#abandonment

‘Orphanages’ Luring Children with the Promise of an Education

Posted on January 15, 2019January 15, 2019 by Florence

All around the world, people are becoming more and more aware of the importance of educating children. People are realising that the best chance their children have of escaping poverty or moving up in the world, is to go to school, preferably past primary level.

In itself, this is a positive development. It has caused more and more children to be sent to school and to be given greater opportunities. However, unfortunately there is also a flip-side to the desire for education: children ending up in institutions.

Poverty as Reason for Separation from Parents

Posted on January 10, 2019September 30, 2019 by Florence

Everyone one pretty much agrees that poverty should never be a reason for children to be separated from their parents. The UN Guidelines for Alternative Care specifically states that no child should be taken away from their parents because of poverty. And very many countries have this stated in their legislation as well.

And yet… in many countries, poverty is known to be one of the main reasons – and often THE main reason – for children ending up institutions. Why this is the case is complicated and multi-faceted.

Why Are They There?

Posted on January 7, 2019September 30, 2019 by Florence

In Guatemala 75% of parents with children in institutions surveyed said that with a little support, they would be able to take care of their own children. These are the things we need to look for. In order to know how to get children out of institutions, it is helpful to find out how they got there. This will give a starting point to finding out what needs to be done to prevent the children from ending up in institutions.

Children with Disabilities

Posted on December 3, 2018September 30, 2019 by Florence

A five-year-old girl, who weighs 6kg and spend 20-22 hours a day in a baby crib that is a bit too small for her, at an adoption centre where she has lived for over 4 years now. All because she has cerebral palsy.

Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. A good time to take a moment to look at the situation of children with disabilities in institutions. Unfortunately, it is not a pretty one.

Podcast Abandonment: No Other Option

Posted on November 19, 2018March 30, 2024 by Florence

The second podcast in the series and the first introducing stories from real life. Today’s podcast contains two stories, both chosen to illustrate why parents might decide to abandon their children.

The next podcast will appear in 4 weeks.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (15.8MB)

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How Did Orphanages Spread?

Posted on November 1, 2018September 30, 2019 by Florence

A lot of people think that residential childcare institutions, or ‘orphanages’, are an unavoidable part of life. They think that it is the only way to provide care for children without parents and for children whose parents are unable to care for them. So, it follows, that all countries must have them and that they have been around for as long as settled community living, as we know it, has been in existence. This kind of thinking is illustrated by the headline: “Rwanda Wants to Become Africa’s First Orphanage-Free Country: Here’s How”. While Rwanda’s aim to be orphanage-free is laudable, they will not be the first country.

Residential childcare institutions are not universal, and they certainly are not the only or the best way to provide care to children without parental care. So let’s have a look at how ‘orphanages’ became so widespread and how widespread they are.

Who Ends Up in Institutions?

Posted on October 29, 2018September 30, 2019 by Florence

In the course of my research work for the ‘world list’ it has become clear to me that the reasons why children end up in alternative care, and particularly in institutions, are surprisingly similar across many countries. It also became apparent that there is a big difference between why children in high income countries are in alternative care and why children in other countries are in alternative care.

Earlier this month I promised a blog on the reasons why children end up in institutions, why they are abandoned. Here is that blog.