Working on small projects alongside local partners, the Youth Off The Streets Overseas Relief Fund provides non-religious and non-discriminatory assistance – including housing, education, health and welfare facilities and programmes – to children in countries emerging from conflict and other challenges.

Father Chris Riley first saw an opportunity to help overseas in East Timor after independence in 2002, and then moved quickly to assist in Indonesia after the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004. Building on these successes, Youth Off The Streets Overseas Relief Fund now also has projects underway in Tanzania. Over 200 children rely on us for basic necessities, including food and water, shelter and education.

Our current focus is on supporting young people in East Timor, where we have been working since 2002. Our Dili Youth Service has seen us train Timorese youth workers to run best practice youth programs in their communities. We have had support from the Australians Governments Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as well the the Australian Volunteers Program, which allows us to send world class volunteers to mentor, guide and train out Timorese colleagues. While we have done some great work with hundreds of young people in Timor, we are always looking for additional opportunities to make a difference.