This section includes news articles, blogs, and other media posts about orphanage volunteering.
Battle for the Family’s Soul: Anatomy of the Orphanage Phenomenon in Kenya
"While all the focus has been on [recent headlines in Kenya] and the ensuing drama," writes Simon Njoroge in this piece for the Elephant, "a more profound discourse concerning the suitability of the orphanage as a model of care and protection of children has been ongoing for some years among policymakers, practitioners and childcare advocates."
Think before donating to orphanages
In this opinion piece for The Daily Star, Laila Khondkar - Head of Advocacy and Policy-Child Protection at Save the Children International - explains why donating money to orphanages, though well-intentioned, may cause more harm than good.
Experiencing the Alternative: Come and Learn about Family-based Care in Cambodia
In this blog post from the Georgetown University Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Stacie Ellinger of Children in Families (a Cambodian NGO) writes about a new program that CIF has launched called Rok Kern, which "offers an alternative program to community groups that would ordinarily visit orphanages in Cambodia."
Orphanages Will Not Stop Orphanage Tourism: Who Will Put Research into Action?
In this blog post from the Georgetown University Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Sarah Chhin - technical advisor to M’lup Russey, an NGO in Cambodia that assists orphans and vulnerable children - describes an incident in which foreign volunteers tried to block efforts to close an orphanage in Cambodia and reintegrate those children into families, describing the impacts of orphanage voluntourism and calling on volunteers, agencies, and charities to support communities and families rather than institutionalization.
We need a more sustainable solution to the global orphan crisis
In this opinion piece for the Christian Post, Kristi Gleason, vice president of global programs at Bethany Christian Services, explains why the US Christian community and others should be working to end the institutional care of children and promote family reunification and family-based care for children.
The harm of orphanages (part 3): the lack of stable and consistent love
In this blog post, Stephen Ucembe, Regional Advocacy Manager for Hope and Homes for Children in East and Southern Africa, explores the differences in relationship experiences between children who grew up in orphanages and those who grew up in families.
64 child care homes operating without meeting standard
"As many as 880 children, including 249 girls, were rescued from 64 child care homes operating in various districts, without meeting minimum standards prescribed by the existing law," according to this article from the Himalayan Times.
122 rescued from illegal child care home
The "Central Child Welfare Board, in coordination with the [Nepali] National Centre for Children at Risk, local level representatives and police, rescued a total of 122 children from Sukedhara-based Aishworya Children’s Home being operated without meeting minimum standards prescribed by the existing law," according to this article from the Himalayan Times.
The harm of orphanages (part 2): weakening family and community structures in Africa
In this blog post for Hope and Homes for Children, Stephen Ucembe writes about the damaging impacts of orphanages in the African context.
The harm of orphanages (part 1): the illusion of protection
In this blog post for Hope and Homes for Children, Stephen Ucembe writes about the damaging impacts of orphanages in the African context.