Working With Street Children

Andrew William's Book Launch

Monday 13th February 2012

On February 14^th 2012 the Most Rev Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, and General Linda Bond of the International Salvation Army will attend the launch of a new publication entitled ‘Working with Street Children – An Approach Explored’ by Andrew Williams.  The book, published by Russell House Publishing Ltd, aims to equip and encourage those working with street and homeless children or thinking of doing so. 

 The author has twenty years experience of direct work with children and young people. In the foreword to the book , John Sentamu writes, ‘I strongly commend this book to all practitioners, would-be practitioners, all decision makers and opinion formers to remind them and all of us that each story told in the book represents a real person and actual circumstances.’

Andrew Williams was born in Uganda and his father remembered John Sentamu in the 1960s as a promising youth leader in Kampala shortly before Idi Amin’s rise to power.  He writes, ‘It is especially significant that Dr Sentamu will be present at the launch as he has supported, encouraged and prayed for the work described in the book since it began.’  In 1996 Andrew and his wife Katina accepted an invitation to develop The Tigers Football Club for street boys into an effective social work organisation.  A year later the organisation was registered as a charity in UK and Uganda and in 2005 re-branded ‘Retrak’ to reflect expansion and changes made.  The following year he was awarded the MBE for services to disadvantaged children. 

Retrak now operates in three African countries, works with 3000 street children every year and attracts a lot of media attention.  Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton reported from Retrak after her spectacular high wire walk and the visit by JLS to Retrak in Uganda featured on ‘Comic Relief – What A Cracker!’(BBC1 New Year’s Eve)

Working with Street Children is available from Amazon UK and more information can be found at www.workingwithstreetchildren.com.

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