ENDORSE
'PUT CHILDREN FIRST: END ORPHANAGE CARE' CAMPAIGN
It is estimated that at least 5.4 million children live in institutions worldwide. Yet over 80% of these have at least one living parent. Research has shown the harm of orphanage care on children’s health, development and wellbeing and how orphanage volunteering is working to perpetuate these institutional systems that separate children from their families and communities. There is now a global movement to end both practices and you can become part of it by endorsing our End Orphanage Care recommendations.
END ORPHANAGE CARE: OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
To support this care reform, Comhlámh and the End Orphanage Volunteering Working Group are proposing the below 4 key recommendations for policy change so that more children can grow up with their families, where their needs and rights are best met and where they can thrive.
ENDORSE ‘PUT CHILDREN FIRST: END ORPHANAGE CARE’ RECOMMENDATIONS
Comhlámh and the End Orphanage Working Group are seeking your endorsement of these recommendations. For more information and/or to endorse as an organisation please contact Chris: chris@comhlamh.org.
ENDORSERS OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
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Endorsers of the Put Children First: End Orphanage Care campaign’s recommendations
The Association of Mixed-Race Irish
Brighter Communities Worldwide
Board of Irish College Societies
Cheers – Developing Healthcare Together
The Gambia Ireland Volunteers in Education (GIVE)
International Forum for Volunteering in Development
Irish Association of Social Workers
Irish National Teachers Organisation
ABOUT OUR ‘PUT CHILDREN FIRST: END ORPHANAGE CARE’ CAMPAIGN
Comhláh and the End Orphanage Volunteering Working Group are calling on you to help change how children are cared for.
Orphanage care is harmful to children and orphanage volunteering increases this harm. Children belong in families where they can get the love and attention they need.
Support our Put Children First Campaign, so that more children can grow up in a family. Make an individual pledge that you won’t support orphanage volunteering or visits.
Endorse our policy asks to support global care reform as an organisation, university, college or other body.
THE ‘END ORPHANAGE VOLUNTEERING WORKING GROUP’
The ‘End Orphanage Volunteering Working Group’ works to increase awareness of the harm of orphanage volunteering and the need to move away from institutions towards family and community-based care. Members of the working group include Comhlámh, Maintain Hope, Misean Cara, Nurture Africa, Tearfund Ireland, and See Beyond Borders.
