Martin Pearce

Happy Child International Foundation

Fundraising for Happy Child International
£37,152
raised of £50,000 target
Donations cannot currently be made to this page
Happy Child International Foundation, 25 February 2017
Happy Child International

Verified by JustGiving

RCN 1116809
We fundraise to stop children from having a street life

Story

Donate a £1000 and become a guardian.


Happy Child International Foundation will replicate the proven success of 'It's a Penalty' at the Rio Olympics 2016 and all forthcoming major global sporting events; we will also lobby continuously at government level in partnership with other NGO's for legislation to protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse; and we will support NGO's with professional advisory services and social impact investments. 

Sadly, the exploitation of young children is a grave issue at nearly all major sporting events worldwide.  

Over the last 21 years Happy Child has rescued, rehabilitated and reintegrated over 10,500 street children and children at risk in Brazil and now Angola, Africa and will continue to do so.  However, prevention is better than cure.

'It's a Penalty', campaign with international football Ambassadors including Gary Lineker and David Luiz, was seen by over 300 million people worldwide; the film (see www.itsapenalty.com) was shown on all BA flights worldwide for 10 weeks; there were zero arrests of British fans; 11,252 calls to the dial 100 hotline in Brazil set up by the Brazilian Government and Unicef Brazil to report child sexual exploitation during the World Cup.  There were 87 reports of foreign nationals involved in some form of child abuse.

The Met Police called it the ‘best crime prevention campaign we have ever seen’. David Cameron said, 'I would like to take this opportunity to offer my support for this important campaign. Child sexual exploitation is an abhorrent crime, no matter when or where it occurs, and I am committed to tackling it in whatever form it takes.'

Ultimately we believe the Foundation will be funded by Corporate partners and host cities.  However in these very early days we are totally reliant upon the goodwill of our friends to launch the campaign. We are seeking significant financial support from a small group of benefactors who wish to become Guardians of the Happy Child International Foundation and be intimately involved in this hugely worthwhile cause from day one.

We are looking to make a list of 100 Guardians who will pledge £1000 or more.  One hundred thousand pounds will secure our launch and these initial funds would then be used to kick start the campaign in readiness for a full international media launch in February 2016.  HCIF Guardians would, of course, be invited to this event.

The Brazilian Ambassador will be hosting the initial launch/fundraising reception of the Foundation at the Brazilian Embassy, London, on Weds 29th April 6.30-8pm 2015.  



If you would like to become a Guardian of HCIF please donate, and join us at the launch of the Foundation at the Brazilian Embassy in the presence of the Ambassador at the Brazilian Embassy. Contact: giselle.barboza@happychild.org for more information.

Share this story

Help Martin Pearce

Sharing this page with your friends could help raise up to 3x more in donations

You can also help by sharing this link on

About the charity

Happy Child International

Verified by JustGiving

RCN 1116809
Happy Child International's Girls & Babies Project rescues, cares for and provides a safe environment for 12 young girls & their babies. These young teenagers are being sexually exploited on the streets in Brazil resulting in pregnancies as young as 12 years old. Please help us to rescue more.

Donation summary

Total raised
£37,152.00
+ £2,538.00 Gift Aid
Online donations
£12,152.00
Offline donations
£25,000.00

* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.