BLOG Post: The Four-Minute Read
It’s hard to believe that over two and a half years have passed since we began our Sturr journey. Back in April 2023, we set out to discover our purpose — to connect people from all walks of life and across different cultures in tackling injustice.
From the very beginning, we’ve been privileged to partner with incredible people and organisations. In Laos, we’ve supported the Master 7 Foundation and their inspiring work through rugby and the Sports Academy. In Nepal, we’ve walked alongside Indra and Manju in Kathmandu, contributing to their Goat Breeding Project in Western Nepal with the help of other UK charities. And in Pakistan, our conversations with Faizan and his friends in Faisalabad have given birth to the Global Mercy Foundation (GMF).
For a small, start-up charity, there’s been a lot happening — and we couldn’t be more excited for what lies ahead.
We’ll also be pushing ahead with our ongoing support for the Master 7 Foundation in Laos. Their mission is incredibly valuable — using sport as a tool to bring excellence, build character, and share the Gospel message. They’re creating a discipling culture among young men and women, even in the challenging environment of a communist nation.
A Defining Moment
In February 2025, at a conference we attended, the CEO of a children’s charity working in Central America made a seemingly ‘off the cuff’ remark that struck deep:
“There are so many children in the world who don’t have an identity because they don’t have a birth certificate.”
That moment became what we would call a God moment — a spark that brought new clarity to Sturr’s vision. We felt the Holy Spirit whisper, “Here is the niche where I am placing you.”
According to the United Nations, millions of children around the world lack a birth certificate or any legal form of identity. Without these, they don’t officially exist. They can’t go to school, receive healthcare, find work, or access basic services. They’re also left vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
Often, their parents simply don’t have the education or resources to navigate the complex bureaucracy of birth registration. As a result, these children fall through the cracks — unseen and unaccounted for.
Our Response: KNOWN
At Sturr, we believe that every person has the right to be recognised by law. That conviction has shaped our new focus: KNOWN – a right to an identity.
Through KNOWN, we’re helping families apply for birth certificates and identity documents, raising awareness of why this is so vital, and providing training to break down the barriers that keep children from being recognised.
Our work begins in Pakistan, where GMF has already piloted a successful registration programme involving both Christian and Muslim families. A few children have already received their birth certificates — a small step with life-changing impact. Thirteen more families have now signed up to join the next phase of the project.
At the end of each process, every family receives a Gospel of John in their own heart language — a reminder that they are not only legally known, but known by God.
Looking Forward to 2026
We’re now developing similar partnerships in other countries to expand the KNOWN programme. By helping families gain legal recognition, we’re reducing poverty, opening doors to opportunity, and ensuring that people everywhere can fully take part in society — regardless of age, background, or belief.
We’ve also launched our new website at sturr.org, where you can learn more about our work and find the DONATE button if you’d like to support us financially.
And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram: @sturr.global for regular updates and stories from the field.
Together, let’s make sure every child is KNOWN — seen, valued, and given the right to an identity.
OUR CHRISTMAS APPEAL: Give the Gift of Identity
This coming Christmastime, would you consider supporting our project KNOWN?
During our pilot programme, we calculated that — with all associated costs — it takes around £40 to register one child and provide them with a birth certificate. The certificate itself costs as little as £5, but frustratingly, there’s a lot of red tape to cut through. Additional costs include registration fees, transport, contributions to wages and administration costs by our local partners, and the purchase of a Gospel of John. Sometimes, when a parent has no identity, we also need to arrange documentation for them.
If you’d like to help, please visit sturr.org and click Donate. Follow the instructions to give.
Your support and partnership this Christmastime will help give a child in Pakistan something truly life-changing — a birth certificate, and a recognised identity.
