[[en]]Stories & News [[fr]]Histoires & Actualités[[es]]Historias & Noticias [[pt]]Histórias & Novidade [[nl]]Verhalen & Nieuws

In the ‘Project in the Spotlight’ article series, we take the time to highlight the work of one of our incredible partner organisations, since they are the local experts taking the mobile school to the streets. In this article, we present our oldest European Mobile School partner: Salvati Copiii Iasi. Below, you can find 7 things you have always wanted to know about our Romanian partner.

We bundled a number of achievements from Mobile School, StreetSmart and StreetwiZe of 2019 in a photo report. We couldn't have done all of this without you. So a big thank you for your support and confidence. In addition, we wish you a very nice summer!

[[en]]At Mobile School, we call our educational blackboard on wheels the hardware. The educational panels you can attach to it, is referred to as our software. Since last year, most of these non-formal educational games are available for free on our StreetSmart Play platform to broaden the impact of the materials. Together with our group of educational volunteers, Mobile School aims to constantly improve and revise our educational offer. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic showed to be the perfect timing to rework part of our panels dealing with health. [[nl]]Bij Mobile School zeggen we vaak dat onze kar op wielen de hardware is. Onze educatieve panelen die opgehangen worden aan de school, zijn dan logischerwijs onze software. Sinds vorig jaar zijn veel van deze non-formele educatieve spelen gratis terug te vinden op ons platform StreetSmart Play, om zo nog meer jeugdwerkers te bereiken. Samen met onze vrijwilligers, blijven we ook sterk inzetten op het continu reviseren van onze content. De afgelopen periode bleek dan ook het ideale moment om onze panelen over gezondheid onder handen te nemen. [[es]]En Mobile School llamamos nuestra pizarra educativa sobre ruedas el hardware, mientras que las láminas educativas que pueden fijarse en ella se conocen como nuestro software. Desde el año pasado la mayoría de estos juegos educativos no formales está disponible gratuitamente en nuestra plataforma StreetSmart Play con el fin de ampliar el impacto de los materiales. Junto con nuestro grupo de voluntarios educativos, en Mobile School pretendemos mejorar y revisar continuamente nuestra oferta educativa. La reciente pandemia de la COVID-19 resultó ser el momento perfecto para revisar parte de nuestras láminas dedicadas a la salud.

[[en]]After organising a first successful online Mobile School Exchange with partners from Europe, Asia and Africa, we organised a second international exchange, with our partners from Latin America and Spain. [[es]]Después de organizar un primer intercambio exitoso en línea Mobile School con socios de Europa, Asia y África, organizamos un segundo intercambio internacional con nuestros socios de América Latina y España.

[[en]]Worldwide an unprecedented 79,5 million people are forcibly displaced as a result of persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations. According to statistics published by the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR, about 40% of them - an estimated 30-34 million - are children. And while fewer and fewer people on the move are able to return home, the side-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are hitting hard on vulnerable communities across the globe. [[nl]]In 2019 waren er een recordaantal van 79,5 miljoen mensen gedwongen op de vlucht voor vervolging, conflict, geweld of schendingen van de mensenrechten. Volgens statistieken van de vluchtelingenorganisatie van de Verenigde Naties UNHCR zijn 40% van hen – een geschatte 30-34 miljoen – kinderen. Terwijl steeds minder en minder mensen op de vlucht zicht hebben op een snelle terugkeer naar huis, laten de gevolgen van de COVID-19 pandemie zich ongemeen hard voelen in kwetsbare gemeenschappen.

Each year, June 16 is celebrated as the Day of the African Child (DAC). Since 1991, the DAC has been celebrated to commemorate the students killed during the Soweto Uprising in South Africa, and to recognize the courage of these students who marched for their right to an education. In order to celebrate this special day – in very special circumstances - Mobile School organised an online exchange for African organisations working with street-connected youth across the continent.

In the ‘Project in the Spotlight’ article series, we take the time to highlight the work of one of our incredible partner organisations, since they are the local experts taking the mobile school to the streets. This time, we’re heading to East-Africa for a trip to the Kenyan capital Nairobi. There, the well-experienced team of Kenya Good Neighbors is using the mobile school to reach out to street-connected youth in one of Nairobi’s larger slum areas. Below, you can find 7 things you have always wanted to know about this Kenyan partner.

[[en]]Worldwide, street educators are on the frontline of the battle against COVID-19. Our Mobile School partners are tirelessly giving everything they have to ensure street-connected youngsters have access to basic needs and essential services. In order to support them, Mobile School organised an online global exchange to bring partners from different countries together to share challenges and best practices with colleagues on other continents. [[nl]]Wereldwijd staan straathoekwerkers van onze partners in de frontlinie in de strijd tegen het coronavirus. De mensen van deze organisaties geven dag in dag uit alles wat ze hebben om ervoor te zorgen dat jongeren in kwetsbare omstandigheden toegang blijven hebben tot de broodnodige ondersteuning. Om onze partners een hart onder de riem te steken, organiseerde Mobile School een online uitwisseling zodat straathoekwerkers ervaringen konden uitwisselen over hoe zij de strijd tegen het coronavirus aanpakken.

Momenteel werkt Mobile School aan nieuwe educatieve materialen om onze partners te ondersteunen bij de impact van het COVID-19 virus op straatkinderen. Met deze aankoop help je de ontwikkeling van de nieuwe educatieve preventiematerialen te financieren.

[[en]]From the Philippines to Peru, from Poland to Kenya … As the global coronavirus pandemic spreads rapidly across the world, countries are desperately trying to flatten the curve to prevent national health systems from collapsing. While the global economy is disrupted and protective measures like social distancing and staying at home are the new standard, the crisis hits extremely hard on the most vulnerable: children and young people living in street situations. [[fr]]From the Philippines to Peru, from Poland to Kenya … As the global coronavirus pandemic spreads rapidly across the world, countries are desperately trying to flatten the curve to prevent national health systems from collapsing. While the global economy is disrupted and protective measures like social distancing and staying at home are the new standard, the crisis hits extremely hard on the most vulnerable: children and young people living in street situations. [[es]]From the Philippines to Peru, from Poland to Kenya … As the global coronavirus pandemic spreads rapidly across the world, countries are desperately trying to flatten the curve to prevent national health systems from collapsing. While the global economy is disrupted and protective measures like social distancing and staying at home are the new standard, the crisis hits extremely hard on the most vulnerable: children and young people living in street situations. [[pt]]From the Philippines to Peru, from Poland to Kenya … As the global coronavirus pandemic spreads rapidly across the world, countries are desperately trying to flatten the curve to prevent national health systems from collapsing. While the global economy is disrupted and protective measures like social distancing and staying at home are the new standard, the crisis hits extremely hard on the most vulnerable: children and young people living in street situations. [[nl]]Van de Filipijnen tot Peru en van Polen tot Kenia … Overal ter wereld proberen overheden de verspreiding van het coronavirus in te dammen met nooit eerder geziene maatregelen om de overbelasting van de nationale zorgsystemen te voorkomen. Terwijl maatregelen als social distancing en lockdowns zo stilaan tot het nieuwe normaal verheven zijn, wordt het pijnlijk duidelijk dat deze crisis ook heel erg hard aankomt bij de meest kwetsbare groepen van de samenleving, waaronder de kinderen en jongeren op straat.

[[en]]On 12 April this year we will not only celebrate Easter, but also the International Day for Street Children. This is the 10th year that we have celebrated street children worldwide on this date. This time it is a very special edition. [[fr]]On 12 April this year we will not only celebrate Easter, but also the International Day for Street Children. This is the 10th year that we have celebrated street children worldwide on this date. This time it is a very special edition. [[es]]On 12 April this year we will not only celebrate Easter, but also the International Day for Street Children. This is the 10th year that we have celebrated street children worldwide on this date. This time it is a very special edition. [[pt]]On 12 April this year we will not only celebrate Easter, but also the International Day for Street Children. This is the 10th year that we have celebrated street children worldwide on this date. This time it is a very special edition. [[nl]]Op 12 april vieren we dit jaar niet alleen Pasen, maar ook de Internationale Dag van het Straatkind. Het is al de 10de keer dat we op deze dag straatkinderen wereldwijd willen vieren, maar deze keer is het wel een heel bijzonder editie.

[[en]]In this new Mobile School article series, we introduce our amazing local partner organisations, who organise mobile school sessions multiple times per week to boost the self-esteem of street-connected youngsters. Today, we’re presenting one of our Nicaraguan partner organisations: Asociación Niñas y Niños del Fortín. Here are 8 things you really need to know about this partner: [[fr]]In this new Mobile School article series, we introduce our amazing local partner organisations, who organise mobile school sessions multiple times per week to boost the self-esteem of street-connected youngsters. Today, we’re presenting one of our Nicaraguan partner organisations: Asociación Niñas y Niños del Fortín. Here are 8 things you really need to know about this partner: [[es]]En esta nueva serie de artículos de Mobile School, presentamos a nuestras increíbles organizaciones socias locales, que organizan salidas con la escuela móvil varias veces por semana para aumentar la autoestima de niños, niñas, adolescentes y jóvenes en situación de calle. Hoy presentamos una de nuestras organizaciones socias nicaragüenses: Asociación Niñas y Niños del Fortín. Aquí hay 8 cosas que realmente necesita saber sobre este socio: [[pt]]En esta nueva serie de artículos de Mobile School, presentamos a nuestras increíbles organizaciones socias locales, que organizan salidas con la escuela móvil varias veces por semana para aumentar la autoestima de niños, niñas, adolescentes y jóvenes en situación de calle. Hoy presentamos una de nuestras organizaciones socias nicaragüenses: Asociación Niñas y Niños del Fortín. Aquí hay 8 cosas que realmente necesita saber sobre este socio: [[nl]]In this new Mobile School article series, we introduce our amazing local partner organisations, who organise mobile school sessions multiple times per week to boost the self-esteem of street-connected youngsters. Today, we’re presenting one of our Nicaraguan partner organisations: Asociación Niñas y Niños del Fortín. Here are 8 things you really need to know about this partner:

In 2006, Mobile School set up its first Asian partnership in the Philippines with local organisation Virlanie Foundation. Almost 14 years later, this mobile school is still hitting the streets of Manila four times a week with the Mobile Unit team, with one major objective: boosting the self-esteem and discovering the talents of underpriviliged children in the capital of the Philippines.

In early February, a team of Mobile School trainers travelled to Sri Lanka to start up the first new mobile school of 2020. From now on, our partner Child Action Lanka will use the mobile school to reach out to vulnerable youngsters in communities in and around Kandy and Kelaniya. And guess what … the first street sessions immediately showed the potential of our box on wheels in the island nation.

[[en]]The entrepreneurs behind the hybrid social enterprise StreetwiZe • Mobile School recently started on a new adventure: StreetSmart. Last year, Google announced the Google.org Impact Challenge on Safety, a €10 million fund to support organizations that are creating practical, real-world solutions when it comes to hate, extremism, and child safety, both online and offline. Google.org decided to partner up and provide StreetSmart with €490.000 and coaching by Google’s IT experts. StreetSmart offers an integrated digital platform designed for outreach and youth workers worldwide to support them in their work with vulnerable children and youngsters. StreetSmart complements the vision of Mobile School and aims to tackle the problem of damaged self-esteem. [[fr]]The entrepreneurs behind the hybrid social enterprise StreetwiZe • Mobile School recently started on a new adventure: StreetSmart. Last year, Google announced the Google.org Impact Challenge on Safety, a €10 million fund to support organizations that are creating practical, real-world solutions when it comes to hate, extremism, and child safety, both online and offline. Google.org decided to partner up and provide StreetSmart with €490.000 and coaching by Google’s IT experts. StreetSmart offers an integrated digital platform designed for outreach and youth workers worldwide to support them in their work with vulnerable children and youngsters. StreetSmart complements the vision of Mobile School and aims to tackle the problem of damaged self-esteem. [[es]]The entrepreneurs behind the hybrid social enterprise StreetwiZe • Mobile School recently started on a new adventure: StreetSmart. Last year, Google announced the Google.org Impact Challenge on Safety, a €10 million fund to support organizations that are creating practical, real-world solutions when it comes to hate, extremism, and child safety, both online and offline. Google.org decided to partner up and provide StreetSmart with €490.000 and coaching by Google’s IT experts. StreetSmart offers an integrated digital platform designed for outreach and youth workers worldwide to support them in their work with vulnerable children and youngsters. StreetSmart complements the vision of Mobile School and aims to tackle the problem of damaged self-esteem. [[pt]]The entrepreneurs behind the hybrid social enterprise StreetwiZe • Mobile School recently started on a new adventure: StreetSmart. Last year, Google announced the Google.org Impact Challenge on Safety, a €10 million fund to support organizations that are creating practical, real-world solutions when it comes to hate, extremism, and child safety, both online and offline. Google.org decided to partner up and provide StreetSmart with €490.000 and coaching by Google’s IT experts. StreetSmart offers an integrated digital platform designed for outreach and youth workers worldwide to support them in their work with vulnerable children and youngsters. StreetSmart complements the vision of Mobile School and aims to tackle the problem of damaged self-esteem. [[nl]]De ondernemers achter de hybride sociale onderneming StreetwiZe • Mobile School zijn onlangs begonnen aan een nieuw avontuur: StreetSmart. Vorig jaar lanceerde Google de Google.org Impact Challenge rond veiligheid, een fonds van 10 miljoen euro om organisaties te ondersteunen die praktische en hands-on oplossingen bedenken wanneer het gaat over haat, extremisme en veiligheid van kinderen, online en offline. Google.org besloot een partnerschap aan te gaan en StreetSmart € 490.000 te bieden, plus coaching door de IT-experts van Google. StreetSmart biedt een geïntegreerd digitaal platform aan dat is ontworpen voor jeugdwerkers en straathoekwerkers wereldwijd om hen te ondersteunen in hun werk met kwetsbare kinderen en jongeren. StreetSmart is een aanvulling op de visie van Mobile School en heeft als doel het probleem van beschadigd zelfrespect aan te pakken.

In the ‘Partner in the Spotlight’ article series, we take the time to highlight the work of our partner organisations, since they are the local experts taking the mobile school to the streets. This time, we’re heading to India. The only mobile school in the country is in the very capable hands of the organisation Ek Tara. Below, you can find 8 things you have always wanted to know about our Indian street work partner.

A new year brings new mobile schools and new partner organisations! We are extremely excited to announce that a brand new mobile school will be launched in Sri Lanka two weeks from now. The ideal moment to learn a bit more about our new partner Child Action Lanka and the context of street-connected children in Sri Lanka.

"Will we see the mobile school in real life? If you don't have any subsidies, where does the money come from? How many internship positions do you have available? Are you really developing a mobile application? What are your volunteers actually doing for the organisation?"

In the summer of 2018, Mobile School launched the very first mobile school on the streets of the Malawian capital Lilongwe. Due to some organisational challenges, there is still a lot of growth potential for the social impact of this mobile school. Therefore, Mobile School organized a 10-day visit to Malawi to enlarge the network and to look for new partnership opportunities.

[[en]]Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. We wish you a lot of optimism in 2020! [[nl]]Niets kan gedaan worden zonder hoop of vertrouwen. We wensen jou dan ook bakken vol optimisme in 2020!

Thank you, People of Tomorrow! We feel privileged being a partner of the Tomorrowland Foundation. With your support, they help us to start up new mobile schools and reach more street children.

While the launch of every new mobile school is always a big celebration, some implementations are true milestones in the history of our organisation. In early November 2019, a team of Mobile School trainers started not only the very first mobile school in a French speaking country, but also the very first Mobile School in West-Africa in the Togolese capital Lomé.

In this new Mobile School article series, we would like to introduce our amazing local partner organisations that take out the mobile school multiple times per week to boost the self-esteem of street-connected youngsters. Today, we’re presenting our partner Ladies Union of Drama. Here are 9 things you really need to know about this Greek street work partner.

With recently implemented mobile schools in Togo, Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi, the African Mobile School network is growing rapidly, and this regional expansion might just continue in the near future. In early October, Master Trainer Sander Degeling visited two very interesting organisations that are motivated to bring the Mobile School methodology to the streets of the Pearl of Africa for the first time. Welcome to Uganda!

Flanders is warming up again for the Music For Life campaign of Studio Brussels. The Warmest Week has become an established campaign for many people in Belgium and will take place this year in Kortrijk from 18 to 24 December. This article is only available in Dutch.

The mobile school is often described as a magic box and the street educators as magicians, who make the magic happen on a daily basis. During a one-week prospective visit in the city of Mardin in south-eastern Turkey, Mobile School was able to meet a lot of potential new magicians. The organisation Her Yerde Sanat Derneği (Art Everywhere Association) offers social circus and musical programmes to vulnerable children in a region where it’s difficult to be a child.

He started up his first street work programme in 2010. Three years later, he became the driving force behind the mobile school project in Bytom and in 2015, he joined Mobile School’s pool of trainers. Since then, he has co-facilitated and given numerous trainings in Poland and even one in Lithuania. Meet Master Trainer Robert Cieślar!

“Street children are one of the world's most invisible populations. They are overlooked by governments, law and policymakers and many others in society. The Legal Atlas puts information about laws affecting street children directly into the hands of street children and their advocates. By gaining access to legal information, street children and homeless youth are put on the map so that every child can be treated fairly and with respect.” (Consortium for Street Children, 2019).

Heartbroken we have to bring you this unreal news. Yesterday July 19th our friend, colleague and volunteer coordinator Saskia Dieleman suddenly passed away.

Big news! We’re absolutely thrilled to announce the Tomorrowland Foundation has decided to collaborate with Mobile School in 2019. The foundation linked to one of world’s largest and most notable music festival supports projects boosting the self-esteem of children through creative expression.

2018 was a busy year! In this annual report, we are happy to highlight some of our realisations. Our business venture StreetwiZe sold services to 122 clients and made them all StreetwiZe companies. Our social venture Mobile School realised 24 field visits in 12 countries with over 100 training days and 38 days of street coaching impacting 190 street educators. Our volunteers were active, as usual, organising two big campaigns this year: the International Day for Street Children and #DuwMee. Finally, 2018 was also the year of the start-up of our Tech4Good venture, StreetSmart. Want to know more? Check out a selection of our projects in 2018 and see what we’ve been up to last year!

Several Mobile School partners across the globe are using their mobile schools to reach out to children and youngsters on the move. The partner organisation working with this target group closest to Belgium is Jugendamt Stadt Düsseldorf. We interviewed Martin Schlupkothen, the coordinator of the local mobile school project.

The past few weeks, Sri Lanka was all over the international news. The horrible terror attacks that struck the island nation on Easter Sunday left the entire world shocked and speechless. Despite schools being shut in the aftermath of the attack, Mobile School decided in close collaboration with our potential partner Child Action Lanka (CAL) to stick to our plan and to conduct a one-week exploration with the organization in Kelaniya, a suburb of the capital Colombo.

Every year we place four to five new mobile schools with local partners. Those mobile schools are produced by teachers and students of the Provincial Secondary School in Bilzen (PSSB). Sustainable materials are used to ensure the longest possible life and to survive the challenging situations on the street. Limeparts - Drooghmans has been sponsoring Mobile School for several years now by supplying the aluminum that is used to build the mobile schools. They also handle the processing of certain parts such as the chalk boards.

In this new Mobile School article series, we would like to briefly present our amazing local partner organisations that take out the mobile school multiple times per week to boost the self-esteem of street-connected youngsters. To start off this new series, we would like to introduce you to our partner... Yenege Tesfa.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the mobile school project in Thessaloniki. Happy birthday, ARSIS and PRAKSIS! For 8 years, our two local partners shared one mobile school to work with different target groups. In 2017, they applied for a second mobile school to increase their impact on the street by reaching out to more street-connected children and youngsters. In July of that same year the implementation training took place and in March 2019, a follow-up training was organised, to coach and reenergise the two local street work teams. What did ARSIS and PRAKSIS achieve after 10 years of working with a mobile school? Time for an interview with the local experts to find out.

The shoulders can’t always be tense, it’s necessary to let off steam now and again, take your foot off the pedal and that is why we have a great plan!

DHL Global Forwarding has been a partner and sponsor of Mobile School NPO for more than 15 years. Over the years they have shipped 95% of all mobile schools to the nearest international airport. A very good reason to let Linda Moens (Sales & Marketing Director in Belgium & Luxembourg), Erna Vanremoortel (Customer Relations Team Leader) and Sofie Nieuwling (Marketing & Communication Specialist) give some more information about this special collaboration.

From 25 February till 8 March, a team of Mobile School trainers would normally have been in Haiti for the implementation of a brand new mobile school. The 53rd mobile school arrived in the capital Port-au-Prince a few weeks ago, and the team members of Association Sportive de Truitier (AST)- supported by the Belgian organisation Benefiet Haïti- were eager to finally start up the work with their mobile school on the streets of Carrefour, one of the larger districts in the Haitian capital.

In 2014, she became an active Mobile School volunteer and one year later she became a member of staff, as the coordinator of our Latin American and European partner organisations. Meet Joke Verreth!

In 2008, he became a passionate Mobile School volunteer. Five years later, he took his first steps towards becoming an equally passionate Mobile School Master Trainer and has since co-facilitated and given numerous trainings with different partner organisations. Recently, he even implemented the 50th mobile school in Gliwice! Meet Master Trainer Koen Verrecht!

Nicaragua is in crisis. For three months, there have been massive protests of Nicaraguan citizens against the government, which have been violently repressed by that same government.

Mobile School trainers Toña Pineda & Jessika Martinez are starting up a new mobile school project in Cochabamba, Bolivia as we speak. That brings the tally to 4 active mobile schools in Bolivia. Is there a big need for mobile schools in Bolivia?

Nearly 30 people are forced to flee every minute as a result of conflict or persecution. The amount of forcibly displaced people worldwide is rising (68,5 million according to UNHCR, 2018). The distribution is still disproportionate. Turkey hosted 3,5 million refugees in 2017, Pakistan 1,4 million and Lebanon 1 million. More than 85% of the displaced people are hosted in developing countries. There is an increasing pressure on the facilities in neighbouring countries of conflict areas. Consequently, many people continue their journey and head to Europe, crossing the sea on a dangerous journey. Since the beginning of 2014, more than 1,8 million people arrived on the European continent by sea (UNHCR, 2018).

Tomorrow June 16th is the Day of the African Child. This day has been celebrated every year since 1991 when it was first initiated by the Organisation of African Unity. The objective of the day is to raise awareness on the continuing need for improvement of the education provided to African children. The theme of this year's celebration is ‘Leave No Child Behind for Africa’s Development’. The 2018 theme highlights the need to ensure that ‘NO CHILD IS LEFT BEHIND’ by specifically targeting those who are not benefitting from Africa’s growth and development, like street-connected children and youth. In order to highlight this day, we recently did an interview with Sesse Koffi Awunyo, founder of the organization AGOPODE (Agora pour les Populations Défavorisées). Currently, we’re looking into the opportunity to launch a mobile school in Togo. During the exploratory visit, Sesse took the time to sit down and to answer some questions about street-connected children, street work and a potential mobile school in Togo. YOUTUBE TIP: Click on CC (bottom right) in the video to have subtitles in English.

If you would’ve asked me what I know about Leuven three months ago, as a proud inhabitant of the Kempen, I would’ve answered: the university, the beautiful centre and, of course, Louis Tobback, whose appearance and political style always make me think of a Danish dog. StreetwiZe • Mobile School? Wait… Streetwhat?

March 2018, Cochabamba. While our three Bolivian partner organisations are creating their own games together, I’m getting to know my co-trainer better. For me, it’s very inspiring to spend time and give trainings with this multitalented, creative, spontaneous, hilarious, passionate, honest and strong woman. Since she is one of our Mobile School trainers, you all have the pleasure of getting to know her a bit better as well. Meet Toña Pineda!

Every day of the year, the street workers of our partner organisations take out the mobile school to unlock the potential of street-connected youngsters. In the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa, the street workers of Glad’s House hit the streets on a daily basis to build a relationship of trust with the high number of youngsters living and working on the streets. During our last trip to Kenya, we took the time to sit down with one of them. Janet Otieno is a street worker and the coordinator of Glad’s House mobile school project. She is very passionate about her job as a street worker in Kenya.

Our new partner GTW in Gliwice, Poland went out on the streets for the first time this week with the mobile school. In the 1980s, Gliwice was a rich city that reaped the benefits of the active mining industry. Since then it has gone downhill due to the decline of mining in Europe. Unemployment hit Gliwice extremely hard and the population decreased by almost 20%.

This year StreetwiZe • Mobile School celebrates the International Day for Street Children on the 12th of April for the eighth consecutive year. After successful chalk petitions, #nostreetkidding, Street Sleep and #Streetwork, this year we will once more put street children all over the world to where they belong: in the spotlights!

I’m convinced my music preferences could tell you the same story as this Meet the Trainer article itself. Therefore, to enjoy this article to the fullest, I’d like to suggest listening to this song, it’ll help getting to know me better.

Thursday 26 October 2017 will stand out in the history of Mobile School. After a long period of preparations and some theoretical and practical workshops, the very first mobile school session in India finally arrived. Thanks to partner organisation EkTara, from now on the mobile school will be taken to the streets multiple times per week in the East Indian city of Kolkata.

In 2008, Arnoud Raskin met Junieth Machado. It was the beginning of a close cooperation and friendship. The StreetwiZe Street Skills Model is partly based on Junieth’s inspiring story and she is still involved in Mobile School as a co-facilitator. Interested to learn more? In this interview, you can get to know her a bit better.

Since 2009 Rob Sweldens (34) is part of the StreetwiZe • Mobile School team. Since then, Rob implemented 13 mobile schools while being responsible for the coordination and follow-up of the international partnerships. Since 2014 he holds the position of manager for Mobile School. Time to give the word to Rob to talk about his motivation, his street work experience and the future of Mobile School.

September 1st: an exciting day for many parents and children. Off they go, back to school with their satchels and lunchboxes. For millions of children, however, September 1st is just a reminder of them not having access to a fundamental right: the right to education.

13 years ago, Bram Van de Putte knocked on the door of the Mobile School office for the very first time, looking for more outreach experience. He’s been actively involved in the organisation ever since, first as a volunteer and later as a Master Trainer. He already gave trainings in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, Bangladesh and Poland and he just got back from Greece. Time for an interview!

The number of forcibly displaced people is rising (around 63 million in 2015 according to UNHCR). Climate change and ongoing conflicts force people to leave their homes. Consequently, there is an increasing pressure on facilities in neighbouring countries. Many people continue their journey and head to Europe, crossing the sea on a dangerous trip. Since the beginning of 2014, more than 1.6 million people arrived by sea on the European continent (UNHCR, 2017). Unfortunately, at least 13,700 people never arrived: they were declared dead or went missing. Even after arrival, their situation remains uncertain. Over 10,000 children have disappeared off the radar, because they moved on to unknown destinations or became victims of exploitation and trafficking.Turkey and Lebanon alone host more than 4 million refugees in temporary camps. In contrast, Europe only receives 6% of the total amount of displaced people worldwide.

Sunday 26th of February, 7AM, Addis Ababa’s Bole Airport. The start of a three week Mobile School visit to Ethiopia, including a follow-up and an exchange with our three active Mobile School partners. For the occasion, Debebe Sugebo – social worker for Retrak, one of our Ethiopian partner organisations - will join us to co-facilitate the trainings in order to share his extensive experience of working with street-connected children in the southern part of the country.

StreetwiZe • Mobile School will celebrate the International Day for Street Children on April 12th for the seventh consecutive year. After successful chalk petitions, #nostreetkiddings and street sleeps, we are organising a #STREETWORK for the second time to draw the attention to street children worldwide. Our catchphrase is: “Do what you normally do, but come and do it on the streets.”

Meet Jessika Martinez, the embodiment of the Mobile School philosophy. A strong, passionate street educator who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. Jessika first saw the mobile school in 2003 and ever since then, she’s been an active member of the Mobile School community. She has a ton of experience as a street worker and now also co-facilitates trainings at other partner organisations.

For centuries, Greece counted as the centre of the Old World, bringing culture and language to different parts all around Europe, Africa and Asia. Due to its central position between the East and the West and the North and the South, Greece has had many advantages and opportunities but has also been facing many challenges. During the last 8 years Mobile School has been involved in many of these opportunities and challenges.

Vicky Ferguson, founder and CEO of our Kenyan partner organisation Glad's House wrote a wonderful article for the Enabling Education Network Review about how her organisation is using the mobile school to rebuild the self-esteem of street youngsters in Mombasa. "A highlight for me was watching a young man, aged 22, whom I have known for almost ten years, walk around the 12 metres of blackboard and engage in every single activity. Each time he completed an exercise, he would come to me and take me to the board to show me what he had achieved. It was a very special moment that cemented just what can be achieved with our Mobile School!"

After years of gaining experience with mobile schools in Latin America, it was crystal clear that the methodology was ready to broaden its geographic scope and to start empowering street-connected children on other continents as well. In 2005, the first African mobile school arrived in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi.

On the 20th of November of 1989, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children’s rights are key at Mobile School as well. On the streets, we are constantly confronted with situations in which the rights of the child are violated. The right to education, for example, is not accessible for everyone. That’s why we go to places all over the world where children have little or no access to education and open our school on wheels there.

Almost 34,000 people are forced to leave their homes on a daily basis, due to prosecution and conflicts. The total number of displaced people has reached 65.3 million (UNHCR,2016). Currently, more than 60,000 people are stuck in Greece, waiting on a new destination. Although an agreement was signed within the European Union to provide shelter for refugees coming from Greece, in practice nothing is happening. People have to week weeks if not months in dilapidated factories, in tents, old hotels, airports, military buildings,... and it does not look like this will improve any time soon. After months of waiting, people get discouraged and try to illegaly cross the border.

Mobile School has been awarded the European Citizen’s Prize 2016 by the European Parliament. The European Parliament honoured 50 people and organisations for their contribution to European cooperation and the promotion of common values. Mobile School, nominated by Ivo Belet (member of the European Parliament), is the only Belgian laureate this year. Thursday (September 8th) Ivo Belet (EVP – CD&V) presents the Prize to the Mobile School team in the buildings of their partner and sponsor DHL Global Forwarding, in attendance of Luc Jacobs (CEO DHL Global Forwarding) and Arnoud Raskin. DHL Global Forwarding hosts the event to celebrate their 40th shipment of mobile schools.

In a few days, our Mobile School facilitators are heading to Mexico to give a training to our two partner organisations there.

In 2005 the Kenyan capital Nairobi acted as the first African destination for the mobile school. Eleven years and a handful of African mobile schools later, the Mobile School network is expanding with a second school on Kenyan soil. In the port city of Mombasa on the Indian Ocean our brand new partner Glad’s House will start working with the mobile school in July.

Despite the fact that there are mobile schools rolling around in 24 countries, there is no mobile school activity in India yet. But this might change rather quickly.

In 2012 two Mobile Schools were shipped to Ethiopia to strengthen the outreach activities of two local partner organisations. In the capital Addis Ababa Retrak started pulling the mobile school towards the many street-connected children in the city. Further up north in Gondar Yenege Tesfa started to use the mobile school with strong motivation during their interventions with the children on and of the streets.

Earlier this month, two of our Mobile School trainers went to Poland. They visited our three partner organisations there to give several refresher trainings and to organise an exchange.

Millions of people are on the move worldwide, because of war, terrorist attacks or changing climates. The refugee crisis is all over the news every day and people are looking for answers.

The Mobile School facilitators have just set foot in Greece. For one month, we will visit several (possible) partner organisations there to give training to the local teams of street workers and to accompany them on the streets.