We have been establishing Small Family Homes in Eritrea, through local partners, since 1999. The government of Eritrea is commited to ensuring that children deprived of parental care grow up in a family environment in their areas of origin, if possible. In a country brought to its knees by the devastation of war, the Eritrean achievement of reunifying over 42,000 children with families or close relatives is outstanding.

Unfortunately, there are children who are left without any relatives to care for them. These children were taken to large orphanages in Eritrea, although the government realised this was not the best way of raising children. Lacking experience in setting up a state run alternative care and support service, the government approached us to work in partnership and lead the way in implementing the project.

We now have family homes across Eritrea providing family-based care for orphaned and abandoned children in their original communities.