STREET TO STREET put street youth in Freetown in touch with students in the UK via online video blogs. “it is a phenomenal insight and opportunity and it really did capture the kids’ interest”
“Street to Street has changed a demotivated and disinterested class into an engaged and captive audience………It fits perfectly with Citizenship and Geography themes in school, particularly in developing empathy and taking steps to overcome stereotypes in a way a one off DVD or textbook cannot” Chestnut Grove School.
S2S offered students the opportunity to engage directly with street youth in Sierra Leone, via video and an internet forum. 6 young people aged 12 – 16 in Freetown uploaded weekly videos, so students from several schools in the UK could respond, asking questions, building relationships or just cheering them on.
White Boy
We want to run this project again in 2025. It is a massive and intense introduction to the hugely complex issues around the causes of poverty, and of the equally huge pitfalls involved in trying to help those caught up in it – but one which makes it immediate and real. “it enables in depth learning about another culture in a way a one off DVD or textbook cannot”
The benefits for the International students are self evident. But for the street children from Freetown too there was a considerable impact, as we tried to assist them off the streets and into education. Since it began in January 2010 all 6 young people had a place to sleep and were in some level of education. Street to Street is designed as a long term, user led project, allowing relationships to build and understanding to grow over time with all the volatility, passion and emotional ups and downs that chart teenage life.
Ballack, Youngest, Timberland and White Boy were the Freetown participants. All were on the streets with no family around to support them. 10 years on: Timberland was re-united with family and attended school in the provinces. Ballack is now working for a printer. Youngest (now Young) went to prison for 2 years but after he came out her started writing poetry and is now back in education. Only White Boy has not made much progress, he hustles on the street carrying loads or cleaning for people but he still comes in to WAYout sometimes and we continue to look for opportunities for him.
