The past month has been full of momentum at Street Child. In Sierra Leone we’re launching a one-off October edition of the Sierra Leone Marathon—giving runners a fresh route and a new way to experience their fundraising impact. Meanwhile, in Burundi, we’re scaling up support for refugees fleeing the DRC crisis. In the UK, we marked International Women’s Day with a powerful event in London and took our message to Parliament, calling for greater investment in global education. This call is more urgent than ever, especially as the UK Government’s recent aid cuts could impact 2.2 million children’s access to education. 

In Eastern DRC, escalating conflict is forcing thousands of families to make unimaginable choices—including crossing crocodile-infested waters to reach safety. Over 65,000 refugees, more than half of them children, have arrived in Burundi, many traumatised and in desperate need of care, including unaccompanied minors and survivors of gender-based violence. You can read about the journey thousands are being forced to make in this article: 'Thousands risk crocodile-infested river to escape Rwanda’s savage M23 militia', click here.

Street Child is on the ground delivering life-saving support to the most vulnerable. We are ensuring children under five and breastfeeding mothers receive vital nutrition, providing daily bread and porridge to 300 children at risk of malnutrition. We are also establishing safe, child-friendly spaces where children can play, learn, and heal, while offering essential mental health support to both children and caregivers navigating the trauma of displacement.

This is a forgotten crisis, critically underfunded and largely unreported. While global attention and donor support are shrinking, the needs on the ground continue to grow. If you're able, please consider donating to our emergency response:

Get ready for an exciting new chapter in the Sierra Leone Marathon’s journey! This year, we’re offering not just one, but TWO chances to take part in this incredible event. Join us for the iconic Sierra Leone Marathon in April, or experience something new with this one-off opportunity to take part in Run Bo: A Street Child Sierra Leone Marathon during half-term this October 22-27, 2025 (an equally iconic race in a new part of the country). 

For those who have joined us in the past, the Sierra Leone Marathon in Bo is the perfect opportunity to explore a new part of Sierra Leone while running a fresh route and experiencing the race from a whole new perspective. It’s an exclusive event with limited spaces, giving you the chance to see the impact your fundraising for Street Child has made in this region and immerse yourself in the spirit of the local community.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, on 10th March we were honoured to bring together an incredible group of women from Street Child's work overseas and our donor base, for a special breakfast at The Gherkin in London. It was incredible to hear insights and see the collective commitment in the room to empowering women and girls, a key focus of our work at Street Child. Through the various discussions on how best to achieve gender equality, one thing became clear: investing in education is vital. 

A huge thank you to Tech Mahindra for sponsoring the event and to our brilliant speakers who brought their expertise and experiences to the conversation. At Street Child, we believe every child - especially girls - deserves the chance to learn, thrive, and shape their own future. That's why, later that same day, we took a similar message to Parliament!

Street Child joined campaigners calling on the UK Government to protect and prioritise education in its international development budget. Street Child Ambassador, Ade Adepitan, and our Country Director for Nigeria, Jummai Musa, spoke powerfully about the impact of education and why investment in children’s futures cannot wait. They were joined by key voices from the development sector and government, all reinforcing the urgent need for action.

The event, organised by the Send My Friend to School Coalition, brought together policymakers, advocates, and students from schools across the UK, united in their call for a stronger commitment to education. We are proud to be part of the Send My Friend to School (SMF) Coalition, alongside other education actors like Save the Children and Oxfam, as we continue working to ensure as many children as possible are safe, in school, and learning.

Just over a month ago, the UK Government announced a significant cut to its foreign aid budget, reducing funding for development and humanitarian needs from 0.5% to 0.3% of GNI by 2027. The impact is already becoming clear: new analysis warns that these cuts could force 2.2 million children out of school and learning globally.