Thursday 10th of July, 2025
There is something deeply moving about seeing young people give up their time, energy, and comfort to invest in the lives of children at risk. It’s a powerful exchange, one that transforms not just the children but the volunteers themselves.
At Street Kids Direct, we have witnessed time and time again how young volunteers bring a unique energy, relatability, and authenticity to their roles. They don’t come with all the answers, but they come with open hearts, and that makes all the difference.
Whether it’s playing games, offering tutoring, simply listening, or showing up week after week, their presence speaks volumes to children who have grown up feeling invisible. For a child who has experienced abandonment or trauma, the consistent care of a young volunteer can begin to rewrite the narrative. It says, “You’re worth my time. You are important. I see you.”
This week, I witnessed something truly special—something that reminds me why we do what we do.
I have recently returned from the UK after seven weeks away and brought with me a stash of chocolates and sweets for the children in our mentoring centre. As I approached the door, I could already hear the excited squeals from inside. The moment I stepped in, I was swarmed with hugs from children, staff, and volunteers. The joy was electric. But the real magic was waiting in one of the activity rooms.
There stood Jonathan—now 19 years old—guiding a group of younger children through a homemade science experiment. He had vinegar in a bottle and baking soda in a balloon. As the two substances combined, the balloon inflated, and the room erupted with laughter and awe. Their little eyes lit up. Their imaginations sparked, then each child had the opportunity to reproduce the experiment with their ingredients and a plastic bottle.
Six years ago, I did the very same experiment with Jonathan when he was one of the children. And now here he was, taking the lead, teaching with confidence, patience, and joy. The younger ones called him “Profe” (teacher), and he beamed with pride.
That’s the power of investing in a child. That’s the transforming nature of mentoring.
As I made my way to the entrance hall, I was greeted by Edwin, one of the older boys. His presence brought both relief and concern. Edwin had dropped out of our programme, and we feared he was heading in a dangerous direction—one we’ve sadly seen so many times before.
I couldn’t help but think of José, a boy much like Edwin, who drifted in and out of school, and in and out of the mentoring centre and was gradually seduced by the lure of the street. Eventually, the streets claimed him. One afternoon, we heard the sirens and then came the tragic news: José had been killed just metres from our centre. Another young life lost to gang violence. I saw echoes of that same risk in Edwin.
But then something unexpected happened.
Realising he felt out of place among the younger kids, I gave Edwin a simple task: manage the distribution of the chocolates and sweets. Suddenly, he had purpose. He sprang into action, counting children, measuring portions, preparing bags, and organising the entire group with remarkable maturity.
By the end, he stood taller—not just physically, but in confidence and pride. His smile said it all: “I did something good. I mattered today.”
For at-risk youth, volunteering isn’t just about giving—it’s about becoming. Giving responsibility to a young person can be the key to unlocking their self-worth. It can help them find their place in a world that often tells them they have none.
Both Jonathan and Edwin remind us of this: when young people are empowered to serve others, something powerful shifts. They go from being at-risk to being role models, from receivers of care to givers of hope.
That’s the transformation we long to see. And it’s happening—one child, one moment, one act of trust at a time.
In a world where young people are often portrayed as disengaged or self-focused, we are proud to share a different story. A story of young people rising to the challenge, standing in the gap, and becoming part of something greater than themselves.
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Duncan Dyason is the founder and Director of Street Kids Direct and founder of Toybox Charity. He first started working with street children in 1992 when he moved to Guatemala City and founded The Toybox Charity. His work has been honoured by Her Majesty the Queen and he was awarded an MBE the year he celebrated working over 25 years to reduce the large population of children on the streets from 5,000 to zero. Duncan continues to live and work in Guatemala City.