#FamilyBasedSolutions

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.

Don’t Take My Word for It

Posted on October 8, 2018October 6, 2018 by Florence

Recently, Lumos has held a major event in the US. Lumos is a London-based organisation that for the past 13 years has worked very hard and gained increasing momentum to achieve global deinstitutionalisation. And now they have released a video that was taken at that event.

In the summer of 2017, I had the privilege of attending Lumos’ ‘Introduction to Deinstitutionalisation’. For four days I was able to exchange experiences and have discussions with a variety of representatives of major international organisations involved in child protection and of several government bodies from across the world. As well as increasing my knowledge and understanding of various details of how to make sure deinstitutionalisation is done responsibly.

Reasons for Abandonment

Posted on October 2, 2018October 6, 2018 by Florence

In a later blog I will share with you more information about why children end up being abandoned and/or placed in institutions. While the reasons can be many, the bottom line is almost invariably that a mother is trying to give a child a better life or even is trying to save his or her life.

Before I find the opportunity to write that blog, however, I want to share this article with you, which gives some insight into one of these reasons:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-45670750

Learning the Lesson and Providing Real Help: Indonesia

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

In the past days, the news has been full of accounts about the terrible earthquake and tsunami that hit the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on 28 September. A major disaster with a confirmed death toll of many hundreds and rising daily, with some people saying it may well reach thousands. Help will be needed for people to start to rebuild their lives. And many children will likely be separated from their parents and other relatives, either permanently or temporarily.

This brings back to mind the situation in Indonesia when a massive tsunami struck in December 2004. And it rings major warning bells: what happened in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami must not be repeated this time, for the sake of the children.

The Danger of Voluntourism

Posted on September 24, 2018September 30, 2019 by Florence

It seems like such a good idea, like such a kind and generous thing to do, to go to a different country to spend time in an ‘orphanage’ giving your time and love to underprivileged children. It is almost always done with the best intentions and from a real desire to make a difference, to improve these children’s lives.

When you arrive, it really looks like you were the person they were waiting for all this time. A swarm of children runs to you, surrounds you, tries to hug you, or sit on your lap. The second-hand clothes that you brought look better than what the children are wearing. The extra food and treats you buy are accepted as manna from heaven. And when you leave there are many tears, on both sides. As you leave, while you are sad to leave the children behind, you are comforted by the thought that you clearly did make a real, positive, difference in these children’s lives. Unfortunately, all is not what it seems.

Introduction: Who?

Posted on September 10, 2018January 5, 2020 by Florence

Let’s start with a little introduction, a little more personal than the ‘About’ page. Who am I and how did I get here?

That’s a really good question and I will fight the impulse to become too philosophical or existentialist in answering it. So I’ll start with the first part. I am Florence Koenderink, a Dutch woman who has lived in Scotland for the past several years and who works all over the world, wherever I’m asked to go. The more formal details on that you can look up on the ‘About’ page.

Continue reading “Introduction: Who?”