First we can address the
obvious things that we read and hear about in the news all the time: War,
disease, poverty, natural disasters, abandonment, and accidents are among some
of the leading causes. These can be directly associated with orphans by the
definition of a child who has lost one or both parents. Within and aside from
the aforementioned are: cultural pressures, neglect, abuse, child slavery,
religious inequality, child prostitution, indentured servitude and more. These
are more closely associated with children without parental care that may not be
a child that has lost one or more parents. They may live with a relative or
neighbor or are on the street or in the jungles and subjected to one of the
afore mentioned abuses. Sometimes they simply live with a blind, ill or very
old relative that loves, but cannot care for them. There are many varied
combinations that contribute to a child suffering without parental care, but
the results are the same, regardless of the cause. Statistically the subgroups
such as these would not be counted as orphans, but by attributes associated
with abuse and neglect, they are one and the same in terms of the outcome for
the child. Perhaps in some ways their status almost makes them invisible and
the danger they are in is misunderstood by many not familiar with their culture.
Every person ever
conceived, was born with specific needs. Those needs include, critical needs
such as food and shelter, security, the knowledge that critical needs will
continue to be met, bonding, mentoring and nurturing which lead to a sense of
belonging as well as self actualization, or self worth...the belief that one is
of value to themselves and others. Children will first seek their critical
needs...and the supply of those critical needs will instill a learned behavior.
And then they will seek the other needs as well and the source of those needs
will again become a learned behavior. For example, if a starving child learns
that the most sure way to not be hungry is to steal...they will learn that
behavior as a means of survival. If being for example, a child soldier, or a
terrorist means that they are fed, clothed and receive attention and praise
from an adult figure, again they will learn that these types of behavior bring
them rewards...supplying them with their needs. In a sense they will become what
they have learned in their struggle to survive and belong. Consider this
article written about the Taliban.
In essence, every orphan child will either perish or receive
his or her basic human needs from some source...good or bad. It is up to those
who have the means and the opportunity to be sure that the source is good to
provide for them. If we don't, it will be the pimps, slave traders, ill-willed
relatives, thieves, gangsters, warlords and terrorists that do...
No human is ever born with
a guarantee of a happy, healthy life. However, there are a great many children
who are born into loving homes in which they will have the chance that every
child deserves. There has never been a single orphan child born, that chose or
deserved their status as a child without parental care. Whether you believe it
is God's will as stated in scriptures or you simply understand our inherent
responsibility to care for children and protect the future for our own
children, it's plain to see that the orphan children of this world are
something we simply cannot ignore.
4 Ways You Can
Help Orphans
- Seek them out. Do not allow yourself to forget the orphans. Very few people feel “called” to action the first few times they hear about or see orphans. Your role in orphan care will become clearer the more you expose yourself to their plight.
- Virtually adopt a child. Visit sites that list “waiting children” and pick out a child as your own.
- Find a family that is adopting and adopt them.Adoption is an arduous and stressful process. Families who are in the throes of an adoption could use all kinds of support. You can leave encouraging comments on their adoption blog, blog about them on your own blog, help them raise funds, or offer to write or edit letters and documents needed for the adoption process. As you follow your adopted family’s journey, you will find many ways to connect with them and support their mission.
- Support organizations that work to keep children with their families, educate cultures, and train care workers. Many children are separated from their parents due to natural disasters, disease, and poverty. Other children are left behind in maternity wards because they are born with “imperfections.” Parents of all of these children are surely heartbroken to let them go but they have been pressured by circumstance and cultural rejection. By going after the root causes of the orphan crisis we can keep many children from ever becoming one. You can get started by volunteering with us (RARUDEIF), going on a mission trip to orphanage centres, or connect with their caretakers through our organization.
LET’S HELP THE
ORPHANS
