Tackle Urban Poverty

Improve Access to Basic Necessities for Urban Poor Children

Behind the city lights and towering skyscrapers, millions of children are growing up unseen and overlooked. Though cities are often seen as places of opportunity, many children living in slums and informal settlements face hardship every day. Even when schools, clinics and other essential services are nearby, poverty, high living costs and social barriers keep them out of reach. They are left without nutritious food, safe living conditions, quality education and protection from violence, exploitation and child labour.

Life of an Urban Poor Child

Overcrowded living conditions in informal settlements with a lack of access to basic amenities like clean water, proper sanitation and hygiene facilities.

Difficulty staying in or keeping up in school due to poor home environments, limited learning resources, lack of family support, etc.

Due to high cost of living, families cannot afford to buy nutritious food. Higher food insecurity results in children being stunted and having poor health.

Child labour and trafficking – children as young as six or eight can be forced to work long hours in dangerous jobs to support the living expenses in cities.

Our Work to Help Urban Poor Children

Help Child Labourers Go Back to School

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Help children withdraw from child labour and go back to school
Empower parents with livelihood options to support their children's education
Advocate against hazardous child labour with government and stakeholders

Protect Children from Child Labour

Kathmandu, Nepal

Train vulnerable adolescents on life and protective skills
Empower vulnerable families with decent livelihood options to discourage child labour
Engage national child protection groups to set up functional mechanisms to address child labour

Protect Children from Exploitation

Cordova, Cebu, Philippines

Strengthen community-based child protection mechanisms to prevent child exploitation
Empower families through livelihood and parenting support
Promote digital safety and online child protection;

Protect Children from Dangers of Gangs and Drugs

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Establish safe learning spaces and reading camps in high-risk slum locations
Establish Youth Protection Groups to monitor peer wellbeing and promote non-violence
Educate parents on positive parenting and prevelant child protection issues

Support Urban Poor Children

Voices of Children in Urban Poverty

Protect Urban Poor Children From Child Labour