Street Children in Port Moresby
Education, Care and a Pathway off the Streets
In Port Moresby, many children spend their days on the streets.
Some have fled violence or family breakdown. Others live in families facing extreme poverty, where there is not enough food, income or support. Many children never enter school—or are forced to leave early.
Instead, they work, beg, or search for ways to survive.
But the streets are not safe. Children are exposed to exploitation, abuse and violence—and the longer they remain, the harder it becomes to break the cycle.
Together with the Archdiocese of Port Moresby, Mercy Works partners with a local Street Ministry that provides a safe place for children to learn, be cared for, and begin a pathway back into education.
What We Do
We work alongside our local partner to provide practical, consistent support that helps children move from the streets into school and a more stable future.
Education and school readiness
• Teaching basic literacy and numeracy
• Supporting English language learning
• Preparing children to transition into mainstream schools
Access to education
• Providing school uniforms, shoes and learning materials
• Supporting school enrolment and attendance
• Following up with children to help them stay in school
Nutrition and basic care
• Providing regular meals so children can learn and grow
• Supporting hygiene and treating minor health issues
• Creating a safe and consistent environment
Family and community support
• Working with families and caregivers to support children’s education
The Impact
With your support, children are already being given a second chance.
• Around 80 children regularly attend the program each year
• Children receive meals, basic healthcare and education each week
• Many are preparing to enrol in mainstream schools—and being supported to stay there
Children who would otherwise remain on the streets are gaining the skills, confidence and support they need to build a different future.
Lucy’s Story
Lucy* lives with her father and grandfather.
Her father is blind, and her grandfather is too frail to work. With no stable income, Lucy turned to the streets to survive—begging, doing odd jobs, and at times stealing just to get by.
Life on the streets is dangerous and uncertain. It offers no real pathway forward.
Through the Street Ministry, Lucy now has access to something different.
A safe place to go.
A nutritious meal.
A chance to learn.
She is receiving basic education in reading and maths, building the skills she needs to enter mainstream school. Just as importantly, she is finding support, dignity and a sense of belonging.
This is how change begins.
*Name and some details changed for privacy
Why This Matters
Without support, many children in Port Moresby will never enter the education system.
They remain vulnerable—to exploitation, violence and long-term poverty.
But education changes everything.
When a child can go to school:
• They are safer
• They gain skills for the future
• They have a pathway out of poverty
A Future Within Reach
Every child deserves the chance to learn, to feel safe, and to build a future.