This project, implemented by GRT and funded by the Alta Mane Foundation, aims to improve the living conditions of street children and support the empowerment and capacity building of the CBO Slum Drummers, a musical group born from the street.
The project seeks to promote the social inclusion of the most vulnerable children through art, using music as the first point of contact. The role of the Slum Drummers has changed over time, from beneficiaries of the project to partners of GRT, becoming an example and positive role model for children on the streets and in the slums.
GRT and the Slum Drummers have been visiting the street children every week, carrying out recreational activities that have allowed the children in need to open up to the operators and be directed to rehabilitation centres.
The ultimate goal was to reintegrate the children into self-supporting families so that they would be allowed to continue their education. GRT then followed up closely with the children’s families and worked with them to ensure the children’s education and identify potential activities to improve each family’s economic situation.
Objectives
Improving essential services for the street children and making them more accessible through strengthening the referral system.
Promotion of training and awareness-raising activities dealing with child protection issues directed to stakeholders and street children themselves. Reintegrating children into self-supporting families by providing parenting training.
Beneficiaries
180 Street children who took part in the project
30 Children who benefited from psychosocial care and support
80 Children who participated in the Slum Drummers workshops
20 Children who learnt to play drums
50 Children who received peer-to-peer counselling
2,000 people made aware of children’s rights and the phenomenon of street children
Results
The results achieved were enormous: the Slum Drummers played a key role as peer-to-peer agents towards the street children, constantly involving them in their activities. GRT also strengthened the collaboration with government institutions and the network with partner organisations and other stakeholders and responded to the children’s needs in a sustainable and low-cost way.
Finally, a participatory approach was pioneered to involve families in the rehabilitation process of their children.
Founds:
