As more and more governments start to transition care from institutional to family-based alternative care, and donors increasingly become aware of the harm that institutionalisation causes children, the orphanage industry (running ‘orphanages’ for profit) is falling apart. Removing children from their families, putting them in institutions and calling them orphans was once so profitable, foreign donors and volunteers would be queuing to bring in money. Now, it is becoming harder and harder to convince donors to hand over their money for institutional care. So, people running residential childcare institutions are looking around for other options.
Continue reading “Don’t Let Boarding Schools Replace ‘Orphanages’”Category: Blog
Good Addiction and Bad Addiction
As I gradually gained a more detailed understanding of the effects of institutionalisation on children and exactly how attachment works, I have started to realise that human beings are wired for addiction. It is part of our basic development and survival. When development happens the way it is supposed to, addiction is a great strength and support, it helps us survive. When it does not, it can become a major hurdle and can destroy us.
Continue reading “Good Addiction and Bad Addiction”Harmful Practices and Children with Disabilities
All around the world, there is a growing recognition that certain traditional practices that have been handed down from generation to generation are in fact harmful to children. Even though these traditional practices continue to have great cultural significance, more and more people are convinced that this does not outweigh the risks posed to the children. While progress in protecting children from harmful practices is gradual and at times slow, it is undeniable that there is progress and that the momentum is growing. However, unfortunately, in many cases what people consider harmful practices is confined to a very specific list.
Continue reading “Harmful Practices and Children with Disabilities”Ensuring Help Does Not Harm Ukrainian Children
It has taken me a while to feel able to write a blog about the situation of children from Ukraine during the current war. Even though from the start I felt that I wanted to. The main problem, I think, was that there are just so many aspects to the problems that the children are facing, that it is hard to know where to start. A lot of organisations and individuals have jumped into action and are doing absolutely everything they can to keep Ukrainian children as safe as possible. Unfortunately, under the current circumstances, it feels a lot like trying to carry water in a sieve. However, with many of the basics being addressed, things are starting to crystalise a bit more for me.
Continue reading “Ensuring Help Does Not Harm Ukrainian Children”The Gap Between Policy and Implementation
When working on transition of care, it is always important to be aware of the legislative and policy framework that exists in the country in question. If there are no frameworks supporting family strengthening, family-based alternative care and prevention of unnecessary separation of children from their families, this is a major obstacle. However, the opposite also happens. In some countries, there are lots of great statements and frameworks in legislation and policy, but actual practical implementation is often slow or practically non-existent.
Continue reading “The Gap Between Policy and Implementation”The Best Interest of the Teenage Mother
Dealing with child marriage, mentioned earlier in blog HERE, is not simple or straightforward when it comes down to the practice. We can all agree that we want to prevent it, but when it has already happened, it can be complicated to know what the best course of action is. This also goes for teenage motherhood, whether this is caused by child marriage, rape, or other causes. It is simple to say that it should not happen and that teenagers are better off not being mothers. That is all quite true. But when you come to the practice of a pregnant teenager, or a teenager with a baby it is not so simple.
Continue reading “The Best Interest of the Teenage Mother”The Results of the DataCare Project
The moment has finally come. Just before Christmas, the technical report and the policy brief of the DataCare Project were ready to be made public. The crown on more than a year and a half of work (not including the preparations, which I was not involved in) on a very ambitious project. It has been a real joy to have been a part of the research team that made it happen.
Continue reading “The Results of the DataCare Project”Child Marriage: Theory and Practice
Internationally there is a wide consensus that child marriage is a harmful practice for girls and that it needs to be eliminated. When you are aware of the risks and consequences to girls, this is not a hard thing to agree with. And a lot of work is being done to put an end to child marriages. In many countries where it has long been a tradition, it is no longer allowed and may even have been made a criminal offence. This all seems very sensible and a sign of progress, from a distance. Until reality comes knocking and everything becomes infinitely more complicated.
Continue reading “Child Marriage: Theory and Practice”Children’s Lives Matter, So Let’s Fix the Contract
Recently, I was giving training on case management to a team working to safely reintegrate institutionalised children into their families. As is usual, the issue of challenging behaviour of the children and where it comes from came up. As we were discussing this, I was suddenly struck by a link to something Trevor Noah – a South African comedian in the US – said so eloquently last year.
Continue reading “Children’s Lives Matter, So Let’s Fix the Contract”UN Day of General Discussion: Children in Alternative Care
Last month, the UN Day of General Discussion took place. Usually, this happens every two years and it was due last year. However, with the pandemic, it got postponed to this year and was held virtually for the very first time. It had been organised by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, and it had been long anticipated by people working in my field. It was considered the next step after the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children.
Continue reading “UN Day of General Discussion: Children in Alternative Care”