13/06/2025
Hope in Action: Advocating for Zambia’s Street Children
At St. Lawrence Home of Hope in Lusaka, we believe every child deserves a chance—not just to survive, but to thrive. For over two decades, we’ve been walking alongside Zambia’s most vulnerable children, offering them safety, dignity, and a renewed sense of purpose.
This year marks a turning point in our national advocacy work, as we proudly stand at the forefront of two transformative initiatives: the National Street Outreach Guidelines and the Blue Ribbon Campaign. Both are milestones in Zambia’s evolving approach to the growing number of children living in street situations.
A National Response, Rooted in Compassion
In January 2025, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services launched the National Street Outreach Guidelines, a bold and necessary framework designed to bring structure, respect, and coordination to how we engage with children in street situations. These guidelines prioritize trauma-informed, child-centered outreach—moving away from labels like “street kids” and instead recognizing these young people as children first. As a key stakeholder, Home of Hope contributed our frontline experience to help shape this document. We know that early intervention is critical. As our director, Br. Jacek Rakowski, puts it: “We want to withdraw them from the street before the trauma happens. If left unchecked, it damages their psyche, body, and identity.” Our input helped ensure the guidelines include practices we’ve proven effective—like individualized counseling, family tracing, and long-term reintegration strategies.
To complement these new guidelines, the Blue Ribbon Campaign was launched as a national symbol of solidarity with children living in vulnerable conditions. At Home of Hope, we’ve embraced this campaign fully. Through church networks, social media, and community events, we’re helping spread the message: child protection is everyone’s responsibility.
Our Continued Commitment
At Home of Hope, advocacy is just one part of our work. Every day, our team provides shelter, education, health care, and therapeutic support to over 100 boys.
Join Us
You can be part of this mission. Talk to your children about compassion. Volunteer. Donate; https://conta.cc/45nLOcv. Every action matters.
Together, we can ensure no child in Zambia is left behind.
