This International Day of the Girl Child, we’re celebrating the incredible potential, resilience, and power of girls around the world. Martha’s story shows the amazing change girls can create when they’re given the chance.
Author: Con Enzler | Date: 10th October 2025
At Railway Children, we witness the harsh realities many girls face every day – poverty, exploitation, and a lack of access to education.
Around the world, girls are pulled out of school to work to help provide for their family or care for younger siblings. Lack of education often traps them in a cycle of disadvantage, giving them little hope of improving their situation.
But we’re here for girls who have been forced into being street-connected or surviving on the street. Girls who live or work on the streets are at high risk of violence, abuse, and exploitation – like child labour, sex work and begging.
Read more about child exploitation
Every girl has the right to love, safety and access to life-changing educational opportunities, which is why our mission to create a world where every child can grow up in a safe, nurturing home.
Martha, a bright 15-year-old from the Mwanza region of Tanzania, was referred to Railway Children Africa (RCA) after she was found wandering the streets. Martha had fled a household where she worked as a domestic helper, after being wrongly accused of theft.
Her story was heartbreaking. Forced into domestic work because her family couldn’t afford even basic necessities like food, clothing, or a school uniform, Martha had been pushed out of school and into survival mode.
Yet, she held onto a powerful dream: to learn tailoring. She envisioned mastering a sewing machine, creating clothes, and earning an income to meet her own needs.
“If I learn to sew, madam, I will earn money to buy my own clothes and lotion. My grandfather can’t afford those things,” she shared, her voice trembling with hope.
RCA’s household assessment confirmed the family’s extreme poverty. Martha lived with her 78-year-old grandfather, who, despite his age, stitched fishing nets to support a household of five, including four children. They lived in tattered clothes, lacked school supplies, and often went hungry.
Moved by Martha’s determination, RCA immediately provided the family with food and school supplies, offering crucial short-term relief.
Martha was enrolled in tailoring classes, and RCA provided her with her very own sewing machine. She embraced her training with incredible passion and purpose.
Today, Martha’s life has been transformed. She proudly sews dresses for her younger siblings, makes her own clothes, and crafts hairbands which she sells for income.
“Now I know how to sew,” she beams. “I sell hairbands and buy lotion and sandals. I even helped my grandfather to buy big fishes instead of eating sardine always.”
Shet told us: “Thank you for helping me. If you hadn’t, I’d still be a street child.”
RCA’s support extended to Martha’s grandfather, helping him start a small vegetable garden where he now successfully grows and sells okra and spinach, bringing in much-needed income.
The family is now thriving. Martha’s siblings attend school regularly, performing well, and return home knowing they’ll have food to eat. Martha continues to hone her tailoring skills, moving closer to her dream of becoming a master seamstress.
Across India, Tanzania and the UK, we tackle head on the problems that put girls at risk, by prioritising education, family reintegration, and empowering them to change their reality. Our priority is to reunite young girls with their families when it’s safe, or find alternative long-term care, always putting the girl’s best interest first.
At Railway Children India’s Child Activity Centres, street-connected and vulnerable girls can find safety, nutritious meals, a chance to play, drive change in their communities, and access education and counselling. These centres are often the first step towards a stable and secure future.
In the UK, we work with young girls who have run away from home or been coerced into dangerous situations. We provide tailored support, and connect them with vital services, helping them to rebuild their lives in a way that works for them.
Our approach in Tanzania focuses on family strengthening, education, and vocational training, empowering girls to gain skills and independence through our Youth Association Groups.
Representatives from Railway Children met with Angie Doll, Chief Executive Officer of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), to discuss the vital work being carried out to support vulnerable children and young people across London’s rail network and beyond.
The new Global Charter on Children’s Care Reform is a powerful step toward a world where every child can grow up in a safe, loving home.
Rail professionals from around the country attended Railway Children’s Safeguarding Champions event, celebrating their commitment to supporting children at risk on the network.
Martha’s story shows the amazing change girls can create when they’re given the chance.
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