As the year draws to a close, it seems almost inevitable to look back and to look forward. Because my work and life are completely entangled with children in institutions and the quest to get them out of there, this features heavily in these ponderings, even on a personal level, for me.
I invite you along with me, as I look back and look ahead. I feel the past year has been a good one, for moving children towards family-based solutions.
My work on the research project to create an overview of the alternative care situation of all countries in the world, which is starting to approach the final stages, is giving me a sense of optimism. While it is more than clear that there is still very much work to be done, and that there are still millions of children in utterly dire conditions, the overview I am working on, is giving me the sense that almost all countries in the world – with varying degrees of success – are making efforts to move away from institutionalisation and towards family-based solutions. It looks to me very much that in this respect, globally, there is a momentum building.
Looking forward, I believe this momentum will gather and that progress will be exponential. Suddenly the prediction made by Lumos: that institutionalisation can be ended globally by 2050, in my lifetime, does not seem nearly as far-fetched as it did 3-5 years ago. This is a reason for hope and optimism.
On a far smaller scale, the past year has seen progress towards family-based solutions too. After several attempts, I managed to convince a large-scale childcare institution to start work towards moving their children out of the institutions and into family-based care. Not only have they agreed, but the ball has started rolling and is gathering speed as it goes. Right now, the foundations are being laid, to make sure everything is handled responsibly and in the best interest of the children. And in the coming year, we expect the first group of children to either be reunited with their families, with continued support and monitoring, or to be placed in family and community-based care.
And of course, I started Why Family-Based Solutions this year. A first step along a new path. One that I am walking with confidence and optimism.
I look forward to the year to come. To the information and awareness that I can spread, the training I can provide and the vulnerable children I can help move to situations that are actually to their benefit.
I wish everyone an inspired, empowered and loving New Year!