5 myths every “orphan”
wants you to know
Isn’t it better to live in an orphanage than to live in poverty? We debunk the most common orphan care myths in this quick-fire Q&A.
Kids in orphanages have no parents or family.
A: On average, 80% of children living in orphanages actually have at least a living parent that given the right support could care for themWilliamson, J., and Greenburg, A. (2010). Families, Not Orphanages. Even those without a living biological parent have a grandparent, aunt or uncle, also willing to help. Often, a limitation (such as poverty) makes a parent feel they have no choice but to send their child to an orphanage: the one place assumed to guarantee food, shelter and education. in an effort to do what’s best, the child is separated from their family.
Myth #2 :
It is safer to live in an orphanage than to be with an abusive family.
Hear from the Source
Marcus Mena is a remarkable, intelligent and resilient young man who grew up in an orphanage in Brazil where he was known not by his name, but by a number: 171. Listen as Marcus shares his story and why he believes family-based care should be a priority in every country around the world.
Myth #3 :
If a child leaves an orphanage, they can’t get an education.
A: Every child has the right to education, and it’s a fundamental part of a healthy child’s development. But staying in an orphanage in order to receive education is not the only option. Children thrive in families, not institutions. Organizations like 1MILLIONHOME help keep children with their families by subsidizing the child’s educational costs, repurposing orphanages to become community day schools, and providing educational support to families.
Myth #4 :
It’s better to live in an orphanage than in poverty.
A: But is it really better to have these needs met, at the cost of your family splitting apart? Eliminating poverty in underdeveloped countries—and our own neighborhoods—should concern every individual. However, we all have different definitions of what poverty actually looks like. Not only that, placing a child in an orphanage because of genuine need isn’t addressing the root causes of their deepest heart needs: connection in family. Tragically, this response pulls the child and family deeper into lack, by impoverishing their relational and mental healthWilliamson, J., and Greenburg, A. (2010). Families, Not Orphanages.
Myth #5 :
These problems are impossible to solve.
A: Although family separation, poverty, lack of education, and abuse are not fixed overnight, they have solutions that have been developed and proven successful. Dozens of orphanages have been transformed into family reunification centers, with social workers working closely with families to support and strengthen them in their community. Because supporting a child in a home goes ten times further than supporting them in an institution, funding goes to more children than ever before.