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How many children in orphanages have a living parent?

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It's true. 8 out of 10 children living in orphanages have a living parent.

Help us change the way we care

Catholic Relief Services and Maestral International have partnered with other organizations to change the way we care for children around the world.

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There’s a smarter way

Around the globe, poverty prevents many families from providing food, shelter, and basic education for their children. This forces parents to look for alternative ways to meet these basic needs. Sometimes poverty pushes families to give their children to an orphanage. And sadly, sometimes parents are deceived into doing so. What if we could help families so they never have to make this heartbreaking decision?

Understand the issue we aim to solve ›

We are already seeing results in Kenya and Moldova

Thanks to a strong commitment from the Moldovan government, the number of children in institutions has decreased by 86% over the past ten years and the number of disabled children living in residential schools by 76%. The number of children in a family- and community-based care has increased by 219%.

Kenya is committed to the protection of children’s rights. With a strong cultural history of kinship care or care by the extended family, Kenya is now moving away from orphanages toward reuniting children with families or finding a family for every child.

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Supporting care leavers

Everyday, all over the world, kids who have spent all or part of their lives in orphanages and other institutions age out of the system. These young adults leave care to fend for themselves even though they have never participated in or been part of a community.

With no support and little understanding of how to function in the outside world, young adults struggle to lead full and productive lives.

Together we can Change The Way We Care now and prevent these young people from ever having to be faced with such challenges as adults.

Discover stories from other countries ›

Changing the Way We Care℠ consortium partners…

Have come together to bring their decades of experience and expertise, working with vulnerable children around the world, to Change The Way We Care.

Meet our Team ›

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Other ways to get involved

Every child deserves a family and together we can Change the Way We Care by getting involved in a variety of ways that our time and resources allow. It doesn’t take much and there are so many small ways to make a difference.

Choose how to get involved ›

Do you support an orphanage overseas? Did you know that by trying to do good you may unknowingly be supporting a harmful and growing industry? Contact us to learn how to you can change the way YOU care.

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Follow Changing the Way We Care on Twitter to stay up to date as we work to help children and families throughout the world.

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