Toybox

BBC Radio 4 appeal transcript

20 years ago, the plight of the Latin American street children came to the world’s attention when
stories emerged from Guatemala of police shooting children dead. 
 
As a response to this, Toybox started its work. And last year I went with them to see for myself. 
There are many reasons that a child heads for the streets – but crushing poverty and
violence are at the heart of the problem. 
 
Samuel’s parents divorced when he was 4 years old and he went to live with his alcoholic father.
Drunk one day, his father sold him to a neighbour for 100 Quetzales, about £8. 
 
For four years, Samuel suffered horrendous abuse. He was beaten and sexually assaulted.
When he was 8 years old he was he brave enough to run away. He ran to the streets,
sold sweets to buy bread. He joined the many other street children, sleeping on park benches,
in doorways and under bridges. He showed great courage just to stay alive and the big city
swallowed him up. 
 
Then, last year, Samuel was found by a Toybox-funded street team. Above everything, he wanted
to find his mum. He hadn’t seen her since he was 4 years old, so he couldn’t remember what she
looked like. But the Toybox street team tracked down his mum who had searched for Samuel for
a long time. Samuel clung to his mother with many tears. She hugged him back. 
 
Simple practical and emotional support from Toybox is helping mother and son learn to live
together as a family. It’s a long journey for Samuel but there is hope. He’s learning how to love
others and be a child again.

Toybox is working with children like Samuel across the poorest cities of Latin America. Last year I
saw their work and met with local heroes who are changing the world for these children in their
own communities. It costs Toybox £56 a day to support a street team across the whole of
Samuel’s city. And what a difference that makes. Every day the teams are meeting with children
on the streets. Not just helping them off the streets, but turning each life around.

£56 could change the life of a child. 
 
You can give now via the Radio 4 website, where you can see a video of me in Peru, or by calling
0800 404 8144. That’s 0800 404 8144. 
 
Or write a cheque to Toybox and send it to ‘Freepost, BBC Radio 4 Appeal’.
That’s Freepost, BBC Radio 4 Appeal. 
Please mark the back of your envelope Toybox. 
 
Thank you.