Street Action - Committed to street children through action and partnership

The University of San Franciso’s (USF) motto is ‘educating minds and hearts to change the world’. The USF Umthombo Club reflects this ideal and has just been awarded the ‘Student Club of the Year’ award. Street Action is proud to work in partnership with the USF Umthombo Club, which played a significant part in the recent launch and development of Street Action USA.

In May 2008, 14 USF students traveled to South Africa to visit our partner Umthombo Street Children in Durban. They came back with determination and dedication to give back to the street children they got to know. Straight away they put passion into action and re-established the Umthombo club on campus. The mission was to raise awareness and money for the street children of South Africa.

Over this past year the USF Umthombo Club held a big fundraiser selling holiday cards with pictures that had been taken of the street children, which raised over $600. That money was sent directly back to Durban, and paid for the astroturf for the children in their Safe Space center. This semester, the USF Umthombo club put together the first ever Street Children Awareness Week, which consisted of guest speakers, a panel, two movie nights, and information tables. The club was instrumental in organizing the launch of Street Action USA and raised over $1000 from that event alone. USF Umthombo Club has built a high profile on campus and is recognized by both students and faculty staff. They are unique in that they are co-founding members of Street Action USA, and as a result, constantly looking beyond the campus, to creating social justice in the greater community.

Street Action would like to congratulate the students and everyone who has been involved in the club for this award and for the work they have done over the past year. Not only have they put the issue of street children back in the minds and hearts of those at USF, but their partnership with Street Action means that together we can continue to raise awareness, build support and ensure that street children are no longer a marginalized and forgotten group.