Difference between revisions of "Orphanage" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
(Started)
 
(19 intermediate revisions by 8 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
{{Claimed}}{{Started}}
+
{{Images OK}}{{Submitted}}{{Approved}}{{Paid}}{{Copyedited}}
 
[[Category:Politics and social sciences]]
 
[[Category:Politics and social sciences]]
 
[[Category:Social work]]
 
[[Category:Social work]]
  
−
An '''orphanage''' (historically an '''orphan's asylum''' before the latter word took on its modern [[psychiatric hospital|insane asylum]] connotation) is an institution dedicated to caring for [[orphan]]s (children who have lost their parents) and abused, [[child abandonment|abandoned]], and neglected children. Largely seen as an inferior alternative to [[foster care]] and [[adoption]], orphanages may be privately or publicly funded, and many are run by religious organizations.
+
[[Image:Thomas kennington orphans 1885.jpg|thumb|right| “Orphans” by Thomas Kennington.]]
 +
An '''orphanage''' is an institution dedicated to caring for children who have lost their parents, or for children believed to be [[child abuse|abused]], [[child abandonment|abandoned]], or generally neglected. Largely seen as an inferior alternative to [[foster care]] and [[adoption]], orphanages may be privately or publicly funded, or may be run by religious organizations. An '''orphan''' is a person, typically a child, who has lost both parents. Historically, certain birth parents were often pressured or forced to give up their children to orphanages, such as children [[illegitimacy|born out of wedlock]] or into [[poverty|poor]] families. An obligation of support is often imposed upon [[parent]]s or grandparents under nearly every system of [[law]]; however natural sympathy and a willingness to support the common good often allow for the care of orphans to become a public duty.
 +
{{toc}}
 +
At the beginning of the twenty-first century more than 200 million orphans were reported throughout the world; this number includes all children internally displaced, [[refugee]]s of [[conflict]]s and natural disasters, mandated child soldiers, those enrolled in orphanage institutions, and those estimated to be [[homeless]], living on the streets. While efforts to improve the conditions in orphanages are important, the greater effort has moved to finding stable homes for children in such situations, where they may have the chance to experience the [[love]] of [[family]] despite their tragic past.
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
The first orphanages, called "orphanotrophia," were founded in the [[1st century]] amid various alternative means of [[Orphan#Societal treatment of orphaned children|orphan support]]. ([[Halakha|Jewish law]], for instance, prescribed care for the widow and orphan, and [[History of Athens|Athenian law]] supported all orphans of those killed in [[military service]] until the [[Age of majority|age of eighteen]].) The care of orphans was particularly commended to [[bishop]]s and, during the [[Middle Ages]], to [[monastery|monasteries]]. Many orphanages practiced some form of "binding-out" in which children, as soon as they were old enough, were given as [[Apprenticeship|apprentices]] to households. This would ensure their support and their learning an occupation.
+
[[Image:Wiki Moscow Orphanage, Moskvoretskaya Embankment.jpg|thumb|left|300px|The [[Moscow Orphanage]], founded in 1763.]]
 +
In Biblical times, small communities were deemed responsible for the care of the fatherless, the stranger, and the [[widow]] by sharing with them the excess fruits of their harvests. Under early [[Roman]] law, no provisions were made for either widow or orphan, though early Athenians viewed such duties as economic and [[patriotism|patriotic]]; the state educated all children of citizens killed in battle until the age of 18.  
  
−
Historically, certain birth parents were often pressured or forced to give up their children to orphanages: those of children [[illegitimacy|born out of wedlock]] or into poor families; those with disabilities or of children born with disabilities; and those with girls born into [[patriarchy|patriarchial]] societies. Such practices are assumed to be quite rare in the modern Western world, thanks to improved [[social security]] and changed social attitudes, but remain in force in many other countries.
+
[[Christian]] [[missionary|missionaries]] established various [[disaster relief|relief]] agencies for the care of orphaned or abandoned children; workers founded children’s [[hospital]]s and asylums throughout the East. Under [[Justinian]], the care of orphans was directed toward the Church. It became the duty of various church officials to raise, educate, and establish orphaned children both of the male and female sex.
 +
 +
During the [[Middle Ages]], the care of orphaned children became the responsibility of [[monastery|monasteries]]. Under monastery care, orphaned children were provided with both shelter and education in academics and trades. Many orphanages practiced some form of "binding-out" in which children, as soon as they were old enough, were given as [[Apprenticeship|apprentices]] to households. This would ensure both their financial support and their learning of a useful trade.
  
−
Since the 1950s, after a series of scandals involving the coercion of birth parents and abuse of orphans (notably at [[Georgia Tann]]'s Tennessee Children's Home Society), the United States and other countries have moved to deinstitutionalize the care of vulnerable children—that is, close down orphanages in favor of foster care and accelerated adoption. Moreover, as it is no longer common for birth parents in Western countries to give up their children, and as far fewer people die of diseases or violence while their children are still young, the need to operate large orphanages has decreased. These factors have also resulted in a dramatic reduction of local orphans available for adoption in first-world countries, necessitating journeys by many would-be adoptive parents to orphanages in the [[Third World]].
+
Throughout [[Great Britain]], between the years of 1855 and 1898, more than fifty-one houses of [[Sisters of Charity]] were established to serve the orphan population of Northern Europe. Under subsequent English [[Poor Law]]s, the care of [[poverty|poor]], abandoned, or orphaned children remained the responsibility of the Church; parishes relied on systems of apprenticeship, indentured service, or [[workhouse]]s to aid in the influx of homeless children and their growing dependence on the state. The exposure of such systems by early social reformers and artists as brutal boarding establishments led to drastic reforms of Britain’s [[social welfare]] system. Under [[Queen Victoria]], numerous private orphanage asylums were created that maintained significantly improved conditions.  
  
−
== Current usage ==
+
In [[Colonial America]], poor, abandoned, or orphaned children became the responsibility of the local town or county. This responsibility was later shifted to [[almshouse]]s, establishments created solely for the care of society’s unfortunate. The colonies also made significant use of indentured services. In 1875, the state of [[New York]] began placing poor, abandoned, or orphaned children into the custody of established families or newly opened orphan asylums. Over time, this system of social care would develop and expand, eventually shaping the institutional orphanages that are relied upon today.
−
Today, the orphanage remains common and necessary in most parts of the world, even if the term has given way to such softer language as "group home," "children's home," or "rehabilitation center." They are not common in the European community, and [[Romania]] in particular has struggled to reduce the visibility of its children's institutions to meet conditions of its entry into the [[European Union]]. In the United States, the largest remaining orphanage is the [[Bethesda Orphanage]], founded in 1740 by [[George Whitefield]]. Another famous American orphanage is [[Girls and Boys Town]], located outside [[Omaha, Nebraska]].  
 
  
 +
==Operations==
 +
[[Image:Lower clapton orphanage.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Lower Clapton Orphanage. Hackney, England.]]
 +
The effective management of orphanage institutions requires innovative solutions to many complex problems that arise from a child’s [[abandonment]] or [[desertion]]. In many instances, orphaned children are regularly assessed both physically and mentally in order to gauge their progress in social adaptation. Successful orphanages aim to provide adequate goods and services to their inhabitants; often times orphanages provide both [[education]] and [[healthcare]] for the children. In most circumstances, institutional buildings must be safe and well equipped with adequate sanitation, and must provide a social environment thoroughly conducive to [[health]]. 
  
 +
Many orphanages follow similar methodologies in the effective upbringing of orphaned children. One common method employed by many orphanages is to create or emplace orphaned children with an environment of “family life.” This can be accomplished by “boarding-out,” or “placing-out.” The boarding-out of an orphaned child involves the payment of the orphanage institution to a [[family]] who has agreed to house the orphaned child or children for a temporary period of time. Such tactics originated under English [[Poor Law]] and were designed as an alternative option to enrollment in a [[poorhouse]]. A major weakness to the boarding-out methodology is the monetary incentive it poses; orphanages often face the danger of [[profit-seeking]] amongst those offering to care for an orphaned child.
  
−
==Orphan==
+
In contrast, the placing-out of an orphaned child is generally agreed to provide a more permanent and effective environment of family life than the former option. Under placing-out practices, an orphaned child or group of children is placed into an established home without any form of compensation. Similar to [[adoption]] tactics, the orphaned child is given a more permanent sense of home, a more effective environment in which to develop, and more similar surroundings to a standard family group. Under many placing-out experiences, the orphaned child and participating family group often foster a sense of affection and general maturation, and equally gain as much from the [[charity|charitable]] experience.
  
 +
Many psychological studies surround the operations and effectiveness of orphanage institutions. For example, [[John Bowlby]]'s [[attachment theory]], provides both a descriptive and explanatory framework for the discussion of affectionate relationships between human beings. Bowlby’s work stresses the [[attitude]]s and behaviors of young children toward their adult caregivers, both blood related and not. Attachment theory focuses on the [[emotion]]al experiences that motivate one’s behavior, and one’s [[cognition|cognitive]] and [[memory]] functions. It provides unique insight into the effectiveness of orphanage operations, boarding-out methodologies, and placing-out tactics.
  
−
[[Image:Thomas kennington orphans 1885.jpg|thumb|right|Orphans, by Thomas Kennington]]
+
== Orphanages around the World ==
−
An '''orphan''' (from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''ορφανός'') is a person (typically a child), who has lost both parents, often through death. One legal definition used in the USA is someone bereft through "death or disappearance of, abandonment or desertion by, or separation or loss from, of both parents" [http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/fororphan.htm]. Common usage limits the term to children, (or the young of animals) who have lost both parents. On this basis ''half-orphans'' are those with one surviving parent.
+
[[Image:Kongens_gate_1_Oslo.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Kongens Gate Orphanage. Oslo, Norway.]]
 +
According to the [[United Nations Children's Fund]] (UNICEF), there exist more than 210 million orphans throughout the world. Of these orphaned children, more than 86 million orphans are living in [[India]], more than 10 million orphans are living throughout [[Mexico]], more than 3.5 million orphaned children exist throughout [[Asia]], and more than 5.5 orphaned children are presently living in [[Africa]]. The number of orphaned children in Africa is expected to rise to more than 44 million by the year 2010 as a direct result of the widespread [[HIV/AIDS]] epidemic. Other [[statistics]] show more than 1.5 million orphans living throughout [[Eastern Europe]], nearly 400,000 orphans living throughout [[Latin America]], and more than 135,000 orphaned children enrolled within the U.S. [[foster care]] system. As a direct result of these numbers, more than 35,000 children die each day due to hunger and malnutrition.  
  
−
In certain animal [[species]] where the father typically abandons the mother and child at or prior to birth, the child will be called an orphan when the mother dies regardless of the condition of the father.
+
===China===
 +
In 2003, the ''Chinese World News'' estimated there to be more than 100,000 children housed in orphanages throughout [[China]]. However, significant debate remains regarding the actual number of [[homeless]] children in China, with various human rights agencies believing that this official number of Chinese orphans is alarmingly low. It has been suggested that this report failed to account for most of the country’s abandoned children and infants living without state funding, and acknowledged only the minor portion of orphaned children enrolled in state care. As of 2005, UNICEF estimated China to hold more than 20 million orphaned children throughout the nation.
 +
 
 +
===Iraq===
 +
According to UNICEF, the number of orphans throughout [[Iraq]] remains around 2,000. In 1990, Iraq housed more than twenty-five state homes for the care of orphaned children; this number has steadily declined in more recent years. In 1999 UNICEF recommended the significant rebuilding of state-run facilities to house the national capacity of orphans.
  
−
== Significant charities that help orphans ==
+
===Romania===
−
Prior to the establishment of state care for orphans in First World countries, many private charities existed to take care of destitute orphans.
+
The epidemic of orphaned children throughout [[Romania]] originally began in 1965. Under [[Communism|Communist]] dictator [[Nicolae Ceaucescu]], Romania’s population was organized to swell to nearly 30 million. Ceaucescu, aiming to increase military power in numbers, employed drastic measures to increase the country’s birth rate; by law, each Romanian woman was required to have at least four children, [[birth control]] was outlawed until the age of 45, and families with less than three children were heavily [[tax]]ed. Ceaucescu’s oppressive regime created a boom of unwanted children that further destroyed the unstable Romanian [[economy]]. Such conditions led to a rapid increase in the number of abandoned Romanian children, a problem that remains prevalent throughout Romania.<ref>House of Angels [http://www.angelsinneed.org/30837/31632.html Why are there so many Abandoned Children in Romania?] Retrieved September 17, 2007.</ref>
  
−
*[[SOS Children's Villages]] is the world's largest non-governmental, non-denominational child welfare organization. Its mission is to provide stable homes and loving families for orphaned and abandoned children around the world.
+
===Russia===
 +
[[Image:Moscow, School in B.Kharitonyevsky Lane.jpg|thumb|left|200 px|Moscow, corner of Bolshoy Kharitonyevsky and Bolshoy Kozlovsky lanes. Orphanage built in 1895, architect Max Hoeppener]]
 +
According to a 2003 study by the Russian Health Ministry, there exist more than 700,000 orphaned children and teenagers living throughout [[Russia]] in state-run institutions. More than 15,000 orphans graduate from these programs each year; 40 percent of all graduates frequent Russian [[prison]]s, and an average of 10 percent are believed to commit [[suicide]]. <ref>Ascent Russian Orphan Aid Organization [http://www.iorphan.org/russian_orphans/index.asp Orphan Facts and Statistics] Retrieved September 17, 2007. </ref>
  
−
*[[Dr Barnardo|Dr Barnardo's Homes]] (now simply [[Barnardo's]])
+
===Rwanda===
 +
According to the African Region Human Development Series, in recent years there existed more than 400,000 orphans in [[Rwanda]] of which only 5,000 received state care. With the spread of [[AIDS]], UNICEF has estimated the actual number of orphaned children throughout Rwanda to be more than 800,000.<ref>K. Subbarao, Angel Mattimore, and Kathrin Plangemann, [http://siteresources.worldbank.org/AFRICAEXT/Resources/African_Orphans.pdf “Social Protection of Africa’s Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children.”] ''African Region Human Development Working Series Paper''. Retrieved September 17, 2007.</ref>
  
−
*[http://www.identityfoundation.org/ Identity Foundation] provides education, medical aid and counseling to all deprived children in Pune, India. A lot of these children are runaways and orphans. Placement in shelters for orphans and runaways, reintegration of runaways with their family and identification of foster families willing to adopt/support children are activities carried out by the foundation.
+
===Sri Lanka===
 +
According to a 2005 study, more than 4,500 [[Sri Lanka]]n orphans exist in various types of state-funded services. The majority of these orphans lost one or more parent in the December 2004 [[tsunami]] that overcame the Indonesian islands. Various foreign aid groups are still working to fund and establish orphanage institutions in order to remove the young victims from temporary [[refugee]] camps. International aid is continually donated.
  
−
*[http://www.orphanrights.org Orphan Rights] is dedicated to providing orphans with food, shelter, clothing, and parental care.
+
==Adoption==
 +
In more recent years, [[adoption]] has emerged as an effective alternative to orphanage institutions. Adoption, or the legal creation of a relationship defining parent and child, was originally recognized by [[Roman law]]. In the [[United States]], the practice was first introduced in the mid-nineteenth century. Most legal adoptions require a hearing before a [[judge]] in which the relationship between adoptive parent and adopted child is legally ratified. Consent must be given by all parties including the birth parents or temporary guardians. After adoption, children generally assume the same rights and duties of a natural child, while adoptive parents assume the [[right of custody]] and the [[obligation of support]] for the child.
  
−
*[http://www.brotherbrothersistersister.org Brother Brother Sister Sister] is a nonprofit organization founded in 2004 to help AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe, the Sub-Saharan African country where nearly 1 million children are orphans because their parents have died from AIDS.
+
Under many circumstances, children are adopted by relatives. Other adoptive parents may include married couples, unmarried adults, or [[homosexual]] couples. Though most adoptions seek to match a child’s race to that of an adoptive parent, [[transracial]] adoptions are becoming increasingly prevalent as the supply of orphaned children significantly outweighs the demand to adopt in the US.  
  
−
*[http://www.fbchomes.org/ Florida Baptist Children's Homes] provides out-of-home care for Florida children.
+
Many [[psychologist]]s believe adoption to be a superior alternative to orphanage institutions. Various studies have shown adoption to create a more permanent and secure environment in which an orphaned child may develop and mature. Despite these advantages, both orphanage institutions and adoptive processes are in continual existence; worldwide, the overwhelming number of children without homes requires that both alternatives be relied upon.  
  
−
*[http://www.icororphans.com/ iCOR ORPHANS - International City of Refuge] brings God's love, hope and healing to children in need.  iCOR Orphans is committed to establishing Christ-centered orphanages and shelters around the world making an impact for future generations.
+
==Orphans in Literature==
 +
[[Image:Ring36.jpg|right|thumb| A mime offers food to the young Siegfried, an orphan he is raising. Illustration by [[Arthur Rackham]] to [[Richard Wagner]]'s ''[[Siegfried]]''.]]
  
−
==Orphans in literature==
+
Orphaned characters are common as literary protagonists, especially in [[children's literature|children]]'s and [[fantasy literature]]. The lack of [[parent]]s leaves the characters to pursue more interesting and adventurous lives, by freeing them from familial obligations and controls, and depriving them of more prosaic lives. It creates characters that are self-contained and introspective and who strive for affection. Orphans can metaphorically search for self-understanding through attempting to know their roots. Parents can also be allies and sources of aid for children; removing the parents makes the character's difficulties more severe. Parents, furthermore, can be irrelevant to the theme a writer is trying to develop, and orphaning the character frees the writer from the necessity to depict such an irrelevant relationship. All these characteristics make orphans attractive characters for authors.
−
[[Image:Ring36.jpg|right|thumb|Mime offers food to the young Siegfried, an orphan he is raising; Illustration by [[Arthur Rackham]] to [[Richard Wagner]]'s ''[[Siegfried]]'']]
 
−
Orphaned characters are extremely common as literary protagonists, especially in [[children's literature|children]]'s and [[fantasy literature]].<ref>Philip Martin, ''The Writer's Guide to Fantasy Literature: From Dragon's Lair to Hero's Quest'', p 16, ISBN 0-87116-195-8</ref> The lack of parents leaves the characters to pursue more interesting and adventurous lives, by freeing them from familial obligations and controls, and depriving them of more prosaic lives. It creates characters that are self-contained and introspective and who strive for affection. Orphans can metaphorically search for self-understanding through attempting to know their roots. Parents can also be allies and sources of aid for children, and removing the parents makes the character's difficulties more severe. Parents, furthermore, can be irrelevant to the theme a writer is trying to develop, and orphaning the character frees the writer from the necessity to depict such an irrelevant relationship{{Fact|date=February 2007}}<!--Need source/example of this being the author's actual reason—>; if one parent-child relationship is important, removing the other parent prevents complicating the necessary relationship. All these characteristics make orphans attractive characters for authors.
 
  
−
Orphans are common in fairy tales, such as some variants of ''[[Cinderella]]''.
+
One recurring storyline has been the relationship that the orphan can have with an adult from outside his or her immediate family. Some of the most emotive works have been those featuring the relationship between a man and a boy, particularly boys that are coming of age. A number of well known authors have written books featuring orphans, including [[Charles Dickens]], [[Mark Twain]], [[Louisa May Alcott]], [[Roald Dahl]], and [[J.K. Rowling]]. In many works of [[fiction]], notably Charles Dickens’ ''[[Oliver Twist]]'' and Harold Gray’s ''[[Little Orphan Annie]]'', the administrators of orphanages are depicted as cruel monsters.
  
−
A number of well known authors have written books featuring orphans including [[Charles Dickens]], [[Mark Twain]], [[Roald Dahl]] and [[J.K. Rowling]] as well as some less well known authors of famous orphans like [[Little Orphan Annie]]. One recurring storyline has been the relationship that the orphan can have with an adult from outside his or her immediate family. Some of the most emotive works have been those featuring the relationship between a man and a boy, particularly boys that are coming of age.
+
==Orphanages Today==
 +
Since the 1950s, the United States and other countries have moved to de-institutionalize the care of vulnerable children—that is, close down orphanages in favor of [[foster care]] and accelerated [[adoption]]. Moreover, as it is no longer common for birth parents in Western countries to give up their children without placing them for adoption, the need to operate large orphanages has decreased. These factors have also resulted in a dramatic reduction of local orphans available for adoption in first-world countries, necessitating journeys by many would-be adoptive parents to orphanages in the [[Third World]].
  
−
In many works of [[fiction]] (notably ''[[Oliver Twist]]'' and ''[[Annie]]'') the administrators of orphanages are depicted as cruel monsters.
+
Today, the orphanage remains common and necessary in most parts of the world, even if the term has given way to such softer language as "group home," "children's home," or "rehabilitation center." Such institutions are not common in the European community, and [[Romania]] in particular has struggled to reduce the visibility of its children's institutions to meet conditions of its entry into the [[European Union]]. In the United States, the largest remaining orphanage is the [[Bethesda Orphanage]], founded in 1740 by [[George Whitefield]]. Another famous American orphanage is [[Girls and Boys Town]], located outside of [[Omaha]], [[Nebraska]].
  
−
 
+
==Orphan Charities==
−
 
+
Prior to the establishment of state care for orphans in First World countries, many private charities existed to take care of destitute orphans.
−
 
+
*[[SOS Children's Villages]] is the world's largest non-governmental, non-denominational child welfare organization. Its mission is to provide stable homes and loving families for orphaned and abandoned children around the world.
−
 
+
*[http://www.identityfoundation.org/ Dr Barnardo's Homes Identity Foundation] provides education, medical aid, and counseling to all deprived children in Pune, India. The foundation engages in the placement in shelters for orphans and runaways, reintegration of runaways with their family and identification of foster families willing to adopt or support such children.
−
== Number of Orphan Children - Statistics ==
+
*[http://www.orphanrights.org Orphan Rights] is dedicated to providing orphans with food, shelter, clothing, and parental care.
−
{{Cleanup|December 2006}}
+
*[http://www.brotherbrothersistersister.org Brother Brother Sister Sister] is a nonprofit organization founded in 2004 to help AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe, the Sub-Saharan African country where nearly 1 million AIDS orphans struggle to survive.
−
{{Wikify|December 2006}}
+
*[http://www.fbchomes.org/ Florida Baptist Children's Homes] provides out-of-home care for Florida children.
−
'''Afghanistan'''
+
*[http://www.icororphans.com/ iCOR ORPHANS], or the International City of Refuge, brings God's love, hope and healing to children in need.  iCOR Orphans is committed to establishing Christ-centered orphanages and shelters around the world making an impact for future generations.
−
(Kabul only) -Total – 1200 orphans live in orphanages “At Kabul's two main orphanages, Alauddin and Tahia Maskan, the number of children enrolled has increased almost 80 percent since last January, from 700 to over 1,200 children. Almost half of these come from families who have at least one parent, but who can't support their children. ”Read “Poverty Forces Kabul Parents to Send Kid’s to Orphanages,” by Scott Baldauf. Christian Science Monitor (6/3/2002) source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Azerbaijan'''
 
−
No official number  “Many children are abandoned due to extreme poverty and harsh living conditions. Family members or neighbors may raise some of these children but the majority live in crowded orphanages until the age of fifteen when they are sent into the community to make a living for themselves.” Read “Azerbaijan Adoptions.” source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Bangladesh'''
 
−
Partial information: “There are no statistics regarding the actual number of children in welfare institutions in Bangladesh. The Department of Social Services, under the Ministry of Social Welfare, has a major programme named Child Welfare and Child Development in order to provide access to food, shelter, basic education, health services and other basic opportunities for hapless children.” (The following numbers mention “capacity” only….not actual numbers of orphans at present)
 
−
9,500 -State institutions 
 
−
250 -babies in 3 available “Baby Homes”
 
−
400 -Destitute Children's Rehabilitation Centre
 
−
100 -Vocational Training Centre for Orphans and Destitute Children
 
−
1,400 -Sixty-five Welfare and Rehabilitation Programmes for Children with Disability source
 
−
“The private welfare institutions are mostly known as orphanages and madrassahs. The authorities of most of these orphanages put more emphasise on religion and religious studies.” One example follows: 400 – Approximately - Nawab Sir Salimullah Muslim Orphanage source: www.MyOrphanage.org Read “Women and Children in Disadvantaged Situations.” Odhikar. (4/2001) source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Belarus'''
 
−
Approximate total – 1,773  (1993 statistics for “all types of orphanages) source: www.MyOrphanage.org Read “United Nations Human Development Report – Belarus 1996) source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
−
'''Bulgaria'''
 
−
2% of  children “With two percent of all Bulgarian children in orphanages the country has one of the highest orphan rates in Europe.” Read “Bulgarian Orphan Crisis.” Mission Without Borders. (3/31/2002) source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
''' 
 
−
Cambodia'''
 
−
"In the past three years the number of orphanages in Cambodia for which WORLD ORPHANS has funded construction for is 47, housing over 1,500 children. Most are orphaned due to their parents dying from AIDS and some from being blown up by land mines." (published in the end of 2002) broken source: www.MyOrphanage.orglink
 
−
Total number unknown: “There are no accurate figures available on how many orphans there are in Cambodia..”
 
−
Read “Adoptions Like “Selling Goods,” by Bill Bainbridge and Lon Nara. Adoption News. (12/1/2001) source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''China'''
 
−
Estimated total in 2002 – 50,000 “Currently there are 50,000 children in Chinese orphanages, while the number of abandoned children shows no sign of slowing.” Read “China: Children.”  China World News (12/31/2002) source.
 
−
Estimated total in 1996 – fewer than 20,000 “Official figures show that fewer than 20,000 of China's orphans are now in any form of institutional care.” Read “Human Rights Watch Condemns Fatal Neglect in China’s Orphanages.” Human Rights Watch Press Release. (1/7/1996) broken source: www.MyOrphanage.orglink
 
−
“Chinese official records fail to account for most of the country’s abandoned infants and children, only a small proportion of whom are in any form of acknowledged state care. The most recent figure provided by the government for the country’s orphan population, 100,000 seems implausibly low for a country with a total population of 1.2 billion. Even if it were accurate, however, the whereabouts of the great majority of China’s orphans would still be a complete mystery, leaving crucial questions about the country’s child welfare system unanswered and suggesting that the real scope of the catastrophe that has befallen China’s unwanted children may be far larger than the evidence in this report documents.” Read “Death by Default: A Policy of Fatal Neglect in China’s State Orphanages.” Human Rights Watch. (January 1996) source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Egypt'''
 
−
Partial information: 120 - Mosques of Charity “The orphanage houses about 120 children in Giza, Menoufiya and Qalyubiya...” 192 - The Awladi 200+ - Dar Al-Iwaa “We provide free education and accommodation for over 200 girls and boys..” 44 - Dar Al-Mu'assassa Al-Iwaa'iya “Dar Al-Mu'assassa Al-Iwaa'iya (Shelter Association), a government association affiliated with the Ministry of Social Affairs, was established in 1992. It houses about 44 children.”
 
−
30 - Sayeda Zeinab orphanage
 
−
300 - My Children Orphanage
 
−
**Note: There are about 185 orphanages in Egypt.
 
−
The above information was taken from the following articles: 
 
−
“Other families,” by Amany Abdel-Moneim. Al-Ahram Weekly (5/1999) at: broken source: www.MyOrphanage.orglink
 
−
“Ramadan brings charity to Egypt's orphans.” Shanghai Star 12/13/2001 broken source: www.MyOrphanage.orglink
 
−
“A Child by Any Other Name,” by Réhab El-Bakry. Egypt Today (11/2002) source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
−
 
−
'''Estonia'''
 
−
Total –  1,099 (1998) “In 1998, there were a total of 1,101 places and 1,099 wards in the orphanages across Estonia. The number of wards in orphanages has remained stabile over the years (e.g. in 1993, there were 1,098 children in orphanages). This can be partly explained by the lack of orphanages for street children who have different lifestyles and habits that are threatening to health and life.” Read “Children in Estonia: The Child in Alternative Care,” by Sirje Grossmann-Loot. United Nations in Estonia (2000) source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Ethiopia'''
 
−
Total  - 160 (2000) “For example, in the Jerusalem Association Children's Home (JACH), only 160 children remain of the 785 who were in JACH's three orphanages.” /  “Attitudes regarding the institutional care of children have shifted dramatically in recent years in Ethiopia. There appears to be general recognition by MOLSA and the NGOs with which Pact is working that such care is, at best, a last resort, and that serious problems arise with the social reintegration of children who grow up in institutions, and deinstitutionalization through family reunification and independent living are being emphasized.” Read “Assessment of the Street Children and Orphans Component of the Pact NGO Sector Enhancement Initiative in Ethiopia.” Displaced Children and Orphan’s Fund and Patrick J. Leahy War Victim’s Fund.” USAID (March 2000) source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Guatemala'''
 
−
Approximately 20,000  (2000) “…currently there are about 20,000 children in orphanages..” Read “The Children of Guatemala.” BBC World Service source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Hungary'''
 
−
Approximately 22,000  (1998) “More than 22,000 orphaned and abandoned children are in state custody in Hungary.” Read “Abandoned Children and Infants,” by by Justin D. Long. Monday Morning Reality Check source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Haiti'''
 
−
Partial and conflicting information: 200,000+ (estimated)  children waiting for institutional orphan care  “Children in Institutions: Haitians and expatriate childcare professionals are careful to make it clear that Haitian orphanages and children’s homes are not orphanages in the North American sense, but instead shelters for vulnerable children, often housing children whose parent (s) are poor as well as those who are abandoned, neglected or abused by family guardians. Neither the number of children or the number of institutions is officially known, but Chambre de L’Enfance Necessiteusse Ha_tienne (CENH) indicated that is has received requests for assistance from nearly 200 orphanages from around the country for more than 200,000 children. Although not all are orphans, many are vulnerable or originate in vulnerable families that hoped to increase their children’s opportunities by sending them to orphanages.” / “The CENH figures seem high when compared to Schwarz’s 1999 count of five rural and three urban orphanages in the Northwest Province and northern Artibonite, with a total of 376 children. Catholic Relief Services provides assistance to 120 orphanages with 9,000 children in the West, South, Southeast and Grand Anse, but these include only orphanages that meet their criteria. They estimate receiving ten requests per week for assistance from additional orphanages and children’s homes, but some of these are repeat requests.” Read “The Situations of Orphans in Haiti: A summary assessment.” USAID, FHI and the IMPACT Project source: www.MyOrphanage.org (page 14 and 15 of actual report (not web page counter)
 
−
 
−
 
−
'''India'''
 
−
State of Andhra Pradish -Children’s Homes – 5,050 : 6 – 18 years of age Refer to “Children’s Homes.” Government of Andrha Pradish source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Indonesia'''
 
−
No information for the number of children actually in orphanages. The Report, “Convention on the Rights of the Child – First Periodic. Report Indonesia. 1993-June 2000 source: www.MyOrphanage.orgdoes list the number of orphaned children at 91,000+, but this number includes all abandoned children, such as street children, etc.  
 
−
 
 
−
'''Iraq'''
 
−
Total in 1990 –1,190 :UNICEF maintains the same number at present. “While the number of state homes for orphans in the whole of Iraq was 25 in 1990 (serving 1,190 children); both the number of homes and the number of beneficiaries has declined. The quality of services has also declined.”
 
−
“A 1999 study by UNICEF  “recommended the rebuilding of national capacity for the rehabilitation of orphans.” The new project “will benefit all the 1,190 children placed in orphanages.” Read “Assistance to Orphans.” Child Protection. UNICEF source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Kenya'''
 
−
A 1999 survey of 35,000 orphans found the following number in institutional care: 64 -registered institutions; 164 -unregistered institutions .Read “Orphans and Vulnerable Children,” by Marito Garcia. African Region. The World Bank (12/3/2001) source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Kyrgyzstan'''
 
−
Partial information: 85 – Ivanovka Orphanage Read “Tokmak and Area Children’s Work” source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Latvia'''
 
−
While information is available for orphaned children, there are no specific numbers for those orphans placed in orphanages. “The analysis of the reason why a child is in an institution shows that the proportion of the number of orphans in the children’s social care institutions was only 5.6% although the dynamic pointed to an increasing number of orphans.” See Figure 4.2. Read “Poverty and Welfare Trends in Latvia over the 1990’s.” Background Paper Prepared for the Social Monitor (2002) source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Laos'''
 
−
Estimated total – 1000 (1990’s) “It is stated that there are 20,000 orphaned children in Laos. There are only three orphanages in the whole country providing places for a total of 1,000 of these children.” No Title. by Anneli Dahlbom source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
−
 
−
'''Lithuania'''
 
−
Total 241 – (1994 statistics for 32 foster homes)
 
−
(300 more children are documented to live in “children’s villages.)
 
−
“Positive changes in the situation of foster children can be seen. In 1995, the International Children's Rights Convention was ratified and NGOs became more active in this field. There are about 40 organizations and foundations that shelter children: the Lithuanian Children's Fund, `Viltis', the `SOS Children's homes, and the assistance foundation `Vaiko tëviðkes namai'.
 
−
“At present, there are 30 affiliates of `SOS Children', and 10 children's villages have been created, in which 300 children live. In each house in each village, there are 5 -7 children living along with their guardian, or `mother'. Children aged eight or over are taken into these villages, and stay until they are 18.” Read “Chapter 11: Families, Women and Children.” United Nations Development Program (1996) source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Mexico'''
 
−
Approximately 10,000+  (1999) “…at least 10,000 Mexican children live in orphanages and more in unregistered charity homes” Read “Central/South America.” Migration News. (August 1999) source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Republic of Moldova'''
 
−
Approximate total – 2000 in orphanages  279 in orphanages “of the family type.”  Read “International Organization “Save the Children” (Moldova) Information Cards source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Palestinian Territory (of Israel)'''
 
−
Total – 1,714  (1999)
 
−
“In 1999, the number of children living in orphanages witnessed a considerable drop as compared to 1998. This number dropped from 1,980 to 1,714 orphans. This is due to the policy of child re-integration in their household adopted by the Ministry of Social Affairs.” Read “The Fourth Annual Statistical Report, 2001 – Palestinian
 
−
Children, Issues and Statistics Executive Summary.” Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. (2001) source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Poland'''
 
−
Approximately 80,000 “In Poland today there are 350 orphanages-the highest number in Central Europe- including about 100 smaller orphanages run by families. They are home to about 80,000 children.” Read “Our Guy Friday,” by Beata B³aszczyk. The Warsaw Voice.
 
−
(9/1/2002) source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
−
'''
 
−
Romania'''
 
−
2003 Updated: In Romania are around 5,600,000 children with ages between 0-18, approximately 1.5% of them are under the Public Specialized Services for Children’s Protection.
 
−
Number of children by group of ages in orphanages –July 2003:
 
−
In public orphanages: 31,908, in private orphanages: 5,583, Total: 37,491. In public orphanages: 794 children are under 1yr old, between 1-2yrs old are 1,078; between 3-6yrs old are 1,848; between 7-9yrs old are 2,776; 7,716 children are between 10-13yrs old, between 14-17yrs old are 12,923 children and between 18-26yrs old are 4,773 children. Total children living in public orphanages: 31,908.
 
−
In private orphanages: 151 children are under 1yr old, 422 children are between 1-2yrs old, 887 children are between 3-6yrs old, 907 children are between 7-9yrs old, 1465 children are between 10-13yrs old, 1471 children are between 14-17yrs old and 280 "children" are between 18-26 yrs old. The Total children living in private orphanages: 5,583. source: www.MyOrphanage.orgfor all above Romanian statistics: National Authority for Children Protection and Adoption of the Romanian Government, see Report section.
 
−
-In Romania are 49484 institutionalized children in 940 orphanages, these statistics are related by Romanian National Institute of Statistics. Extra statistics: More than half of all institutionalized children are boys (55,2%). Around 1/3 of all institutionalized children are under 11 years old, the rest of are younger between the ages 12-17. The same Institute relating that about 1/2 of institutionalized children are not visited by parents or relatives, every once at 6 months. 22,6% of institutionalized children are orphans. In the counties Suceava and Vaslui lives most many institutionalized children. Source: The Romanian National Institute of Statistics (2002) <no link available>
 
−
Conflicting numbers from different sources: 125,000+ (2002) “The number of children in Romanian orphanages has continued to increase since the end of Ceaucescu's tyranny. At the time of Ceaucescu's death in 1989 there were 85,000 children in orphanages. In 1993 that number had risen to 98,000. Today in 2002 that number is over 125,000.” Read “New Opportunities for Romanian Orphaned Children.” source: www.MyOrphanage.orgor: 60,000 (2002) “Although the situation is improving, more than 60,000 children still live in state orphanages, while some 30,000 have been placed with foster parents.” Read “Romanian Adoption Issue May Cloud Nato Plans,” by Eugen Tomiuc. Adoption News (4/15/2002) at:
 
−
source
 
−
 
 
−
'''Russia'''
 
−
"Approximate total 700,000 (2003) There are some 700,000 children and teenagers living in state institutions, according to Russia's Health Ministry. Some 15,000 young people graduate from the state-run orphanages every year. And at least 40 percent of these graduates eventually end up in prisons, while one tenth of them commit suicide." Source: according to Russia' Health Ministry, 2003 <no link available> , There are many web pages of Russian orphanages, but none of them are in English. If I found one in English I'll publish the link.
 
−
Approximately total - 200,000 (1998) “Of a total of more than 600,000 children classified as being “without parental care,” as many as one-third reside in institutions.” Read “Cruelty and Neglect in Russian Orphanages.” Human Rights Watch. (December 1998) source
 
−
Read “Kremlin Voices Concern Over Homeless Kids.”by Sergei Blagovhttp source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
−
 
−
'''Rwanda'''
 
−
Total – 5000 Out of 400,000 orphans, 5,000 are living in orphanages. Read “Social Protection of Africa’s Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children.” African Region Human Development Working Series Paper source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Slovakia'''
 
−
Total – approximately 2,500 (2002)  “Slovak orphanages house about 2,500 children aged 3-18 in 56 orphanages in Slovakia. Ten percent of these children are in the process of being adopted. Forty percent have guardians who are not their parents, and remaining forty percent were placed in orphanages for legal institutional care. Due to the small number of children who are "legally free for adoption," coupled with restrictive Slovak legislation, no Slovak children have been adopted by foreigners until very recently.”
 
−
“Slovak orphanages for children up to age 3 are administered by the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic; orphanages for children of ages 3-18 by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Slovak Republic.” Read “International Adoption: Slovak Republic.” US Department of State (April 2002) source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''South Korea'''
 
−
Approximate total –  17,000 (1999) “There are now 17,000 children in public orphanages throughout the country and untold numbers at private institutions.” Read “South Korea Tries to Take Care of its Own with Domestic Adoptions.” LA Times (3/6/1999) source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Taiwan'''
 
−
Total –638  (2001)  “On the other hand, the number of orphanages and orphans drastically dropped from 15 institutions and 2,216 persons in 1971 to 9 institutions and 638 persons by the end of 2001. Read “Social Welfare” source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Tajikistan'''
 
−
Approximate total – 9,000 (1997)  “No one can be sure how many lone children are there in the republic. About 9,000 are in internats and in orphanages.” Read “Children and the Society,” by Natalia Bruker, Irada Guseinova. Asia Plus (1997) source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
−
   
 
−
'''Tanzania'''
 
−
Approximate total – 3000 “Currently, there are 52 orphanages in Tanzania caring for about 3,000 orphans and vulnerable children.”
 
−
Read “A Program on Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Aids affected areas in Tanzania.” Axios International source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Uganda'''
 
−
Total – 1,300 -Out of 1,700,000 orphaned children, only 1,300 children live in orphanages. Read “Social Protection of Africa’s Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children.” African Region Human Development Working Series Paper source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Ukraine'''
 
−
Partial information:
 
−
150 – Kiev State Baby Orphanage -Read “Kiev’s Children’s Work” source
 
−
30 – Beregena Orphanage
 
−
120 – Dom Invalid Orphanage
 
−
Read “Dnepropetrovsk Orphanages and Children’s Work” source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''United States'''
 
−
Partial information:
 
−
75,890 – (1993 statistics for Catholic orphanages) Read “Accomplishments of the Catholic Church in 2,000 Years.” (2002) source
 
−
Approximately 30,000 – group homes (1995) Traditional “orphanages” have largely been replaced by group homes -Read “The orphanage: is it time to bring it back?” Current Events. Weekly Reader 1/23/1995) (offline source)
 
−
 
−
 
−
'''Uzbekistan'''
 
−
Partial Information: 80 – Takhtakupar Orphanage -Read “Takhatkupar Orphanage” source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
−
 
 
−
'''Zambia'''
 
−
A 1996 national survey of orphans revealed no evidence of orphanage care. The breakdown of care was as follows:
 
−
For double orphans:
 
−
38% grandparents
 
−
55% extended family
 
−
1% older orphan
 
−
6% non-relative
 
−
Read “Orphans and Vulnerable Children,” by Marito Garcia. African Region. The World Bank (12/3/2001) source: www.MyOrphanage.org 
 
−
 
 
−
'''Zimbabwe'''
 
−
Total number unknown:
 
−
“Statistics on the total number of children in orphanages nation-wide are unavailable, but care givers say their facilities were becoming unmanageably overwhelmed almost on a daily basis.”
 
−
“There are 38 privately run children's charity homes, or orphanages in the country, and the government operates eight of its own.”
 
−
“ Zimbabwe's orphanages are over- spilling, and care givers say they are failing to cope with the rising numbers of children coming to their charity homes.” Read “Charity Homes Worry About Rising Number of Orphans,” by Rangarirai Shoko. Pan African News Agency. (2/26/2001) source
 
−
“Between 1994 and 1998, the number of orphans in Zimbabwe more than doubled from 200,000 to 543,000, and in five years the number is expected to reach 900,000.” (Unfortunately, there is no room for these children.) -Read “Zimbabwe: Aids Death Toll Yielding More Orphans.” Kaiser Daily. (9/11/2000) source: www.MyOrphanage.org
 
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
Line 237: Line 85:
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 +
*Askeland, Lori. 2005. ''Children and Youth in Adoption, Orphanages, and Foster Care: A Historical Handbook and Guide.'' Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0313331839
 +
*McKenzie, Richard. 1998. ''Rethinking Orphanages for the 21st Century.'' London: Sage Publications. ISBN 0761914447
 +
*Reef, Catherine. 2005. ''Alone in the World: Orphans and Orphanages in America.'' Boston: Clarion Books. ISBN 0618356703
 +
*1911. ''The Catholic Encyclopedia,'' Volume XI. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
 +
*Adoption ''Britannica Concise Encyclopedia.''
 +
*[http://www.healingplacechurch.org/adoption.php Adoption] The Healing Place Church. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
 +
*[http://www.mission1m.org/about_the_need.html About the Need] Mission One Orphan Agency. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
  
 +
== External Links ==
 +
All links retrieved November 17, 2022.
  
−
== External links ==
+
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11322b.htm Orphans and Orphanages] Catholic Encyclopedia.  
−
{{commonscat|Orphans}}
 
−
*[http://www.myorphanage.org/orphan_link.php Links to Orphan's Story webpage']
 
−
*[http://www.nabuur.com/modules/villages_issues/index.php?villageid=87/ Pune Street Children Project by Identity Foundation- Global volunteering initiative on Nabuur.com]
 
−
*[http://www.agencyoforphan.com/ The Agency of Orphan: a creative perspective on the psychological condition of desiring 'orphanhood']
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
==External links==
 
−
*[http://www.myorphanage.org In touch with Orphanages]
 
−
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11322b.htm Catholic Encyclopedia on Orphans and Orphanages]
 
−
*[http://www.kesh.com/hnoh/USJORPH6C.html History/Outline of Jewish Orphanages in the United States]
 
−
*[http://hyperreal.info/node/2500 Orphange in Poland - bad situation]
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
  
 
{{Credits|Orphanage|101065633|Orphan|130810539|}}
 
{{Credits|Orphanage|101065633|Orphan|130810539|}}

Latest revision as of 10:44, 11 March 2023


“Orphans” by Thomas Kennington.

An orphanage is an institution dedicated to caring for children who have lost their parents, or for children believed to be abused, abandoned, or generally neglected. Largely seen as an inferior alternative to foster care and adoption, orphanages may be privately or publicly funded, or may be run by religious organizations. An orphan is a person, typically a child, who has lost both parents. Historically, certain birth parents were often pressured or forced to give up their children to orphanages, such as children born out of wedlock or into poor families. An obligation of support is often imposed upon parents or grandparents under nearly every system of law; however natural sympathy and a willingness to support the common good often allow for the care of orphans to become a public duty.

At the beginning of the twenty-first century more than 200 million orphans were reported throughout the world; this number includes all children internally displaced, refugees of conflicts and natural disasters, mandated child soldiers, those enrolled in orphanage institutions, and those estimated to be homeless, living on the streets. While efforts to improve the conditions in orphanages are important, the greater effort has moved to finding stable homes for children in such situations, where they may have the chance to experience the love of family despite their tragic past.

History

The Moscow Orphanage, founded in 1763.

In Biblical times, small communities were deemed responsible for the care of the fatherless, the stranger, and the widow by sharing with them the excess fruits of their harvests. Under early Roman law, no provisions were made for either widow or orphan, though early Athenians viewed such duties as economic and patriotic; the state educated all children of citizens killed in battle until the age of 18.

Christian missionaries established various relief agencies for the care of orphaned or abandoned children; workers founded children’s hospitals and asylums throughout the East. Under Justinian, the care of orphans was directed toward the Church. It became the duty of various church officials to raise, educate, and establish orphaned children both of the male and female sex.

During the Middle Ages, the care of orphaned children became the responsibility of monasteries. Under monastery care, orphaned children were provided with both shelter and education in academics and trades. Many orphanages practiced some form of "binding-out" in which children, as soon as they were old enough, were given as apprentices to households. This would ensure both their financial support and their learning of a useful trade.

Throughout Great Britain, between the years of 1855 and 1898, more than fifty-one houses of Sisters of Charity were established to serve the orphan population of Northern Europe. Under subsequent English Poor Laws, the care of poor, abandoned, or orphaned children remained the responsibility of the Church; parishes relied on systems of apprenticeship, indentured service, or workhouses to aid in the influx of homeless children and their growing dependence on the state. The exposure of such systems by early social reformers and artists as brutal boarding establishments led to drastic reforms of Britain’s social welfare system. Under Queen Victoria, numerous private orphanage asylums were created that maintained significantly improved conditions.

In Colonial America, poor, abandoned, or orphaned children became the responsibility of the local town or county. This responsibility was later shifted to almshouses, establishments created solely for the care of society’s unfortunate. The colonies also made significant use of indentured services. In 1875, the state of New York began placing poor, abandoned, or orphaned children into the custody of established families or newly opened orphan asylums. Over time, this system of social care would develop and expand, eventually shaping the institutional orphanages that are relied upon today.

Operations

Lower Clapton Orphanage. Hackney, England.

The effective management of orphanage institutions requires innovative solutions to many complex problems that arise from a child’s abandonment or desertion. In many instances, orphaned children are regularly assessed both physically and mentally in order to gauge their progress in social adaptation. Successful orphanages aim to provide adequate goods and services to their inhabitants; often times orphanages provide both education and healthcare for the children. In most circumstances, institutional buildings must be safe and well equipped with adequate sanitation, and must provide a social environment thoroughly conducive to health.

Many orphanages follow similar methodologies in the effective upbringing of orphaned children. One common method employed by many orphanages is to create or emplace orphaned children with an environment of “family life.” This can be accomplished by “boarding-out,” or “placing-out.” The boarding-out of an orphaned child involves the payment of the orphanage institution to a family who has agreed to house the orphaned child or children for a temporary period of time. Such tactics originated under English Poor Law and were designed as an alternative option to enrollment in a poorhouse. A major weakness to the boarding-out methodology is the monetary incentive it poses; orphanages often face the danger of profit-seeking amongst those offering to care for an orphaned child.

In contrast, the placing-out of an orphaned child is generally agreed to provide a more permanent and effective environment of family life than the former option. Under placing-out practices, an orphaned child or group of children is placed into an established home without any form of compensation. Similar to adoption tactics, the orphaned child is given a more permanent sense of home, a more effective environment in which to develop, and more similar surroundings to a standard family group. Under many placing-out experiences, the orphaned child and participating family group often foster a sense of affection and general maturation, and equally gain as much from the charitable experience.

Many psychological studies surround the operations and effectiveness of orphanage institutions. For example, John Bowlby's attachment theory, provides both a descriptive and explanatory framework for the discussion of affectionate relationships between human beings. Bowlby’s work stresses the attitudes and behaviors of young children toward their adult caregivers, both blood related and not. Attachment theory focuses on the emotional experiences that motivate one’s behavior, and one’s cognitive and memory functions. It provides unique insight into the effectiveness of orphanage operations, boarding-out methodologies, and placing-out tactics.

Orphanages around the World

Kongens Gate Orphanage. Oslo, Norway.

According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), there exist more than 210 million orphans throughout the world. Of these orphaned children, more than 86 million orphans are living in India, more than 10 million orphans are living throughout Mexico, more than 3.5 million orphaned children exist throughout Asia, and more than 5.5 orphaned children are presently living in Africa. The number of orphaned children in Africa is expected to rise to more than 44 million by the year 2010 as a direct result of the widespread HIV/AIDS epidemic. Other statistics show more than 1.5 million orphans living throughout Eastern Europe, nearly 400,000 orphans living throughout Latin America, and more than 135,000 orphaned children enrolled within the U.S. foster care system. As a direct result of these numbers, more than 35,000 children die each day due to hunger and malnutrition.

China

In 2003, the Chinese World News estimated there to be more than 100,000 children housed in orphanages throughout China. However, significant debate remains regarding the actual number of homeless children in China, with various human rights agencies believing that this official number of Chinese orphans is alarmingly low. It has been suggested that this report failed to account for most of the country’s abandoned children and infants living without state funding, and acknowledged only the minor portion of orphaned children enrolled in state care. As of 2005, UNICEF estimated China to hold more than 20 million orphaned children throughout the nation.

Iraq

According to UNICEF, the number of orphans throughout Iraq remains around 2,000. In 1990, Iraq housed more than twenty-five state homes for the care of orphaned children; this number has steadily declined in more recent years. In 1999 UNICEF recommended the significant rebuilding of state-run facilities to house the national capacity of orphans.

Romania

The epidemic of orphaned children throughout Romania originally began in 1965. Under Communist dictator Nicolae Ceaucescu, Romania’s population was organized to swell to nearly 30 million. Ceaucescu, aiming to increase military power in numbers, employed drastic measures to increase the country’s birth rate; by law, each Romanian woman was required to have at least four children, birth control was outlawed until the age of 45, and families with less than three children were heavily taxed. Ceaucescu’s oppressive regime created a boom of unwanted children that further destroyed the unstable Romanian economy. Such conditions led to a rapid increase in the number of abandoned Romanian children, a problem that remains prevalent throughout Romania.[1]

Russia

Moscow, corner of Bolshoy Kharitonyevsky and Bolshoy Kozlovsky lanes. Orphanage built in 1895, architect Max Hoeppener

According to a 2003 study by the Russian Health Ministry, there exist more than 700,000 orphaned children and teenagers living throughout Russia in state-run institutions. More than 15,000 orphans graduate from these programs each year; 40 percent of all graduates frequent Russian prisons, and an average of 10 percent are believed to commit suicide. [2]

Rwanda

According to the African Region Human Development Series, in recent years there existed more than 400,000 orphans in Rwanda of which only 5,000 received state care. With the spread of AIDS, UNICEF has estimated the actual number of orphaned children throughout Rwanda to be more than 800,000.[3]

Sri Lanka

According to a 2005 study, more than 4,500 Sri Lankan orphans exist in various types of state-funded services. The majority of these orphans lost one or more parent in the December 2004 tsunami that overcame the Indonesian islands. Various foreign aid groups are still working to fund and establish orphanage institutions in order to remove the young victims from temporary refugee camps. International aid is continually donated.

Adoption

In more recent years, adoption has emerged as an effective alternative to orphanage institutions. Adoption, or the legal creation of a relationship defining parent and child, was originally recognized by Roman law. In the United States, the practice was first introduced in the mid-nineteenth century. Most legal adoptions require a hearing before a judge in which the relationship between adoptive parent and adopted child is legally ratified. Consent must be given by all parties including the birth parents or temporary guardians. After adoption, children generally assume the same rights and duties of a natural child, while adoptive parents assume the right of custody and the obligation of support for the child.

Under many circumstances, children are adopted by relatives. Other adoptive parents may include married couples, unmarried adults, or homosexual couples. Though most adoptions seek to match a child’s race to that of an adoptive parent, transracial adoptions are becoming increasingly prevalent as the supply of orphaned children significantly outweighs the demand to adopt in the US.

Many psychologists believe adoption to be a superior alternative to orphanage institutions. Various studies have shown adoption to create a more permanent and secure environment in which an orphaned child may develop and mature. Despite these advantages, both orphanage institutions and adoptive processes are in continual existence; worldwide, the overwhelming number of children without homes requires that both alternatives be relied upon.

Orphans in Literature

A mime offers food to the young Siegfried, an orphan he is raising. Illustration by Arthur Rackham to Richard Wagner's Siegfried.

Orphaned characters are common as literary protagonists, especially in children's and fantasy literature. The lack of parents leaves the characters to pursue more interesting and adventurous lives, by freeing them from familial obligations and controls, and depriving them of more prosaic lives. It creates characters that are self-contained and introspective and who strive for affection. Orphans can metaphorically search for self-understanding through attempting to know their roots. Parents can also be allies and sources of aid for children; removing the parents makes the character's difficulties more severe. Parents, furthermore, can be irrelevant to the theme a writer is trying to develop, and orphaning the character frees the writer from the necessity to depict such an irrelevant relationship. All these characteristics make orphans attractive characters for authors.

One recurring storyline has been the relationship that the orphan can have with an adult from outside his or her immediate family. Some of the most emotive works have been those featuring the relationship between a man and a boy, particularly boys that are coming of age. A number of well known authors have written books featuring orphans, including Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, Roald Dahl, and J.K. Rowling. In many works of fiction, notably Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist and Harold Gray’s Little Orphan Annie, the administrators of orphanages are depicted as cruel monsters.

Orphanages Today

Since the 1950s, the United States and other countries have moved to de-institutionalize the care of vulnerable children—that is, close down orphanages in favor of foster care and accelerated adoption. Moreover, as it is no longer common for birth parents in Western countries to give up their children without placing them for adoption, the need to operate large orphanages has decreased. These factors have also resulted in a dramatic reduction of local orphans available for adoption in first-world countries, necessitating journeys by many would-be adoptive parents to orphanages in the Third World.

Today, the orphanage remains common and necessary in most parts of the world, even if the term has given way to such softer language as "group home," "children's home," or "rehabilitation center." Such institutions are not common in the European community, and Romania in particular has struggled to reduce the visibility of its children's institutions to meet conditions of its entry into the European Union. In the United States, the largest remaining orphanage is the Bethesda Orphanage, founded in 1740 by George Whitefield. Another famous American orphanage is Girls and Boys Town, located outside of Omaha, Nebraska.

Orphan Charities

Prior to the establishment of state care for orphans in First World countries, many private charities existed to take care of destitute orphans.

  • SOS Children's Villages is the world's largest non-governmental, non-denominational child welfare organization. Its mission is to provide stable homes and loving families for orphaned and abandoned children around the world.
  • Dr Barnardo's Homes Identity Foundation provides education, medical aid, and counseling to all deprived children in Pune, India. The foundation engages in the placement in shelters for orphans and runaways, reintegration of runaways with their family and identification of foster families willing to adopt or support such children.
  • Orphan Rights is dedicated to providing orphans with food, shelter, clothing, and parental care.
  • Brother Brother Sister Sister is a nonprofit organization founded in 2004 to help AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe, the Sub-Saharan African country where nearly 1 million AIDS orphans struggle to survive.
  • Florida Baptist Children's Homes provides out-of-home care for Florida children.
  • iCOR ORPHANS, or the International City of Refuge, brings God's love, hope and healing to children in need. iCOR Orphans is committed to establishing Christ-centered orphanages and shelters around the world making an impact for future generations.

Notes

  1. ↑ House of Angels Why are there so many Abandoned Children in Romania? Retrieved September 17, 2007.
  2. ↑ Ascent Russian Orphan Aid Organization Orphan Facts and Statistics Retrieved September 17, 2007.
  3. ↑ K. Subbarao, Angel Mattimore, and Kathrin Plangemann, “Social Protection of Africa’s Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children.” African Region Human Development Working Series Paper. Retrieved September 17, 2007.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Askeland, Lori. 2005. Children and Youth in Adoption, Orphanages, and Foster Care: A Historical Handbook and Guide. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0313331839
  • McKenzie, Richard. 1998. Rethinking Orphanages for the 21st Century. London: Sage Publications. ISBN 0761914447
  • Reef, Catherine. 2005. Alone in the World: Orphans and Orphanages in America. Boston: Clarion Books. ISBN 0618356703
  • 1911. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XI. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  • Adoption Britannica Concise Encyclopedia.
  • Adoption The Healing Place Church. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
  • About the Need Mission One Orphan Agency. Retrieved September 4, 2007.

External Links

All links retrieved November 17, 2022.

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.

Retrieved from https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Orphanage&oldid=1104454

Content is available under Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details.
Copyright Logo
Powered by MediaWiki