Donna’s inspiring journey towards a better future
Celebrated every year on 12 April, the International Day for Street Children serves as a reminder of the importance of recognising and upholding the rights of children in street situations. This year, together with our local partners, we are shining a light on the reality faced by millions of children who are denied the right to identity.
Without official identity papers, millions of children across the world, including those living in street situations, are excluded from access to rights such as education, healthcare and protection. Invisible in the eyes of the state and often rejected by their families, children in street situations are among the most vulnerable. Yet they have dreams, ambitions, and above all, the right to be recognised and protected, just like any other child.
Among these children growing up without legal identity, some manage, after years of waiting and complex procedures, to finally obtain their identity papers. This is the case for Donna, now 24 years old, a former child in street situations in Madagascar. Thanks to his determination and the support of the centre that welcomed him, he was able to obtain his official documents. These small pieces of paper opened countless doors for him.
At the age of 13, Donna was welcomed by our partner, the NRJ Centre, which provides care and support for children and adolescents living and sleeping on the streets of Antananarivo, Madagascar.
“I was warmly welcomed there and able to continue my studies in good conditions. For me, education was – and still is – the only way to move forward. Thanks to the educators and the director of the Centre, I joined Year 9 at Collège Champagnat. I passed several exams including the Certificate of Lower Secondary Education in 2018 and got a degree in management in 2024. Getting that degree was one of the happiest and most defining moments of my life. It crowned years of hard work and the realisation of a dream I once thought was out of reach.”
Donna had no identity papers, and the NRJ Centre did everything possible to help him reconstruct his legal identity and support him in his daily life, his education and professional training. Isabelle Odette Rakotondrabe, Family Support Coordinator at the NRJ Centre, recalls the many obstacles she faced to help Donna obtain his birth certificate and be legally recognised.
“At first, we asked Donna’s stepmother for help, but she was uncooperative. Our social worker then explored all the leads given by the family, but none were successful. We launched new efforts with Donna’s relatives to obtain his residency certificate and, after some time, managed to get his birth certificate.”
Today, Donna holds a degree in management and is doing an internship in a bank, an opportunity that allows him to learn every day and build his future. He now looks ahead with confidence.
“I hope my journey will inspire other young people at the Centre who are going through similar difficulties. My message is clear: no matter where you come from, with determination and support, you can achieve your dreams!”
Donna’s story shows that with a legal identity, access to education and opportunities becomes possible, turning dreams into reality. With specific support, the cycle of exclusion and vulnerability can be broken.
It’s time to act so that all children, without exception, have access to the right to identity. Immediate and concrete action by governments can transform the lives of millions of children living in street situations. Discover our recommendations here!