Our Regional Advocacy Manager Stephen Ucembe gives his reflections from the World Without Orphans – Hope in Action Forum 2026
Last week in Bucharest, Romania, Christians from across the world gathered under the World Without Orphans movement to refresh, reflect, plan, and dream boldly about how to strengthen care for orphaned and vulnerable children globally. Beyond just acknowledging the significant role of the faith sector, Hope and Homes for Children joined this forum as part of Homecoming—a coalition of organisations that believes children thrive in families and is focused on equipping the Church in Britain and Ireland to support family care. Our participation in this forum reflects our shared belief in the growing Christian movement that is championing family care and working together to end the institutionalisation of children.
A major highlight of the forum was the launch of the World Without Orphans Roadmap: Foundation for Active Engagement. Its vision—that every child grows up in a safe and loving family—deeply resonates with Hope and Homes for Children’s commitment to ending institutional care. We firmly believe that every child deserves love, belonging, identity, and the warmth that only a family can provide.
Today, an estimated 5.4 million children are living in institutions. This staggering figure is a reminder that none of us can tackle this challenge alone. A clear message echoed throughout the gathering: working in isolation is not enough. Collective impact unlocks progress and sustainable change.
For meaningful transformation to take root, collaboration must occur at every level—within our organisations, across faith communities, and alongside governments and sectors such as health, education, and justice. The drivers of family separation are complex, and our responses must be equally multifaceted. As an organisation, we are ready to join hands with faith‑centred movements, sharing decades of experience and expertise. No single group holds all the resources or all the answers. Yet together, especially in financially challenging times, we can use what we have more effectively and achieve far greater impact.
Throughout the conference, one conviction united us: the family is the fundamental unit of society. Societies thrive—or fall—based on how they support this unit. Children cannot be understood or supported in isolation. When we view children outside their families, we risk defining them solely as “orphans,” even when they are not. The biblical call is not to create or reinforce orphanhood, but to ensure that every child enjoys the love and belonging of a family.
For decades, many churches have established orphanages with good intentions. Yet these efforts have often, unintentionally, resulted in children being separated from their families and communities and placed in institutions. It was encouraging to witness a growing movement of Christians and churches now taking a firm stand for families—recognising family as both a core value and a pragmatic, effective model of care.
Another powerful theme throughout the gathering was the importance of prevention. Prevention is often invisible and rarely celebrated. It requires a shift in attitude and perspective—from responding after harm has occurred to identifying risks early and supporting families before they reach crisis. While the emphasis on “rescue” may feel impactful, rescue often comes too late. Effective prevention means working with families and communities to strengthen them long before separation happens. Many children currently in institutions would never have been there if preventive measures had been available.
Across our work—in Africa, Europe, and Asia—we have seen the immense strength of the church in holding families together through intervention, prevention, and community cohesion. We have also witnessed the church’s vital role in holding governments accountable. Yet we have equally seen how parts of the church, often unknowingly, contribute to family separation by establishing, funding, and promoting orphanages.
This dual reality underscores an essential truth: the church holds enormous influence—and with that, enormous responsibility.
As we reflect on the Bucharest gathering, we join the movement in calling upon the global church to rally around the shared goal of strengthening family care. The movement we seek to enhance is driven by a simple but profound commitment: nochild should be left behind. While some Christians have misunderstood what it truly means to care for orphans, many others are courageously challenging outdated models and embracing solutions rooted in family and community.
This gathering reminded us that meaningful change is possible when we come together with humility, shared purpose, and a deep conviction that every child deserves a family.
Stephen Ucembe
Regional Advocacy Manager and Kenya Representative, Hope and Homes for Children
