In 2016 Street Child United hosted the first ever Street Child Games (SCG) in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the Olympics. Building on the successful model of their flagship event, the Street Child World Cup, utilised the media spotlight of the world’s biggest sporting event to raise awareness of street children’s rights. The event featured a range of sports including track and field, football, volleyball and cricket, as well a festival of the arts and the first ever Street Child Congress. The Congress was modelled on a United Nations-style event and was a unique opportunity for the young people to become delegates for street children’s rights.

This process began at the Street Child United Summit, in London in 2015, during which partners, including ALMT supported Team Philippines, established the priority for the young people. The Summit provided a crucial opportunity for the staff of partner organisations to share best practice and plan together ensuring the Street Child Games would have as much impact as possible. During the Games, alongside the sport and arts festival, Team Philippines were invited to represent the estimated 2,000,000 children living and working on the streets of their country. They became delegates at the unique international congress of former street children, working together to produce a Resolution, compiled of their recommendations for a nation that is fair to street child.