Millions of children around the world are separated from their families, alone and unprotected in the streets and around transport networks.
Across India, Tanzania and the UK, Railway Children focuses on supporting young people who have been separated from their families for a variety of reasons, including:
Divorced parents, strained relationships, or bereavement can make children more likely to spend time away from home or run away. Conflict, neglect, domestic violence, or parental struggles with substance misuse or mental health can leave them feeling unsafe, unwanted and unsupported, making escape seem like the only option.
Young people suffering with mental health conditions may run away to escape overwhelming emotions or trauma. Those who are neurodivergent may spend time away from home due to sensory sensitivities or to pursue a special interest.
In many countries, it’s common for children from poor households to be sent away from home to work and earn money for the family, willingly leave home in search of a better life or be forced into early marriage.
Children who are victims of domestic abuse or neglect at home or school are at risk of running away from home or being coerced into exploitative work or relationships.
Perpetrators and gangs target vulnerable children online and in public spaces, coercing them into criminal or sexual activities and labour. If a young person starts spending more time away from home, this may be a sign they’re being exploited.
Struggling to survive in the streets, skipping meals, and a lack of access to healthcare can be detrimental to young people’s health, leading to issues like malnutrition and poor health.
On top of this, it’s common for street-connected children to disengage with school or have no access to formal education at all. Without regular education, young people are likely to miss out on life-changing opportunities and struggle to maintain a stable income.
Alone and unprotected, street-connected children are also highly at risk of being targeted by gangs and perpetrators, who prey on vulnerable young people.
We work hard to find separated children at risk in and around stations.
We have several key partnerships and structures in place to identify vulnerable young people, including:
Once a young person has been identified, our teams work hard to assess their case, taking into account every aspect of their situation to put together a support plan that addresses their unique needs.
When it’s safe to do so, we strive to reunite young people with their families.
But bringing children home isn’t always enough.
If necessary, to prevent them leaving again, we tackle the root cause of the separation and work with the family to ensure the child is living in a safe, secure environment.
Through one-to-one sessions, our youth practitioners in the UK help young people tackle the challenges they’re facing and build the confidence to pursue their goals.
Family workers in India and Tanzania conduct therapeutic sessions with families at risk of separation to strengthen relationships and foster a stable and supportive environment at home.
Railway Children workers help parents understand the vital importance of keeping their children in education and guide them in adopting healthier parenting styles and more constructive methods of discipline.
Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, loving, family-based environment.
But it’s common for separated children to be placed in care institutions like orphanages, without their relatives being traced, or a proper assessment of their situation being conducted.
We’re working with others in the care reform movement to create a world where every child can grow up in a loving, family-based environment.
