Coronavirus and orphanages

For children in vulnerable families, Coronavirus is not just a health crisis—it places them at urgent risk of losing their loving homes and childhoods to the neglect of an orphanage. Children already confined to orphanages are facing increased levels of abuse, harm and infection due to staff shortages. These children are voiceless, forgotten and need your help now.

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We’re working tirelessly to keep families together and protect children. We must ensure that orphanages are never a solution—neither now, nor in the recovery from this pandemic.

Our response to Coronavirus
Our Chief Executive, Mark Waddington CBE, has written to supporters explaining how we plan to overcome the challenges of Coronavirus—and how they can help.

Read Mark’s letter

Latest news

Hope and Homes for Children is at the forefront of a growing global movement to eliminate orphanages globally.

News

“In my case, I had no one, absolutely nothing… I had spent so many years in there”
New research reveals how unprepared and unsupported young Latin American people feel when they leave orphanages and other kinds of institutional care. The experience of young care-leavers must guide reform in the region.
Experts join call for urgent reform as science review confirms: orphanages harm children
International child care experts agree that reform is urgently needed to replace institutions with family-based care for all children, after completing a comprehensive review of research into the scale and impact of orphanage use worldwide.
A newly merged DfID and FCO must be made to work—and action is needed now
While we do not endorse the Government’s decision, we do believe that with decisive action in the following areas the UK can continue to influence international development effectively.
Support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery keeps children with disabilities in Rwanda safe
By supporting our work in Rwanda, players of People’s Postcode Lottery are keeping children with disabilities secure in loving families, and safe from orphanages, during the Coronavirus crisis.

Latest blog posts

Blog

Life after the orphanage: Listening to care-leavers in Latin America
A recent research project encouraged care leavers across Latin America to share their own experiences—in their own words—and to help shine a light on the path to change. Victoria Olarte, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, reflects on its impact.
The Lockdown Diaries, July 2020. “It’s like fleas in a dog…”
From WhatsApp calls in Sudan to painting competitions in Romania, poetry writing in Bulgaria to games in Moldova, our teams used great ingenuity to find out about the lockdown experience of 168 children and young people. Joe Glackin considers what these young voices ask us, in return.
How DFID funding helps keep thousands of children safe and free from orphanages
As DFID prepares to merge with the Foreign Office, we look back at the life-changing impact UK Aid has made to our work.
“What can we do now from the kitchen table for our children, families and young people?”
Radu Tohatan, our team manager in Romania, was on the ground when the Coronavirus crisis hit. He describes how lockdown has changed his working life and its impact on the families he is striving to protect.

A global movement for change

Hope and Homes for Children is working towards a day where every child can grow up in a loving family. We know we will only achieve this by working with others. Through our partnerships with national governments, civil society organisations, international agencies, corporate donors and committed individuals, we are helping to build a global movement that will eliminate orphanages in our lifetime.

Our work

In numbers

Every child wants a safe, loving family to grow up in. But over 8 million children confined to orphanages around the world are denied this, with often catastrophic effects.

Transforming childcare systems

Hope and Homes for Children is working alongside governments and civil society organisations in over 30 countries to dismantle orphanage-based care systems. Our transformation model is driving reform and laying the foundations for long-lasting change.

Children’s stories

We’re inspired by the courage and resilience of the children we work for. Here are some of their stories.

Stories

Whatever the crisis, we’re there to keep Therese and her family together
With our help, Therese’s mum had been able to train as a tailor and earn an income to support the family. But when Coronavirus hit, lockdown meant the family became deprived of essential supplies—until our team in Rwanda stepped in with emergency support.
Tatiana fought to survive orphanage care; she shouldn’t have to fight for her future, too
Tatiana is nine years-old now and knows just what she needs to be happy. But then Tatiana has always known her own mind; even as a tiny child, trapped in an orphanage cot
Paul’s story: Why “The blackest plan” wasn’t his only way to stay fed and warm
Keeping their family together is the best way to keep Paul and his siblings safe.
Carrol’s story
“We used to be distressed, wondering how our child was being treated in the institution but now we are quite sure of how he is treated because he is in our hands.”

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