Be cautious when funding orphanages
Posted on September 18, 2009 at 11:02 am
It’s natural to want to help children, and funding orphanages seems a great way to assist those that have lost everything. But be careful, not all orphanages are needed nor are they necessarily the best way to help. In fact funding poorly run or unnecessary orphanages may actually hurt the child far more than it helps them.
How can funding an orphanage be harmful?
One effect of funding orphanages can be breaking apart the family. Children in orphanages may actually have one or both parents still living. According to the IRIN article West Africa: Protecting children from orphan dealers
“A January 2009 study by the Social Welfare Department – responsible for children’s welfare and supervising orphanages – showed that up to 90 percent of the estimated 4,500 children in orphanages in Ghana are not orphans…”
A similar situation occurred in Liberia, according to the UN report Human Rights in Liberia’s Orphanages
“In the orphanages surveyed, most children reportedly had at least one living parent, and a significant number of children had two living parents.”
When parents are unable to feed and clothe their children may feel that they have no other choice than to abandon them at an orphanage (see Does funding orphanages create orphans). This occurred after the tsunami in Indonesia. Orphanages had the money to feed, clothe and educate children because they were attractive to donors. Parents who were not receiving enough assistance to help them feed and care for their children, began leaving their children at orphanages. Similar cases have occurred in Liberia, again from the UN report Human Rights in Liberia’s Orphanages
“The lack of alternative assistance, such as day-care institutions to take care of and feed children, and the lack of a free education system, means that some parents may feel that there are few alternatives to placing children in orphanages.”
Children with parents are even adopted away from their family as is portrayed in this video from EthioTube.
Consider funding other ways of supporting children and their families
Rather than building orphanages, it would be far better to provide services that support the family and help them care for their children. According to the United Nations Draft Guidelines for the alternative care of children
“Family poverty should never be the reason that the children are institutionalized, instead this should be a signal to help the family. Before that happens families should be worked in to help them keep
their children. Whether that be help with livelihoods, counseling, or helping them access other means of social support.”
Many orphans have family members that could care for them
Even children that are orphans will likely have aunts, uncles, grandparents, or godparents that want to care for them but may need some extra resources to help them. If the worst were to happen today and you and your spouse
were to die in a natural disaster, how many people could potentially care for your children rather than placing them in an orphanage? According to the Social Protection Strategy in Eastern and Southern Africa by UNICEF
Available data from sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and (sic) demonstrate that the majority of children in institutional care have a surviving parent or contactable relative.
Orphanages should be the last resort not the automatic solution
Building an orphanage should be the last resort, according to the UN working paper Reconstructing well-being after a disaster: Bringing public service to those who need it the most in China
“Support to orphans, emphasizing the priority of care giving by relatives, followed by adoption to relatives, domestic adoption over international adoption, and alternative care (i.e. foster care, community-based residential care). Institutional care is to be used as last resort. The functions of the institutions can be progressively changed to community service centers for vulnerable children (including children with disabilities), gradually minimizing the function of orphanage. When institutional care has to be used, the environment should be designed to resemble family-type care.”
Only when none of these other alternatives work should an orphanage be built. Before donating to any orphanage there should be proof that these other efforts have been attempted first. If the orphanage cannot provide proof that other solutions have been tried, do not donate.
Orphanages are the most expensive way to care for children
Not only should orphanages be the last resort for the benefit of the child, but they are also far more expensive than other methods of caring for them. According to the Social Protection Strategy in Eastern and Southern Africa by UNICEF
“The damaging effects of residential care to emotional and cognitive developmental are now well established empirically.* Moreover, orphanages are expensive. Research by the World Bank in the United Republic of Tanzania, for example, found that institutional care was about six times more expensive than foster care. Cost comparisons conducted in Uganda showed the ratio of operating costs for an orphanage to be 14 times higher than those for community care”
How to evaluate an orphanage
If the orphanage has proven that the other forms of caring for children are not possible, then it’s time to evaluate the orphanage to ensure that they are working in the best interest of the child. The following are a set of questions to help you evaluate the orphanage. Unless otherwise noted all of the quotes below come from the United Nations Draft Guidelines for the alternative care of children
Is the orphanage legally registered and monitored?
The aid agency should be able to provide proof of their legal status in that country, the name of the government agency that oversees them, and the date of their last inspection. Again from the IRIN article West Africa: Protecting children from orphan dealers
“…140 of the 148 orphanages around the country [Ghana] are un-licensed, said the department’s assistant director Helena Obeng Asamoah.”
Does the orphanage have active family reunification program?
The orphanage should provide information on the work they do to establish and maintain family contacts so the children may eventually be reunited with their family.
“Regular and appropriate contact between the child and his/her family specifically for the purpose of reintegration should be developed, supported and monitored by the competent body.”
Does the orphanage keep siblings together in a family unit?
“Orphanages should be run in a family like or small group settings with siblings kept together and consistent long term carers with which they can bond.”
Is the orphanage set up as a family-like or small group setting?
There is a move to eliminate large orphanages in central locations and instead break them down to smaller settings so that the child has the opportunity to develop meaningful emotional bonds with other children and specific adults.
“Facilities providing residential care should be small and organized around the rights and needs of the child, in a setting as close as possible to a family or small group situation.”
“While recognizing that residential care facilities and family-based care complement each other in meeting the needs of children, where large residential care facilities (institutions) remain, alternatives should be developed in the context of an overall deinstitutionalization strategy, with precise goals and objectives, which will allow for their progressive elimination.”
Is the orphanage located in the same community as the child previously lived?
“All decisions concerning alternative care should take full account of the desirability, in principle,
of maintaining the child as close as possible to his/her habitual place of residence, in order to facilitate contact and potential reintegration with his/her family and to minimize disruption of his/her educational, cultural and social
life.”
Does the orphanage have long-term, trained, and well supervised staff?
“Special attention should be paid to the quality of alternative care provision, both in residential and family-based care, in particular with regard to the professional skills, selection, training and supervision of carers”
“Decisions regarding children in alternative care, including those in informal care, should have due regard for the importance of ensuring children a stable home and of meeting their basic need for safe and continuous attachment to their caregivers, with permanency generally being a key goal.”
Some standards that I’ve read also suggest a background check of all people working with children. Thus, any orphanage that allows you to walk off the street and interact with the children should be suspect. In addition, you should be cautious of funding any orphanage that relies heavily on foreign volunteers or staff if they do not have the ability to develop long term, meaningful relationships with the children (see Hug-an-orphan vacations).
Does the orphanage respect and accomodate each child’s religious beliefs?
“Children should be allowed to satisfy the needs of their religious and spiritual life, including by receiving visits from a qualified representative of their religion, and to freely decide to participate or not in religious services, religious education
or counselling.“
“The child’s own religious background should be respected, and no child should be encouraged or persuaded to change his/her religion or belief during a care placement.”
Always use caution when donating to orphanages
Orphanages are one of those instances where what feels right to the donor may not be what’s best for the person they are trying to help. Because of their appeal, orphanages may be built because they are easy to fund, regardless of whether they are the best or cheapest way to help. Donors should always use caution before funding the construction or operation of an orphanage.
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* This statement is challenged in the recent research findings A Comparison of the Wellbeing of Orphans and Abandoned Children Ages 6–12 in Institutional and Community-Based Care Settings in 5 Less Wealthy Nations
Statement on Haiti from the Adoptees of Color Roundtable – very powerful statement from people that were adopted away from their country of birth
Related posts:
Placing children in orphanages or up for adoption can be a lucrative trade
Does funding orphanages create orphans?
Hug-an-orphan vacations
Common donor misconceptions
The Allure of the quick fix
Related blogs:
A protest against orphanage tourism – Lessons I Learned blog
Resources referenced in this post:
IRIN article West Africa: Protecting children from orphan dealers
IRIN article East Africa: Why family is best for orphans
United Nations Draft Guidelines for the alternative care of children
UNICEF – Social Protection Strategy in Eastern and Southern Africa
United Nations working paper Reconstructing well-being after a disaster: Bringing public service to those who need it the most in China
United Nations report Human Rights in Liberia’s Orphanages
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Thank you for this. I SLOWLY learned some of this the hard way over the past year. This post is an insightful tool for me to share with others regarding the “cuteness is not a criteria for support worthiness” considerations.
The only thing that I would add is: the prevalence of volunteers spending a week on a “cuddle vacation” in an orphanage. They are only making themselves feel good in the long run and causing more instability in the children’s life. Plus, any committed-to-keeping-the-cash-flowing matron will maintain the kids state just pitiful enough to encourage the young white women to dig deeper in their pockets!
Ah, if only I knew what you know when I was starting…
TG for this blog.
Megan,
I’m glad you like the blog. I think we all learn some of this the hard way, unfortunately what feels so right can often be so wrong.
I agree completely with the issues you brought up of “cuddle vacations”. Both the lack of stability and the incentive to keep things a little shabby in order to bring in a steady stream of donations. I’m considering writing a post on this particular problem.
Cheers
Thanks you for this.
God intended for children to be brought up in families so He created it like that. If for some reason the child cannot have that care, it does not mean he/she has to be given ‘boarding school- care’ for his/ her entire life.
children belong to families and that is what it is. With support evry child can be cared for in a family.
soem orphanage owners in Ghana including foreingers are sacred of ‘loosing’ thier children because it means loosing the funding. Some are doing very well though but need to be sure that the care in the institution is for the shortes possible time
I really do like your blog. I cross reference it quite a bit when researching for Orphan care, Adoption, and now Haiti.
We adopted from Ethiopia last year. Our son is 7 years old. He was being raised by his grandmother until 2005, his mom and dad had died of AIDS when he was a baby but the grandmother couldn’t care for him and all the cousins she had also inherited somehow, so she gave Abel up so he could eat and live. Its all very sad. I know he was meant to be our child. But it breaks my heart that he had to leave all he loved and knew, his life, his culture.
The grandmother came to see him a month before we got him. He said she seemed happy to see him but didn’t cry and seemed just as happy to leave. I could tell it hurt him. She told him “no, you stay here”.
No one, including her ever told him he was being adopted or what that meant. He tells us now that they told him the day we were getting him that he would come back. He said he had no idea what was going on.
This is our reality. This is his reality. He is our son now. We love him, he loves us but I wish I had known all the uglyness behind international adoption. The truth that so many of these kids are given up due to poverty. So many could live with extended family if there were social services to help them get by and support their families. It’s hard knowing that we have the money to help but have no idea what really helps.
THAT is one reason I read your blog. I want to really help. I don’t want to “feel good” help. But as far as Ethiopia, I still do not know how to really help. My closest attempt is an organization that schools and teaches skills to street children and another is a village of family type foster homes for HIV+ children. I will say that the more I research the more discouraged I get. BUT I am determined to be a true advocate for Orphans so I will continue to research…and pray.
Carol,
Thanks for sharing your story, I know there are many others who have had similar experiences as you. Without knowing much about the programs you are supporting, they sound like reasonable solutions.
As donors like yourself learn more and insist on clear information and proof of the impact of programs, aid will improve.
Saundra
I am very confused after reading sections of this article. I am a Ghanaian and I have intentions of seeking funds to fund some orphanages in my country dubbed: ‘The Assignment’. I’m just confused and do not know what to do. I indeed yearn to help poor and needy children in country. Please advice.
Thank you.
In Nepal the number of homes operating without a license isn’t even known, it’s estimated to be hundreds. There is no oversight of care in these homes at all. 90% or more of the children are not orphans but “paper orphans” sent by the family not only due to the families inability to care for and feed them, but for a private school education. Many of the homes refuse to put the children in the public schools and insist on private schools instead. Not only does that drive the cost up, but the parent, who are unable in their wildest dreams to pay for such an education, are only too happy to send their children to orphanages where they can get a high dollar education. That’s one of the key motivators, the private school education. There’s just no reason to do this other than the fact that it pays well. Donors like the idea of the private schools as they know the government schools are not very good. Donors clearly do not understand. or do not want to understand, that the private school options is the hook in the home’s sales pitch to families. Brokers go out and visit rural village, they promise a private education for the children. The family pays some money to the broker, the broker takes the child to an “orphanage” and the orphanage finds a “sponsor” to pay the private school costs. The sponsors are totally unaware what they have done; broken up a family. They would perhaps be appalled if they knew, though many are not appalled when they find out. Sadly, the superiority complex steps in and the donor, a westerner who is educated, believes they know better than the poor, ignorant villager what’s needed for the child. I see a lot of that. It’s maddening. If you support “orphans” in Nepal, stop it. You are supporting child trafficking and exploitation, I don’t know any other way to put it. There are day-care centers, Orchid Garden for one, there are schools for the poor, like Koseli, that are for the very poor. Support these kinds of programs that keep families together and not the orphan machine. Thanks
Hi,
Thanks for this post. However it has made me rethink a gift idea. A friend of mine volunteered in a State run orphanage in Accra, Ghana through Projects Abroad. She found it a wonderful experience. As part of a gift I was wishing to make a donation to the orphanage. However, in attempting to find the best way to donate, I stumbled across this article. And now I don’t know what the best thing to do is. Is there a better avenue to make the donation? I did not want to donate to Projects Abroad and potentially have money lost in administration. I wanted the donation to go direct. In the scheme of things $100 won’t make a massive influence either way, but in a continent where every dollar could save someone’s life, I still see it as important that the donation is not wasted or promotes, as you point out, further problems.
Any advice?
Cheers.