STREET KIDS DIRECT ANNUALREPORT 2023/2024 j/ Ve ALN eyhii : Wit, ‘| ‘i H Wty ) REPORT 4 e PSS i = f ' ; oe De ES | Musi addin 7 " aeect It eal oN / ? ents re a STREET KIDS DIRECT REGISTERED CHARITY ANNUAL REPORT AMERSHAM 1102894 2023/2024
Table Of Contents
| IMPACTING LIVES | 3 |
|---|---|
| ABOUT US | 4 |
| HIGH-RISK CHILDREN | 5 |
| DIRECTOR´S REPORT | 6 |
| THANK YOU | 7 |
| THE SKD TEAM | 8 |
| VOLUNTEERS | 9 |
| PROYECTO ALAS, HONDURAS | 10 |
| JOJANI´S STORY | 11 |
| THE IMMIGRATION CRISIS | 12 |
| SKDGUATEMALA | 13 |
| ANTONI´S STORY | 14 |
| PUERTA DE ESPERANZA | 15 |
| GO GUATEMALA | 16 |
| LEO´S STORY | 17 |
| RADIO CHRISTMAS | 18 |
| INDEPENDENT EXAMINER´S REPORT | 19 |
| FINANCIAL REPORT | 20 |
Impacting lives for 20 years
Street Kids Direct was founded in 2001 with the simple vision to ensure that 100% of all donations go directly to the projects impacting the lives of Latin America’s most vulnerable children.
We are a volunteer-run and online-only charity with roots in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, in the United Kingdom. We work in partnership with local organisations in Central America to rescue street-living children and prevent at-risk children from living on the streets.
Changing the lives of the most vulnerable street-living and high-risk children and youth around the world.
Over the 20 years we have been working in Latin America, we have seen the number of street children drop from an estimated 5,000 to 0. Much of our work, and that of our partner projects, now focuses on preventing more children from taking to the streets.
The charity is now beginning an exciting phase of its work as we endeavour to map where street-living children are around the world and to understand the numbers involved. This could lead to national strategies to help children leave the streets or ensure their lives are much safer and where they can realise their full potential.
ABOUT US ABOUT US
OUR VISION
NO MORE STREET-LIVING CHILDREN WORLDWIDE ~~OO~~
STREET KIDS DIRECT
OUR MISSION
Street Kids Direct (SKD) partners with local projects in Central America to help provide services and support to children and young people who live on the streets or are at high risk of living on the streets.
We are passionate about developing our partnership with our projects and working alongside them to support and strengthen their work.
We continue to guarantee that 100% of donations to SKD go directly to the projects we support. SKD is structured as an online charity with no staff or costs to ensure this is possible. If any expenses arise, they are donated by friends or covered by volunteers.
To promote the reality of street-living children. To create a map and headcount of street-living children worldwide.
To fundraise to alleviate their suffering and rescue them from the streets.
To provide support, training and advice to our project partners.
To prevent more children from taking the steps towards street life.
A child at high-risk is a child under the age of 18 who is at high-risk of living on the streets. Due to their high connection to the streets and the number of risk factors, they are highly likely to choose life on the streets unless a caring adult comes alongside them to offer them support and advice and help them explore alternative solutions.
Children at high-risk have had to develop many survival skills and coping strategies that have kept them alive.
HIGH-RISK CHILDREN
Street Kids Direct has developed a unique methodology for identifying, supporting, and caring for children most at risk of taking to the streets.
HOWEVER, THESE COPING STRATEGIES CAN PUT THEM AT FURTHER RISK OF ABUSE, EXPLOITATION AND NEGLECT, WITH AN INCREASE IN HEALTH PROBLEMS AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION TOGETHER WITH THEM FAILING AT OR NON-ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL.
DIRECTOR´S REPORT
DUNCAN DYASON MBE
This year has marked a period of growth for our charity, highlighted by the opening of a new mentoring centre in Santa Faz, Guatemala City. Nestled in the heart of a community plagued by gang warfare—where local businesses are burdened with exorbitant protection “fees” to operate—the centre stands as a refuge for hundreds of at-risk children facing myriad challenges.
Our mentoring programme is designed to support their educational journey and provide a robust network of support structures that foster resilience and empower them to make positive life choices. Reaching vulnerable children is our unwavering passion, and thanks to your generous support over the past year, we’ve been able to reach and assist over 200 additional children in this community.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to transparency and impact, ensuring that 100% of all donations go directly to the four Central American projects we partner with. In addition, we’ve extended one-off gifts to a feeding centre in Guatemala City and offered critical living support to various vulnerable individuals who were either homeless or needed living support.
In Honduras, our funding and support of the Proyecto Alas mentoring centre continues to provide a sanctuary for at-risk children. Here, the children receive the support and structure essential for their growth and flourishing.
The Alas project has earned significant recognition in Talanga, where the centre is based. They were invited to play a pivotal role in the town’s security forum. The local council has acknowledged their unwavering commitment to vulnerable children by extending funding and training opportunities. Moreover, Alas has initiated small businesses that contribute to covering some of their overhead costs, enhancing their sustainability.
As the year drew to a close, our charity embarked on plans for an ambitious global mapping programme to identify and locate street-living children worldwide. We hope this initiative will prompt national and regional strategies designed to understand, protect, and care for children who call the streets home.
Your support is integral to these endeavours, illuminating paths toward brighter futures for countless young lives. Thank you for being a vital partner in this transformative journey.
Thank you for your support and encouragement.
Duncan Dyason MBE Director & Trustee
THANK YOU
Sadly, we had to say goodbye to some key staff members at the SKDGuatemala project in Guatemala City.
Francisco Rosales (photo below, green shirt) moved to a new job after working with the charity for ten years and coordinating and expanding the mentoring programme in Guatemala City.
Mark & Rosalie Balfour (photo right with Oscar and Danilo - young men who have graduated the mentoring programme) returned to the UK to work in an Anglican parish in Cornwall, and their pastoral care of the team and spiritual leadership will be greatly missed.
THE SKD TEAM
Joanna Soden
Charity Trustee
Joanna Soden is a busy working mother from Amersham and is committed to the work in Central America. Joanna runs her own cake business and is a trained Christian counsellor.
Matt Levett
Charity Trustee
Matt Levett is the Diocesan Youth Work Coordinator for Suffolk and has worked with high-risk children and youth for over 25 years and visits the projects in Central America each year.
Jonathan Harbottle
Charity Trustee
Jonathan Harbottle joined the trustee board this year to help with the global mapping programme. Jonathan is a chartered surveyor who lives with his wife and two sons in Amersham.
Duncan Dyason MBE
Charity Trustee & Director
Duncan Dyason first started working with street children in Guatemala in 1992 and continues to live in Guatemala City, where he volunteers for the projects the charity supports.
- A YEAR IN NUMBERS NUMBERS
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618 618
618
12,000
high-risk cooked lunches
children
provided per
supported month
618
145
new children
in the
centres
618
6,000
breakfasts
served per
month
500618 a 850618 eS
pairs of
school packs
school shoes
provided
donated
618 61825
400
families given families
clean drinking received water
water filters
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VOLUNTEERS
The charity is supported in the UK and in Honduras by two couples who work hard to help us reach more kids at risk.
BOOK RELEASE BOOKS
Miracle Children in Second Edition
-aa Steve & Lindsey Poulson Charity Workers - Honduras
Steve & Lindsey volunteer with and # direct the Proyecto Alas outreach project i »” in Honduras, helping high-risk children and youth. They also manage the three businesses that help fund their work and will play a central role in the global mapping programme we hope to launch in 2025.
Steve & Nicola Raher
Charity Volunteers - UK
Steve & Nicola have recently retired and volunteer with the charity in the UK in local schools and in fundraising and fundraising events.
Duncan Dyason´s book Miracle Children was re-released in 2024 and was also translated into Spanish.
The first edition, which won the Christian Book of the Year award in 1998, narrates the formative years of Duncan’s life, detailing his Christian conversion and subsequent calling to work with youth, culminating in his work with street children in Guatemala City.
This edition has been revised and updated. Both the English and Spanish versions are now available through Amazon, and Kindle editions are also available for online purchase.
Duncan aspires to author his second book, The Last Child, later this year.
Now available on Amazon!
HONDURAS
Proyecto Alas, Talanga, Honduras
Thanks to the funds provided by Street Kids Direct, Proyecto Alas has been able to continue renting the building it uses for its mentoring centre in Talanga, Honduras.
The centre is a hub for the local community and a safe place for vulnerable, street-connected children to come daily to receive homework support, develop their social skills, and enjoy a range of special activities and outings that help build their confidence and grow in their abilities. Furthermore, the centre offers each child time with a mentor and regular meetings with a child psychologist.
The Alas staff and volunteers have developed significant relationships in their community with local authorities, teachers and even gang leaders. These relationships help the project offer a unique perspective on the town and enjoy the watchful eye of the wider community.
One of the full-time volunteers is Sergio. Sergio helps coordinate the family visits to every child in the programme and knows the importance of coming alongside a child at risk. He grew up on the streets of Guatemala City and was helped by Duncan and his team of volunteers to offer Sergio a positive alternative to street life.
Sergio now lives and works in Talanga, the town where the Alas mentoring centre is situated, and is supported by a couple in the United States so that he can offer his time as a volunteer to the project.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS JOJANI´S STORY
Jojani spent much of her childhood on the streets, as her parents didn’t send her to school. Her father, a taxi driver, would leave her alone at his taxi stop while he worked long hours. To fend for herself, Jojani sometimes sold snacks or drinks to earn enough mon-
ey for food. Her path intersected with the Proyecto Alas team when she was eight. The team brought snacks and games to the park, creating a safe haven for kids like Jojani. There, she found a mentor who helped her enrol in school.
At first, Jojani was a timid and insecure child. She struggled academically and faced teasing from her peers. The challenges overwhelmed her at one point, and she dropped out of school. Despite these setbacks, Jojani remained steadfast in attending her mentoring sessions. She especially enjoyed learning nail art from her mentor—a creative outlet that gradually boosted her self-esteem.
With growing confidence, Jojani made the courageous decision to return to school. Now 16 years old and poised to finish Year 9, she’s transformed into a young woman with newfound assurance.
We’ve watched in awe as Johani blossomed; her transformation is genuinely inspiring. This year, she took a brave step forward by agreeing to be the main subject of a promotional video for Proyecto Alas—
an achievement that would have seemed unimaginable to her once-timid self. Her willingness to share her story highlights her incredible journey of personal growth and confidence. Johani’s newfound courage not only symbolises her own strength but also serves as a beacon of hope for others following similar paths.
down, political repression, and a harrowing list of human rights abuses. Crimes committed by organised criminal groups, including sexual violence, murders, disappearances, human trafficking, robbery, and intimidation, have painted their lives with fear and suffering, forcing them to seek refuge wherever they can. The UNHCR’s reports are not just statistics—they echo the cries of real people searching for safety and a sliver of hope amidst the turmoil.
“The largest displacement crisis in contemporary history.”
A DESPERATE RIVER OF HUMANITY
The growing migration crisis in Central America
As you walk through the bustling streets of Guatemala City, it’s impossible to overlook the presence of migrant families. An overwhelming number of these families hail from Venezuela, driven from their homeland by forces beyond their control.
Venezuela’s crisis has become a river of humanity, nearly eight million strong, flowing into neighbouring countries. It stands as the largest displacement crisis in contemporary history. What drives this exodus? It’s a heart-wrenching mix of an unravelling economy, democratic break-
For many of these families, Guatemala is just a chapter in a longer, arduous journey to the perceived promise of the United States. This trek spans a staggering 4,300 miles and can consume six to nine months of their lives, assuming fortune and the kindness of strangers favours them. The road is fraught with peril, and not all reach their hoped-for destination. Some find a semblance of refuge within the countries they pass through, choosing to make these places their new homes. Tragically, some never complete their journeys, falling victim to mortality along the way. Those who do survive often carry harrowing tales etched into their memories— stories of abuse, robbery, rape, and kidnapping that turn their quest for a better life into a relentless nightmare.
However, many families whose hopes had been set on their journey north, have now ended up staying in Guatemala, with some tragically losing their lives here. Determined to prevent history from repeating itself, we resolved to find ways to respond and help the children caught in this tide of mass migration.
GUATEMALA
SKDGuatemala
Thanks to the efforts of Street Kids Direct, the SKDGuatemala project has successfully expanded its outreach and support to over 140 vulnerable children in Guatemala City. The charity now operates three mentoring centres, specifically targeting children identified as being at high risk of street involvement.
Central to each centre is the mentoring programme, which facilitates the development of trusting relationships between children and caring adults. This programme is designed to guide children in making positive life choices and achieving their full potential.
Participants in the mentoring programme receive a comprehensive personal evaluation encompassing their educational progress, health, and vision. To better understand the children’s living conditions, the SKDGuatemala team conducts home visits and maintains regular communication with schools to bolster educational support.
Throughout the year, the charity has offered parenting classes to the parents of all enrolled children, thereby enhancing the children’s developmental support within the home environment.
In collaboration with the Social Work Department of San Carlos University in Guatemala City, the charity has continued to evaluate the families involved in the mentoring programme. This initiative has provided valuable insights into the distinctive family environments and the various social and financial challenges each family encounters.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS ANTONI´S STORY
Antoni is one of the notable success stories, having excelled in the mentoring programme with SKDGuatemala this year.
The street outreach team initially encountered Antoni on the streets, where his strong attachment to street life and multiple vulnerabilities were evident in his behaviour. It was also discovered that Antoni had yet to attend school, so he was offered a support plan via the mentoring programme.
Antoni is an extroverted 14-year-old who demonstrates a high level of commitment to the programme. He consistently exhibits enthusiasm for participating in activities and has, on several occasions, volunteered to assist in leading activities at the centre.
One of Antoni’s most remarkable talents is drawing, a skill he has nurtured through the programme, providing him with a venue for creative self-expression. Beyond his involvement at the centre, Antoni displays notable maturity and responsibility; he assists his mother with her business and cares for his youngest niece.
Furthermore, Antoni possesses inherent leadership qualities, consistently showing attentiveness and a willingness to assist others. He acknowledges the programme’s transformative impact on his life: “It has taught me to be more responsible and to help my family and friends.”
Antoni aspires to further develop his artistic abilities and eventually lead community projects and serve others.
GUATEMALA
Puerta de Esperanza
The charity’s outreach efforts extend to families residing in the city’s marginalised areas, thereby amplifying its impact. It supports 120 slum-living children with direct services three times a week, offers parenting classes, and supplies school packs to facilitate the commencement of the academic year.
The scale of support provided by this charity is remarkable. Through partnerships with the city council and local businesses, the charity has prepared and served nearly 6,000 breakfasts and approximately 12,000 lunches weekly to at-risk children.
Puerta de Esperanza expresses gratitude for the support provided by Street Kids Direct over the past year. This support has been instrumental in procuring educational materials for homework assistance and facilitating young people’s engagement in technical courses, specialised retreats, and training sessions.
The Puerta de Esperanza (Door of Hope) Project engages with high-risk children and youth in La Terminal and Zona 8 of Guatemala City. The initiative focuses on supporting children who are strongly connected to street life or are working children and who have discontinued or are yet to start their formal education.
Supported by Street Kids Direct, the Puerta de Esperanza centre provides daily assistance to 200 children, enabling their survival and development. Its specialised education programme addresses the needs of children who have left the formal education system or have never attended school by facilitating access to an online curriculum and offering team support to accelerate their educational progress. The remaining children who attend the centre are enrolled in full-time education and benefit from additional daily homework support.
GUATEMALA
Go Guatemala
The Go Guatemala Project, funded for over 12 years by Street Kids Direct, works with children and youth residing in the renownedly challenging Zona 18 of Guatemala City. This area is characterised by sections under the control of violent gangs, presenting a significant risk of recruitment or temptation for many local children.
One of the beneficiaries of Go Guatemala’s support is Yulisa.
Go Guatemala operates a Saturday Club for the 120 children enrolled in their programme and provides weekly homework clubs after school.
Street Kids Direct is responsible for funding the rental of the centre utilised by Go Guatemala. It occasionally raises funds for specific infrastructure projects or donations to support the children and their families.
The long-term vision of Go Guatemala includes operating its own school. This plan has received governmental approval from the Guatemalan Government, contingent upon securing the appropriate infrastructure and funding.
Yulisa became a participant in the Go Guatemala project in 2020 and continues her involvement with aspirations of one day becoming a volunteer within the organisation.
Upon Yulisa’s initial attendance at the Saturday Club, the team observed that she was underweight for her age. Originating from a fractured home environment, she lacked academic support and required urgent intervention due to malnutrition.
The Go Guatemala project responded by providing Yulisa with nutritional support, facilitating her access to tailored educational assistance, and supplying her with clothing and footwear.
Currently, Yulisa is flourishing and has acquired skills in baking, sewing, computing, and English. The project has also taught her the significance of Christian values and making positive life choices.
Yulisa has maintained perfect attendance at school, is completing sixth grade this year, and is poised to transition to secondary education.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS LEO´S STORY
One of the beneficiaries of the Puerta de Esperanza centre is nineyear-old Leo, whose personal narrative is told in his own words.
“Hola, my name is Leo, and I am nine. I have two younger sisters and live in La Terminal in Guatemala City. My mum works really hard to make sure we have enough food and somewhere to live. I worry about my mum because she works filling up sacks of coal and has two other jobs, one making tortillas and the other job is cleaning people´s homes.
I try and make my mum happy by taking good care of my little sisters and studying hard to get good grades. Last year, I passed second grade, and this year, I am in third grade and haven´t missed one day of school.
To help my mum I work at the weekends, selling small crafts and things like that in the streets. I make sure I give my mum all the money I earn to help with all our bills.
My baby sister goes to the nursery during the week, and I can go with my other sister to the Puerta de Esperanza centre after school every day. They give us lunch and help us with our homework. It´s a fun place, and we like it very much and feel very safe there.
Thank you for listening to my story.”
RADIO CHRISTMAS
Some Statistics
During December 2023, the Radio Christmas project was based in Amersham, facilitated by the generous support of Amersham Free Church, which provided a room within their premises that was transformed into a radio studio.
A team of 480 volunteers contributed to the project’s success by producing shows, announcing the news on the hour, managing phone and email communications, and undertaking various administration tasks that enabled the station to broadcast nonstop radio entertainment from December 1st to the 24th.
480 volunteers involved!
The initiative raised over £26,000 for Street Kids Direct in December, supplemented by an additional £15,000 in matching funds. These funds were entirely allocated to support partner projects in Central America.
Appreciation is extended to the hundreds of individuals who engage biennially in Amersham, many of whom are children. Gratitude is also expressed for the support of celebrities such as Rod Stewart, Fiona Bruce, and Alex Horne, who contributed recorded messages, enhancing the station’s outreach and impact.
Our Top Ten Christmas Adverts video on YouTube has been viewed more than 463,000 times.
People from 183 countries tuned into Radio Christmas during December.
Google reported more than 20,000 searches for Radio Christmas during December.
160,000 listeners enjoyed the Radio Christmas programmes during December 2023.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Independent Examiner´s Report
Stephen Castree Flat 7 37-38 Adelaide Crescent Hove East Sussex BN3 2JL
To: The Trustees of Street Kids Direct
Independent examiner’s report to the Trustees of Street Kids Direct Charity for the year ended 31st March 2024.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
I report on the accounts of the Street Kids Direct Charity for the year ended 31st March 2024, which is set out on one page.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my atten-
tion:
-
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act
• to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention
Stephen Castree
BA Comb Hons, ACA, MBA, BA(PPE)
Date 17th August 2024
WHERE THE FUNDS COME FROM
FINANCIAL REPORT 2023-
INCOME
| General Donations | £ 42,444.92 |
|---|---|
| Monthly Giving | £ 22,018.00 |
| Events | £ 31,543.83 |
| Schools | £ 5,324.74 |
| Churches | £ 7,963.42 |
| Paypal | £ 1,717.23 |
| CAF | £ 2,115.16 |
| Trusts & Charities | £ 31,846.71 |
| Gift Aid/Other income | £ 19,703.74 |
| Restricted Donations | £ 500.00 |
| Total | £ 165,177.75 |
Opening Bank Balance as at 1st April 2023 £8,970.74 Income £165,177.75 Less, Expenditure (166,188.86) Closing Bank Balance as at 31st March 2024, £7,959.63
Accounts have been prepared on a cash basis from
EXPENDITURE
| EXPENDITURE | |
|---|---|
| SKDGuatemala | £ 112,792.00 |
| New Life Children´s Home | £ 700.00 |
| Guatemala High Risk Fund | £ 2,700.00 |
| Go mGuatemala | £ 8,000.00 |
| MOJOCA | £ 13,100.00 |
| Puerta de Esperanza | £ 18,500.00 |
| Proyecto Alas | £ 10,320.00 |
| Other | £ 76.86 |
| Total | £ 166,188.86 |
1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024
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ANNUAL REPORT 2023-2024
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CHANGING LIVES FOREVER
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STRETKIDSDIRECT
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Get In Touch
Street Kids Direct
2 C entenary Way
Amersham
HP6 6UL
United Kingdom
+44 1494 858470
+502 5522 3333
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streetkidsdirect.org.uk