Help Orphans and Abandoned Children

Orphans and abandoned children are in desperate need of care. Over 140 million children under the age of 18 have lost one or both of their parents. Some parents are unable to care for their children or are pressured by government regulations to abandon their offspring.

With no one to provide shelter or care, orphaned children are often left to wander the streets and scavenge for food. The lucky ones will be admitted to local orphanages — modest buildings often suffering from understaffing and disrepair. Many of these orphaned and abandoned children become undernourished and will not receive an education. They will grow up without ever feeling loved.

Babies sent to orphanages at a young age are in danger of acquiring developmental problems. In order to develop normally, young children need regular interaction with other people. Most children learn how to talk and walk by playing with their parents. However, orphanages often lack the resources to give children a normal childhood. Orphaned babies may lie alone in a crib without being spoken to or played with for days. Toddlers may be strapped in to chairs and left alone for hours. Without interaction during this critical period, many orphans never learn to talk, walk, or interact with other people. Most of these neglected orphans will never be adopted — instead, they are destined live their adult lives alone in mental asylums.

Older abandoned children that are not admitted to orphanages live desperate lives on the streets. Abandoned children beg or steal food and find shelter wherever they can. Police often view street orphans as a menace to the community rather than minors that need their protection.

Orphans and abandoned children in developing nations often have no one to advocate for them. They are regularly abused physically and sexually, with little hope of recourse. Many street orphans will grow-up to lives of prostitution or imprisonment.

You can make a difference by spending your next vacation helping orphaned and abandoned children. Play with children in orphanages, teach street children, and have an experience you'll never forget.

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I'm passing along a great do-it-yourself volunteer idea I just found at VolunteerGuide.org: Volunteer Vacation: Help orphans, abandoned children, war-traumatized refugees, and street kids, who need the love and nurturing a parent would normally provide. Short-term projects at orphanages and peace camps. http://www.volunteerguide.org/vacation/service-projects/orphanages Email Your Friends

Several volunteer vacation programs arrange trips to help abandoned and orphaned children. Consider one of these organizations:

• Global Volunteers provides on-site support and training at orphanages in Ecuador, India, Peru, and Romania. Volunteers play games with orphans, teach English, and help children practice music, dance, and art. Many of these programs give volunteers the opportunity to work specifically with disabled children in orphanages.
• Global Children's Organization seeks volunteer counselors for peace camps attended by war-traumatized children and refugees. Many of the young attendees come from orphanages or refugee camps. Volunteers help with art, dance, theater, community-building, horseback riding, and sports activities. The peace camps are located in the United States, Balkans, and Northern Ireland.
• African Impact volunteers help abandoned street children in South Africa. Volunteers distribute food and clothing, develop caring relationships, and help prepare students to begin attending school.
• Volunteer for the Visayans organizes volunteer vacations to orphanages in the Philippines. Volunteers tutor children, organize activities, and do basic chores. They may also teach street children.
• The Institute for Field Research Expeditions sends volunteers to help orphaned children in Costa Rica. Volunteers live with a local family and work at the community orphanage. They teach English, play games, and help children with their homework.
• i-to-i volunteers in Posadas, Argentina help orphans and disadvantaged children by serving nutritious meals, planning activities, and helping with homework. Projects in the area include an orphanage, a day-care center for disadvantaged children, and a home for abused children.

Whatever program you choose, know that you can make a lasting difference in the lives of orphans and abandoned children. By showing them that someone cares, you'll renew their hope and help them smile again.