Save the date: Railway Children on BBC Radio 4
We’re delighted to share that Railway Children will feature in a special BBC Radio 4 charity appeal this September – and we hope you’ll tune in to listen.
Date: 10/8/2026
How Railway Children's Youth Associations are changing lives
Through our Youth Associations, young people in Tanzania are leaving the streets behind and building brighter futures.
Young people in Tanzania are leaving the streets behind and building brighter futures.
Date: 24th January 2024
Transforming lives in Tanzania
For many of the children we work with in Tanzania, an essential part of their journey off the streets is being reunified with their families or placed in a nurturing, family-based environment.
But this isn’t always possible with young people. And that’s where our Youth Associations come in.
Our Youth Associations bring together young people, aged 15-24, to learn new skills and empower each other.
Together, members choose a trade such as mechanics, tailoring or catering which can lead to apprenticeships or the chance to set up their own business. Young people can then start building a stable income and supporting themselves in the long term.
Fostering self-reliance
During 2023, we set up a total of 12 Youth Associations with a total of 240 members. That’s a lot of young lives transformed!
Part of this transformation is the life skills members build up around punctuality, communication and behaviour – all essential components for success.
Through taking part in sports and recreational activities, as well as a camping trip, team members also quickly build trust and cooperation, enabling them to support each other through the programme.
We celebrate young people becoming self-sufficient and leaving the Youth Association with a graduation ceremony. Independence and self-reliance are the indicators that a Youth Association has done its job.
Help us give young people a chance
Still, many young people who have gone through the programme stay in touch and look for ways to give back.
Some get involved in outreach to other children and young people still living and working on the streets. Others may support Youth Associations that are just starting up.
In this way, the impact of the model – and the impact of your support – goes on long after a Youth Association has ended.
£49 could pay for the tools a young person needs to complete their vocational training, enabling them to build a better future for themselves.
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Where we work: Tanzania
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