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 Since 1991, Youth Off The Streets has been helping disadvantaged young people in Australia and has now expanded its reach with the Youth Off The Streets Overseas Relief Fund.
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 the Philippines, and Tanzania. Over 200 children rely on us for basic necessities, including food and water, shelter and education.
In 2006, Father Riley was awarded the Human Rights Medal from the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and the AUSTCARE Peter Cullen Humanitarian Award, in addition to receiving a Member (AM), General Division of the Order of Australia, at the Queen’s Birthday Honours. In late 2007, Father Riley was awarded the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal, recognising the achievements of the first Volunteer team sent to Aceh after the tsunami. He is the current CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Youth Off The Streets Overseas Relief Fund.
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