Restoring Hope. Creating Pathways. Transforming Futures.
Helping Children Move Towards Safety, Education, Stability and Opportunity.
Every child deserves a safe place to grow, an opportunity to learn and the support needed to build a meaningful future.
Yet, across Nigeria, some children face circumstances that place these fundamental opportunities beyond their reach. Poverty, family instability, interrupted education, displacement, neglect, exploitation and unsafe living conditions can expose children to significant challenges at an age when they should be protected, supported and encouraged to develop.
A child should never be defined by the circumstances they were born into or the difficulties they experience.
At ChangePoint Advancement Initiative for Development (C-PAID), we believe that children facing disadvantage deserve more than sympathy. They deserve dignity, protection, practical support and genuine opportunities to move forward.
STREET TO FUTURE is C-PAID’s flagship initiative for disadvantaged and vulnerable children, designed to strengthen access to protection, education, essential support and pathways towards long-term social inclusion.
Through community engagement, educational support, partnerships with qualified child protection providers, family strengthening and age-appropriate development opportunities, the programme seeks to help children overcome barriers that threaten their wellbeing and future prospects.
Our approach places each child’s safety, dignity, rights and individual circumstances at the centre of every intervention.
We believe that a child’s present circumstances should never determine the limits of their future.
We do not believe disadvantaged children lack potential. We believe they deserve better access to the protection, opportunities and support that allow their potential to develop.
Childhood should be a period of learning, growth, protection and discovery. Unfortunately, not every child experiences these essential foundations.
Some children live or work on the streets. Others are unable to attend school because of financial pressures, displacement, family disruption, disability, social exclusion or other difficult circumstances.
Some experience neglect, violence or exploitation. Others live in families facing challenges that make it difficult to provide consistent care, stability and educational support.
These circumstances are rarely the result of one isolated problem. A child may be out of school because a household cannot afford associated educational costs. A child working on the street may also face health and safety risks. A child separated from family may require protection, psychosocial support and appropriate care arrangements before educational participation can be meaningfully restored.
For these children, occasional charitable assistance may provide temporary relief, but lasting progress often requires coordinated and sustained support.
STREET TO FUTURE recognises that children’s needs are interconnected.
Education cannot be considered independently of safety. Reintegration must take account of family circumstances. Skills development must be appropriate to a child’s age and legal rights. Support must be designed around the child’s best interests rather than assumptions about what a child needs.
Our programme seeks to respond to these challenges through practical, rights-based and community-supported interventions.
These findings demonstrate why disadvantaged children may require coordinated interventions addressing several barriers simultaneously, rather than education support or charitable assistance alone. They are national contextual data, not STREET TO FUTURE beneficiary statistics or achieved programme outcomes.
Source: UNICEF Nigeria, The Nigerian Child 2025 report, launched 20 November 2025
We envision a society where disadvantaged and vulnerable children are protected from harm, supported in their development and able to access the education, care and opportunities they need to build secure and fulfilling futures.
To advance the protection, education and social inclusion of disadvantaged children through child-centred interventions, family and community support, qualified service partnerships and sustainable pathways towards learning, wellbeing and opportunity.
STREET TO FUTURE is designed around five strategic priorities.
Support access to appropriate child protection services and safer environments through recognised professionals, responsible referrals and effective community partnerships.
Strengthen opportunities for disadvantaged and out-of-school children to enter, return to or remain engaged in suitable formal or non-formal learning pathways.
Support appropriate family engagement, caregiver capacity and safe reintegration where assessments establish that such arrangements are in the child’s best interests.
Help children access appropriate information, psychosocial support, mentoring, health-related referrals and positive developmental opportunities.
Support age-appropriate life skills, educational progression and future readiness, with particular attention to adolescents approaching adulthood.
The circumstances of disadvantaged children differ. Some require educational support, others need specialist protection services, while some require coordinated assistance addressing several challenges at once.
STREET TO FUTURE is therefore designed around six complementary pathways.
Safety First. Dignity Always.
See the pathway ↓Reopening Doors to Education.
See the pathway ↓Strengthening Families. Rebuilding Support.
See the pathway ↓Supporting Recovery. Nurturing Resilience.
See the pathway ↓Skills for Life. Pathways to Possibility.
See the pathway ↓Stronger Communities. Safer Childhoods.
See the pathway ↓Safety First. Dignity Always.
Child Protection, Safeguarding and Access to Appropriate Support
A child’s safety is the foundation upon which all other forms of development depend.
STREET TO FUTURE SAFE focuses on strengthening access to appropriate protection services for children experiencing or facing heightened risks of abuse, neglect, exploitation, violence, separation or unsafe living conditions.
Recognising that child protection is a specialist responsibility, C-PAID will seek to work with competent government authorities, qualified social workers and recognised child protection organisations.
C-PAID will not undertake independent child rescue operations, removal from parental care or custodial placement outside applicable legal and professional processes.
Children experiencing protection risks are better connected to competent services, appropriate support and safer care arrangements.
Reopening Doors to Education.
Educational Access, Reintegration and Learning Recovery
Education creates opportunities for children to develop knowledge, confidence and the capabilities needed to participate meaningfully in society.
For disadvantaged children, access to education may be interrupted by poverty, displacement, unsafe environments, family responsibilities or other circumstances.
STREET TO FUTURE LEARN seeks to reduce barriers to educational participation and support children in accessing appropriate learning pathways.
Where children require alternatives to immediate mainstream school placement, educational decisions will be guided by their age, learning needs, circumstances and available recognised programmes.
Disadvantaged and out-of-school children gain improved access to appropriate education and stronger prospects for sustained learning participation.
Strengthening Families. Rebuilding Support.
Family Strengthening, Safe Reintegration and Community Care
Family and community relationships can be important sources of protection, belonging and stability.
However, family reunification is not appropriate in every case. Where a child has experienced abuse, neglect or other serious risks, returning the child to a particular environment without proper assessment may cause further harm.
STREET TO FUTURE HOME seeks to support family strengthening and appropriate reintegration through child-centred processes led or supervised by competent child welfare professionals.
The programme will not treat family reunification as an automatic outcome. Children’s safety, views, rights and best interests must guide decisions.
Children and families are better connected to appropriate support systems, with safe and sustainable care arrangements prioritised.
Supporting Recovery. Nurturing Resilience.
Health, Emotional Wellbeing and Psychosocial Support
Children exposed to significant disadvantage may experience unmet health needs, emotional distress, disrupted learning or other challenges affecting their wellbeing.
STREET TO FUTURE WELL seeks to strengthen access to appropriate health information, positive developmental activities and professional support services.
The pathway recognises that children who have experienced trauma or serious adversity may require specialist assistance that cannot be provided through ordinary mentoring or recreational activities alone.
Individual medical or mental health assessments and treatment will be undertaken only by appropriately qualified professionals.
Children have stronger connections to appropriate health and wellbeing support and increased opportunities for positive development.
Skills for Life. Pathways to Possibility.
Life Skills, Educational Transitions and Age-Appropriate Future Readiness
As children grow older, they require opportunities to prepare for continued education, greater independence and responsible participation in society.
For adolescents who have experienced significant disadvantage, these transitions may involve additional challenges arising from interrupted schooling, limited support networks or restricted access to information.
STREET TO FUTURE READY focuses on practical life skills, mentoring and appropriate progression opportunities for older children and vulnerable youth.
Any vocational or work-related activity involving minors will comply with applicable child labour protections, compulsory education requirements and other relevant legal safeguards.
Older participants develop stronger life skills, clearer educational or vocational pathways and improved readiness for age-appropriate future opportunities.
Stronger Communities. Safer Childhoods.
Community Awareness, Prevention and Local Child Protection Networks
Children’s wellbeing is influenced by the environments in which they live.
Families, schools, community organisations, faith institutions, local authorities and service providers can all contribute to stronger systems of protection and support.
STREET TO FUTURE COMMUNITY focuses on awareness, prevention and collaboration designed to reduce the risks of child exclusion and strengthen appropriate community responses.
Community actors will not be encouraged to investigate abuse allegations or conduct informal rescue or placement activities. Such matters must follow competent safeguarding and statutory procedures.
Communities develop greater awareness of child protection responsibilities and stronger connections to appropriate support services.
STREET TO FUTURE will seek to translate its objectives into structured projects designed around identified community needs.
A focused education access intervention supporting eligible out-of-school children with assessments, enrolment assistance, learning materials, appropriate referrals and school participation follow-up.
A protection-focused partnership initiative supporting identification of risks, competent referrals and coordinated assistance for vulnerable children.
Community-based caregiver education, family support linkages and appropriate referrals intended to strengthen children’s care environments.
Age-appropriate educational enrichment, foundational learning, mentoring and life skills activities for eligible children.
An intervention supporting older adolescents with educational transitions, digital literacy, career awareness and suitable progression opportunities.
A collaborative platform strengthening awareness, reporting pathways and coordination among qualified service providers and local stakeholders.
Individual activities will be implemented only when appropriate partner capacity, safeguarding arrangements and funding are available.
STREET TO FUTURE is specifically intended for disadvantaged and vulnerable children who face significant barriers to protection, education, wellbeing or social inclusion.
The programme will generally focus on children under 18. Any extension to older youth will be established through a separately defined transition component with appropriate eligibility and safeguarding arrangements.
Beneficiary selection will be guided by transparent criteria, appropriate professional assessment and the child’s best interests.
Children will not be required to disclose traumatic experiences publicly or participate in fundraising publicity as a condition of receiving assistance.
Depending on assessed needs and programme resources, eligible groups may include:
STREET TO FUTURE adopts a child-centred, rights-based and partnership-driven approach.
We seek to work with qualified partners and community stakeholders to identify needs, available services and the barriers affecting children’s safety, learning and wellbeing.
Where individual protection concerns arise, appropriately trained personnel will follow established safeguarding and referral procedures. Immediate safety concerns take precedence over other activities.
Children will be connected to appropriate educational, social welfare, healthcare or other services according to their assessed needs and the programme’s defined responsibilities.
Where appropriate, activities will engage caregivers, educational institutions and community services to improve continuity of care and learning opportunities.
We intend to work with competent partners to monitor referrals, educational engagement, programme outcomes and relevant continuing support needs, while observing confidentiality and data protection requirements.
Working with children experiencing vulnerability requires exceptional care, professional competence and accountability.
C-PAID recognises that good intentions are not a substitute for qualified child protection practice. STREET TO FUTURE will therefore be designed around safeguarding principles that protect children from additional harm and ensure that their rights, privacy, dignity and best interests are respected.
Our intended safeguarding framework will include:
Documented responsibilities, conduct standards, reporting procedures and preventive safeguards for employees, volunteers, contractors and implementing partners.
Individual protection assessments and specialist case management undertaken only by competent and appropriately authorised professionals.
Age-appropriate communication, informed participation, suitable parental or guardian arrangements and careful consideration of the circumstances of children lacking safe parental care.
Strict controls governing sensitive personal information, case records, photographs and disclosure of children’s circumstances.
Clear measures against physical, emotional and sexual abuse, exploitation, harassment, coercion and inappropriate use of children in promotional activities.
Family tracing, reunification or alternative care arrangements undertaken only through appropriate statutory and professional processes, based on individual assessments.
Child-accessible feedback procedures, safeguarding focal persons and confidential reporting mechanisms.
Assessment of specialist competence, statutory authority, safeguarding systems and accountability arrangements before entering into child protection partnerships.
The programme’s implementation structure will be designed in accordance with applicable Nigerian laws, recognised child protection standards and the safeguarding requirements of relevant institutional partners.
Education is central to the long-term objectives of STREET TO FUTURE.
For children whose learning has been interrupted, returning to education may require more than identifying an available school.
Some children may need foundational learning support. Others may require assistance with documentation, school materials, safe transportation, family circumstances or adaptation to a suitable learning environment.
STREET TO FUTURE seeks to address these barriers through collaborative and child-sensitive approaches. Our proposed education interventions will prioritise recognised learning opportunities, appropriate progression, inclusive participation and continuing engagement.
We will also seek opportunities to support children through literacy, numeracy, mentoring and appropriate developmental activities that strengthen confidence in learning.
For children approaching adulthood, educational progression and suitable life skills pathways will be considered in accordance with their individual needs, interests and legal protections.
STREET TO FUTURE seeks to contribute to measurable improvements in the circumstances of participating children.
Children facing identified risks are connected to appropriate child protection and support services.
Eligible children gain access to suitable learning opportunities, with improved enrolment, re-enrolment or continued attendance where measurable.
Children and caregivers are connected to suitable services and support systems that strengthen safe care environments.
Participants gain access to positive developmental activities and appropriate health or psychosocial services where needed.
Children have greater opportunities to participate in education, community activities and supportive social environments.
Older participants develop age-appropriate skills, educational plans and awareness of suitable future pathways.
Community stakeholders demonstrate stronger knowledge of protection responsibilities and available referral services.
We recognise that complex child protection outcomes cannot be adequately measured through activity counts alone. Programme monitoring will therefore distinguish referrals made, services actually accessed and improvements verified through competent follow-up arrangements.
For children facing significant disadvantage, meaningful progress often requires continuity.
A child who returns to school may still need support to remain there. A family receiving assistance may require continued access to appropriate social services. A vulnerable adolescent may need guidance in navigating educational transitions.
STREET TO FUTURE will therefore seek to develop interventions that connect children with sustainable structures rather than creating indefinite dependence on short-term projects.
Our sustainability approach includes:
Collaborating with schools, social welfare authorities, healthcare providers and established community organisations.
Supporting appropriate caregiver knowledge and links to services that can strengthen care environments.
Working towards sustained learning participation rather than enrolment alone.
Supporting suitable community organisations and institutions in prevention, awareness and appropriate referral responsibilities.
Integrating realistic monitoring and follow-up periods into project planning, particularly for education and reintegration interventions.
Exploring partnerships that support coordinated activities over meaningful implementation periods.
Using programme findings, participant feedback and partner assessments to refine approaches and promote responsible replication.
STREET TO FUTURE is relevant to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Addressing selected effects of poverty on children’s access to education and support, alongside appropriate social protection partnerships.
Strengthening connections to relevant healthcare, wellbeing and specialist support services.
Supporting access to appropriate formal and non-formal education and learning opportunities.
Promoting child protection against exploitative labour and appropriate future skills development.
Supporting children facing socioeconomic exclusion and barriers to essential opportunities.
Strengthening child protection awareness, access to appropriate services and safeguards against abuse and exploitation.
Encouraging coordinated action among development partners, public institutions, professionals and community organisations.
Children facing significant disadvantage need more than temporary assistance. They need coordinated and appropriate support, safe learning opportunities and systems that can respond to the challenges affecting their lives.
STREET TO FUTURE offers an opportunity for development partners, foundations, corporate organisations, educational institutions and qualified service providers to contribute to child protection, education and inclusion in Nigeria.
Our partnership approach recognises that specialist competence, institutional coordination and responsible programme design are essential to achieving meaningful outcomes.
Collaborate with C-PAID on appropriate referral arrangements, specialist support and coordination with competent child protection authorities.
Sponsor school reintegration activities, learning resources, educational assessments, remedial learning and structured follow-up.
Support caregiver education, community engagement and appropriate connections to social welfare and family support services.
Provide qualified expertise, approved service partnerships and appropriate referral support for children’s physical and emotional wellbeing.
Support age-appropriate educational progression, digital literacy, mentoring and suitable skills pathways for older adolescents.
Contribute to ethical needs assessments, child-centred programme design, learning outcome measurement and appropriate impact evaluation.
Support specific interventions or integrated projects through costed funding agreements, agreed outcome frameworks and transparent reporting arrangements.
STREET TO FUTURE offers a focused child protection and social inclusion mandate, recognising that disadvantaged children’s needs are complex and frequently interconnected.
The programme is designed to combine educational opportunities with appropriate safeguards, specialist partnerships and support systems.
Its interventions can be tailored to specific communities and needs, while maintaining clear objectives and accountability arrangements.
We aim to develop partnerships that prioritise children’s rights, measurable progress, responsible resource management and long-term sustainability.
Some children need help returning to school. Others need a safe pathway to appropriate protection and support. Some require learning materials, positive mentoring or stronger connections to essential services.
STREET TO FUTURE seeks to help create these opportunities through practical, child-centred programmes and responsible partnerships.
Your support may contribute to educational assistance, learning resources, community engagement, qualified referral arrangements and age-appropriate development opportunities.
We welcome support from individuals, businesses, philanthropic institutions and organisations committed to protecting children’s rights and expanding access to opportunity.
STREET TO FUTURE is C-PAID’s flagship programme for disadvantaged and vulnerable children. It focuses on child protection, educational reintegration, family and community support, wellbeing and pathways towards greater stability and social inclusion.
The programme is intended for children experiencing significant disadvantage, including street-connected children, out-of-school children and children facing serious socioeconomic or protection-related barriers. Eligibility will depend on individual needs, programme criteria and available resources.
No. The programme also seeks to support other disadvantaged children facing significant barriers to education, care, safety and development.
CHILDFIRST is an inclusive development programme for boys and girls from all backgrounds, focusing on learning, STEM, creativity, leadership and wellbeing. STREET TO FUTURE is a targeted initiative for children experiencing disadvantage or vulnerability who may require additional educational, protection or social support.
A shelter or residential care facility is not part of the programme’s stated initial operating model. Any residential care arrangements would require separate legal, regulatory, professional and safeguarding assessments.
C-PAID does not propose to conduct independent child removal or rescue operations. Where children face protection risks, the programme will seek to coordinate with competent authorities and appropriately qualified child protection partners.
Educational access and reintegration are central to the proposed programme. Depending on assessed needs and resources, support may include school enrolment assistance, learning materials, referrals and continued learning support.
Older adolescents may access age-appropriate life skills, career awareness or recognised training pathways, subject to education requirements, child labour protections and other legal safeguards.
Specific funded projects may include educational materials, participation support or appropriately structured household-related assistance. No direct financial support is guaranteed, and any assistance will be subject to transparent eligibility and safeguarding arrangements.
Referral procedures will be published once appropriate child protection partnerships, trained personnel and operational safeguards have been established. Where a child is in immediate danger, the appropriate emergency or statutory protection services should be contacted rather than relying on a general programme enquiry.
Yes. C-PAID welcomes discussions with development partners, foundations, companies and qualified organisations interested in child protection, education, social inclusion and related support services.
STREET TO FUTURE is intended to operate under documented safeguarding, confidentiality, child protection and appropriate referral procedures, with qualified partners responsible for specialist services and statutory interventions.
A child’s difficult circumstances should not determine the limits of their future.
Through protection, education, community engagement and appropriate support, STREET TO FUTURE seeks to help disadvantaged children access the opportunities and care they need to move towards greater safety, stability and inclusion.
We believe that meaningful change begins when children are treated with dignity, their rights are respected and their needs are met through responsible action.
Together, we can help create safer childhoods and stronger futures.
