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Reintegration of Homeless children and vulnerable girls to into their families and communities

Project Overview

Launched in June 2024, this three-year initiative brings together Jovenes y Desarrollo (lead and grant manager), the Salesians of Don Bosco (working to reintegrate street boys), the Mary Help of Christians Pre-province / FMA (young single mothers), and N4ED as a technical partner. Working hand-in-hand, we support homeless children, vulnerable girls, and young mothers in Addis Ababa to heal, learn, and re-enter society through long-term education and family-centred care.

Objectives

  • Reduce youth homelessness by supporting boys and girls to return to safe, nurturing families and quality education—while preparing them to lead stable, dignified lives after reintegration.
  • Strengthen life skills, health, nutrition, and gender equality awareness among young boys, young women, and caregivers.
  • Lay the foundation for future income-generating activities for both boys and girls, equipping them for independence.
  • Build the capacity of reintegration centres, staff, and families to sustain effective child protection and empowerment systems.

Target Beneficiaries
Homeless boys at the Salesians of Don Bosco centre, vulnerable girls and young mothers at FMA facilities, their caregivers, centre staff, and families—plus the wider community, which benefits from stronger child-protection networks.

Approach

Led by partners, N4ED provides specialized interventions in:

  • Health and nutrition – tailored workshops for resident boys and young women; focus-group follow-ups with parents
  • Gender equality and GBV prevention – discussion sessions for male residents; life-skills and leadership training for girls and caregivers
  • Financial literacy and savings – classroom sessions, creation of savings groups, and business-planning support for young mothers
  • Staff capacity building – packages in child protection, adolescent health, addiction management, psychology, safeguarding, life skills, gender equality, GBV, leadership, behaviour change communication (BCC), and management for all centre staff
  • Day-care improvement – support to FMA in upgrading routines, materials, and nanny competencies
  • Family engagement – parental-competence workshops and income-generation coaching to secure a stable home environment

Expected Outcomes

  • Boys and girls safely reintegrated and progressing in school or vocational tracks
  • Improved physical and emotional well-being through better nutrition, health care, and psychosocial support
  • Young mothers equipped with savings habits, financial skills, and peer support networks
  • Centre staff and parents confident in child protection, GBV prevention, positive parenting, and supportive relationships with youth
  • A partner-driven, community-anchored model for youth reintegration scaled across Addis Ababa

Timeline
June 2024 – June 2027

Call to Action
Support our mission to uplift and reintegrate homeless youth—by volunteering your specialized skills through our training programs, partnering to strengthen the juvenile center near Lideta, or helping us reach wider audiences by sharing our work with others who believe in empowering young people.

Donor
European Union (EU)

Targeted Area
Salesians of Don Bosco and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians centres, Addis Ababa