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Organisations and individuals support orphanages because they believe they are helping children to improve their lives. The evidence over many years shows the contrary, that institutional care damages children.
Many orphanages throughout the world have recognised this and have transitioned to alternative models of care, supported by organisations who are experts in this process.
This resource provides information and support for individuals and organisations who want to understand more about this journey, and who are interested in supporting this transition, or people who are considering donating to or volunteering at orphanages or children’s care homes.
Please contact us at advice@hubcymruafrica.wales if you would like to discuss this or would like advice or support.
You can also contact HHC Advisory Services, the technical support arm of Hope and Homes for Children.
A UK based organisation, working alongside local partners, governments and civil society organisations in over 30
The Better Care Network is an interagency network facilitating global information exchange and collaboration on the issue of children without adequate family care.
Homecoming is a coalition of organisations that believe that children thrive in families and want to inspire and equip the Church in Britain and Ireland to support family strengthening, reunification, kinship care, fostering and local adoption as a healthier alternative to orphanages.
Catholic Relief Services and Maestral International have partnered with other organisations to change the way we care for children around the world.
An on-line space for collaboration between researchers across Africa in the field of young people transitioning out of alternative care.
This guide has been written to help those who are thinking about whether they should volunteer in an orphanage and is meant as a starting point rather than a comprehensive response to this issue.
The majority of people who want to volunteer in orphanages have very good intentions; however, they may not realise the negative impacts of their actions.
Guidelines and Recommendations for Donors Supporting Residential Care Services
A summary of Research to Help Guide Faith-Based Action.
Hope and Homes for Children present their recommendations and roadmap for care reform based on 30 years of experience of deinstitutionalisation in a wide variety of global contexts.
The UK Government campaign on international care reformed, launched in 2025.
The study, which began in the fall of 2000, seeks to examine the effects of early institutionalization on brain and behavior development, and to examine the impact of high quality foster care as an intervention for children who have been placed in institutions.
“Institutionalisation and deinstitutionalisation of children 2: policy and practice recommendations for global, national, and local actors”
International experts in reforming care for children identified evidence-based policy recommendations to promote family-based alternatives to institutionalisation.
Goldman, P.S., et al ‘‘Institutionalisation and deinstitutionalisation of children 2: policy and practice recommendations for global, national, and local actors’. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 4(8), 606-633 (2020)
“Family Matters: Growing up in Family-Based Care Makes a World of a Difference”
With empirical and meta-analytic results from our studies over more than 30 years on institutionalization we demonstrate that institutions, including small ones like SOS Children Villages, cannot provide safe, stable, and shared care, and lead to substantial delays in development.
Bakermans- Kranenberg, M.J.van IJzendoorn, M.H., ‘Family Matters: Growing up in Family-Based Care Makes a World of a Difference’. Proceedings of the Schevchenko Scientific Society Medical Sciences 73 (1) (2024)
“Effects of Early Institutionalization Involving Psychosocial Deprivation on Cognitive Functioning 60 Years Later: Findings of the LifeStories Project”
This study confirms the early experience hypothesis, indicating that early life conditions have lasting effects on human development, even into late adulthood.
Sand, H., et al. ‘Effects of Early Institutionalization Involving Psychosocial Deprivation on Cognitive Functioning 60 Years Later: Findings of the LifeStories Project.’ Child Abuse & Neglect, 154 (2024)
