Promoting inclusion through sport for street children in Pointe-Noire

The number of street children in the Republic of Congo is increasing. Homeless, without family for support and stigmatised by others, they are socially excluded and do not have access to basic health and social services. The health, economic and social crisis caused by the global pandemic has had a very significant impact on street children. It has reinforced their situation of extreme vulnerability and made it even harder for them to survive on the streets, as they face more stigmatisation and more violence and it is more difficult to access care. The structures that support street children have also been strongly affected by the health crisis.

Created in 2006 with the support of Samusocial International, Samusocial Pointe-Noire assists street children, offering them holistic care. It has developed various services, including mobile teams who carry out street rounds, an emergency shelter and a day-care centre. Samusocial Pointe-Noire also works with partners to build and strengthen a continuum of care, including assistance for street children and young people in their plans to leave the street.

The overall objective is to contribute to the social inclusion of street children in Pointe-Noire.

The specific objectives are to ensure street children’s access to medical and psychosocial care and to promote their re-socialisation through the practice of sport.

Project activities

• Carrying out street rounds to provide medical and psychosocial care to street children.
• Providing accommodation for street children and supporting them in their plans to leave the streets.
• Creating a football field at Samusocial Pointe-Noire’s shelter.
• Organising monthly training sessions and annual competitions for street football and Nzango, a popular local sport.
• Training sports facilitators.
• Raising awareness of the problems that street children face.
• Participating in a consultation taking place between NGOs and public bodies for the promotion of street children’s rights.

Expected results

• 600 street children per year have access to medical and social assistance, through 300 street rounds.
• 200 street children per year are accommodated at the shelter.
• 60 street children per year are supported in leaving the streets.
• 1 football field is created.
• 60 street children, including 20 girls, participate in sports activities.
• 12 street football and Nzango training sessions are carried out per month.
• 2 street football and Nzango sports competitions are held.
• 8 sports facilitators are trained.
• 400 people and 15 professionals are made more aware of the problems that street children face.

Partner