Since 1993, UNESCO’s activities in Member States for street children have consisted in financing the educational needs of children in rehabilitation and education projects set up by non-governmental organizations in the field.

These organizations, committed to helping street children, are doing essential and remarkable work. But, faced with the ever-increasing phenomenon of social exclusion and the exploitation of children all over the world, there is no doubt that without the political will of governements, this problem cannot be resolved since it is an integral part of the fabric of society. The radical cure to the problem of social exclusion of children therefore lies with the State.

For this reason, since 1995, UNESCO is trying to encourage the political will of its Member States into making an active commitment, through education, in the fight against the social exclusion of children and youth. Hence, the launching of pilot projects capable of creating synergy between individual efforts and political will.

The objectives of these projects are, on the one hand, to take into account as many basic - educational and vital - needs of children as possible, and on the other, promote national partnerships through local working groups in which the government holds the highest responsibility. This alliance takes form within a national work group acting under the responsibility of a government institution, namely the National Commission for UNESCO or a municipal or regional authority. To date, pilot projects have been launched in Namibia, Mali, Brazil, Romania, Russia and Guinea.

Preparation and launching of a
pilot project: the different stages