a Peruvian boutique hotel founded by a Dutch lady who was so affected by the number of street children in Cusco, she left her job in advertising and relocated to help “just one child”. Now her venture – a chic Shoreditch House-style haven for tourists – funds comprehensive care and education for over 600 street children.

 

– a fashion label called Bottletop, UK, Brazil and Rwanda

 

– a Kubuko Lodge, Tanzania

 

– Kuzuko lodge, South Africa

 

– Street Kids in Cambodia

 

– LAFF Cusco,

 

Quote from Branson, quote from the Transformational business network….

Link to Nueluxe Collaborations? Separate section in the footer with microsite?

 

Craig Whittaker MP

Serving the People of Calder Valley as their Member of Parliament
House of Commons

LONDON

SW1A 0AA

t 020 7219 7031

f 020 7219 1054

Dear Emily

 

Thank you for your very kind email and I apologise for the delay in responding to you.

 

Please find below my responses in ‘Blue’.

 

Take care & please don’t hesitate to contact me if you require any more information

 

With kind regards

 

Craig

 

That we do not have any in the UK and it isn’t an issue! People always associate street children with African or poor country’s

I think a national single point of contact for all young people when they have issues. Something in the vein of ‘Childline’ where young people who find themselves in a vulnerable situation can call for help and advice. If they can be helped whilst still living at home it would help make them safer than running away and living on the streets.

There are lots – the Consortium for Street Children is a group which umbrellas so many great social enterprises and charities. The Railway Children is one which stands out for me but there are also so very many more.

Because the people who are involved in them are doing their work for the right reasons – they want to help and are enthusiastic about helping. Quite often, Civil Servants who either work for government or local government do not take the same interest.

Because it highlights the issue and makes people recognise that there is a huge issue.

My middle daughter Sophie, over 3 years ago took a year out to travel after completing her ‘A Levels’. She decided to do it with a difference and take the opportunity to volunteer. She chose a Street Children’s NGO in Mwanza, Tanzania called Kuleana. That was over 3 years ago and she is still there! I have had the privilege of going to visit the centre and I can say the work they do is absolutely amazing. They get no government money and they are constantly coming up with new ideas on how to keep providing not only the service for these young boys but also trying to re-integrate them with their families and also give the love and emotional support that they so desperately need. My daughter and her handful of friends are an absolute inspiration to all.

To give or get involved with the many charities or social enterprises who provide services for street children

It encourages young people to become reliant on this form of income and they would be tempted to believe that this is a form of self reliance