On 26th September 2024, Street Child hosted a high-level discussion at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) in New York, bringing together sector leaders to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time: advancing universal primary education amid the complexities of climate change, poverty, and conflict.
The discussion began with a powerful speech by His Excellency, Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., President of Liberia, who highlighted the critical situation facing street-connected children, not only in Liberia but across the world. “Street-connected children are not just statistics, they are young lives living in the shadows,” he said. He emphasised global cooperation is essential in solving this crisis, stating, “Alongside Street Child, we are united by a shared commitment and vision for every child to thrive.”
President Boakai highlighted Liberia’s commitment to this cause, explaining that the government, through its Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, had recently launched a project with Street Child, aimed at integrating over 50,000 street-connected children into the education system.
The first phase of this project will target 7,698 children, with the broader goal of reaching 50,000 children. He also stressed the importance of supporting caregivers through livelihood grants to foster sustainable futures for families. “Together with Street Child, we are not just addressing immediate needs but laying the foundation for long-term change,” the President stated, calling on the international community to rally behind these efforts.
Molly Bruce, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at Liberty Global; Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait; Louise James, Managing Director and Global Co-Lead at Accenture Development Partnerships; and Hon. Gbeme Horace-Kollie, Liberia's Minister of Gender Children and Social Protection. Joined by Street Child's CEO and Founder, Tom Dannatt.
Following the President’s remarks, Hon. Gbeme Horace-Kollie, Liberia’s Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, highlighted the urgency of addressing the issue of street-connected children. “Our children will inherit the future,” she said, emphasising the vital role that education and protection play in ensuring a positive future for Liberia’s youth. Minister Horace-Kollie stressed the need for a multi-agency approach to this crisis, calling on ministries of health, education, and gender to collaborate in tackling this issue head-on. She also praised the partnership with Street Child, urging all sectors to commit to reducing the number of children living in street situations worldwide.
Next to speak was Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait (ECW), who thanked Street Child for being an important partner to ECW and for representing civil society on the ECW board. She underscored the urgency of providing tangible outcomes for the children being supported and praised Street Child for their localisation efforts, such as the creation of a localisation unit in Uganda to empower local organisations. “Since 2020, 62 million children have been impacted by climate change, and 200 million by armed conflict,” Sherif said, noting the tremendous challenges ahead. She also spoke about the opportunity for the private sector to be bold and to help those children living in crisis-affected areas. She finished by stressing the importance of Early Childhood Development (ECD) as a top priority, saying, “Early investment in education builds resilience in children and communities.”
Louise James, Managing Director and Global Co-Lead at Accenture Development Partnerships, followed by speaking about the potential of using technology, including GenAI, to transform education for marginalised communities. “We have the opportunity to leverage tools like GenAI to bring a wider impact to education, particularly in countries where education infrastructure is often lacking,” she noted. She also stressed the critical role of unrestricted funding for organisations like Street Child, which allows them to respond to emerging needs with agility. James further highlighted the focus on girls’ education, emphasising the need to ensure that girls are both safe and protected, and reiterated Accenture’s commitment to helping enhance the impact of Street Child’s work through skills and expertise.
Molly Bruce, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at Liberty Global, echoed the sentiments of her fellow panellists, pointing out the critical role that technology plays in connecting underserved communities to essential services like education. “Liberty is committed to using its resources and voice to address society’s most pressing issues,” she said. Bruce also discussed the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and children, noting that Liberty Global is deeply committed to ensuring that no child is left behind. She mentioned Liberty’s longstanding support for Street Child, highlighting that it is embedded in the company’s DNA.
Liberia’s other key ministers also contributed to the discussion. Hon. Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah, Minister of Education, shared her thoughts on how partnerships like the one between Street Child and the Government of Liberia are essential for delivering results. “By working together with communities and families, we can ensure children not only enrol in school but also stay there,” she noted. Hon. J. Cole Bangalu, Minister of Youth and Sports, emphasised the need for all ministries to work together to achieve lasting outcomes for street-connected children, acknowledging that education, health, and livelihood support are interconnected in addressing this issue.
During the Q&A session, the panel was asked thought-provoking questions that expanded the discussion. Participants wanted to know how the private, public, and civil sectors could better align their efforts and "speak the same language" when addressing the needs of the most vulnerable communities. There was also interest in understanding what motivates private sector investment in conflict zones, where commercial benefits may be limited. Another important question focused on how to bridge the digital divide, particularly in regions lacking internet access, and how AI innovations could be leveraged to expand education.
A particularly emotive part of the event came from Mai, who represented the voice of Liberian youth. Mai called on sector leaders to act decisively and provide the necessary services to help them grow and develop. “Children in street situations in Liberia are no different from children around the world. We encourage those in power to provide services to ensure the growth and development of children,” she said, providing a poignant reminder of the reality faced by millions of children globally and a fitting end to the panel event.
As the discussion concluded, Tom Dannatt praised the leadership of President Boakai and his cabinet, noting, “We are prioritising Liberia because of the political will shown by President Boakai and his team.” He stressed that significant funding is needed to scale these efforts, calling on all actors—private sector, governments, and civil society—to get behind this initiative. “We have a model that works, a great team on the ground, and government support. Now, we need the resources to bring this initiative to the scale it deserves,” he concluded.
The event highlighted the importance of collaboration across sectors to advance universal primary education, ensuring that no child is left behind—no matter their circumstances.