Reuniting children with their families

Toybox believes that the best place for a street child is their family. Wherever possible, we seek to reunite children with their parents or other relatives. The family unit is one of security and love, and so, providing the situation is suitable, reintegration is always our main goal.

A difficult road

In some cases, especially when violence and abuse are reported, it is not safe for the child to return home. In these cases, Toybox offers alternative care and shelter. In all situations, the welfare and stability of the child is prioritised. When it does work, we have seen many wonderful moments of joy as families have been reunited, and have heard some amazing stories of reintegration when all hope of being reunited had gone.

Supporting families

Many of the children we work with in Latin America have families who are in great need of support.  The teams run ‘School for the Family’ workshops about the importance of relationships, community and good parenting.  These workshops are vital to ensure that parents are relating to their children in the best way possible. 

The workshops are also helping the children learn how to behave towards others.  By helping parents to treat their children with love and respect, children will reflect that behaviour when they become parents themselves. Future generations will benefit from these parenting skills, and fewer children should end up on the streets as a result.

Go back to: What We Do

Danielito is a little boy of 9 years old with a shy smile and an intense way of speaking. His parents separated a few years ago, dividing his family. His two older brothers stayed with their father in the town of Oruro, while he went with his mother and sisters to La Paz.

Little by little, Danielito spent less and less time with his family, due to his mother’s work as a sales woman in the endless streets of La Paz. “In the city, I didn’t even know where we lived, because it was so big. My Mum left to work early in the morning with my smallest sister and I didn’t see her all day.”

Because he was on his own so much, he became quiet and withdrawn. He forgot how to play and enjoy his childhood. At the beginning of the year, Danielito returned to Oruro because his mother could no longer take care of him. So, he went back to his father and older brothers.

Here he began to attend the project ‘Soy la Nina de tus Ojos’ – ‘I am the apple of your eye’ which is part of the Toybox network in Oruro. At the project, he found the love, acceptance and support that he needed so much. He is receiving educational, spiritual, and recreational support, as well as food and care. His father is also receiving training at the parents’ school organized by the project.

Danielito is a little shy when he expresses his opinion, but when he warms up he becomes more confident and speaks without fear. He gives a small smile, saying:
“I like coming to the project and being able to share with the others here. I’m going to keep attending because I know people are good here; and there are children to play with and grow with…”