Charity Uses Child Height Markings To Spotlight Youth Homelessness
A poignant new street art campaign is transforming a cherished family tradition into a powerful call to action, forcing Australians to confront the hidden reality of youth homelessness. In a disruptive pro bono initiative titled "No Place to Grow," charity We Are Mobilise, in collaboration with creative agencies Droga5 and Accenture Song, has installed evocative child height markings across city streets in Sydney and Melbourne, timed to coincide with Youth Homelessness Matters Day.
Traditionally a symbol of joy and stability within a family home, these hand-drawn growth charts – featuring the average heights of Australian children aged four to twelve – now appear starkly on urban walls. Each carries a simple, gut-wrenching message: "No child should grow up on the streets."
The installations aim to shine a stark light on Australia's often-invisible youth homelessness crisis. While nearly 29,000 children (and their parents) currently lack a stable home, only a fraction are visible on the streets. The majority are hidden: couch-surfing, living in cars or tents, or in temporary care – a reality "No Place to Grow" seeks to expose.
"We wanted to find a way to make people feel the scale of this crisis, not just read about it," explains Noah Yang, Founder of We Are Mobilise. "A height chart is something many families know. It belongs on a wall at home. Seeing one on a street will hopefully stop the public in their tracks and make them remember that every child deserves a safe place to call home."
The creative concept originated from Droga5 London, led by creatives Ninon Peres and Geoffrey Poulain under Chief Creative Officer Tara Ford. Its powerful execution was a truly collaborative effort, spanning multiple Droga5 and Accenture Song offices across Australia, London, Dublin, and New York, alongside We Are Mobilise. Bringing the vision to life involved a team of talented partners, including artist and photographer Simon Harsent, videographer Nelson Bours, muralist Shaun Devenney, and art studio Apparition Media.
"It's such a beautifully simple idea that will show this issue in a new light," said Lennie Galloway, Creative Director at Droga5 ANZ. "It's been a privilege to help make it happen here in Australia for the creative team. Bringing it to life was a true team effort – spanning time zones, roles, and markets – and a testament to what's possible when people across the Droga5 and Accenture Song network rally behind something they believe in."
Beyond the physical installations, which are expected to remain in place across Sydney and Melbourne through April 20th, the campaign's message is being amplified with digital out-of-home placements throughout both cities, with media strategy by Accenture Song.
Each street-level height chart features a prominent QR code, directing passers-by to a dedicated We Are Mobilise page. Here, individuals can learn more about the crisis and donate funds directly to support children and families experiencing homelessness across Australia.
"No Place to Grow" challenges the public to look beyond the obvious, recognizing that a stable home is not just a roof over one's head, but the foundation for a child's safe development and future.
