Former Berlin Pankow orphanage
Orphanage is the name to describe a
residential institution devoted to the
care of
orphans –
children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable to care for
them. Parents, and sometimes grandparents, are legally responsible
for supporting children, but in the absence of these or other
relatives willing to care for the children, they become a
ward of the state, and orphanages are a
way of providing for their care and housing. Children are
educated within or outside of the
orphanage.
In Fujian Province
, special needs children are educated within the
orphanage. Orphanages in Pennsylvania
must educate children in school districts.
Orphanages provide an alternative to
foster
care or
adoption by giving orphans a
community-based setting in which they live and learn. In the worst
cases, orphanages can be dangerous and unregulated places where
children are subject to abuse and neglect.
Today, the term orphanage has negative connotations. Other
alternative names are
group home,
children's
home,
rehabilitation center and
youth treatment
center,
house of Donna.
History
The first orphanages, called "orphanotrophia," were founded in the
1st century amid various alternative means of
orphan
support.
Jewish law, for instance,
prescribed care for the widow and the orphan, and
Athenian law supported all orphans of
those killed in
military service
until the
age of eighteen, and Plato
(Laws, 927) says: "Orphans should be placed under the care of
public guardians. Men should have a fear of the loneliness of
orphans and of the souls of their departed parents. A man should
love the unfortunate orphan of whom he is guardian as if he were
his own child. He should be as careful and as diligent in the
management of the orphan's property as of his own or even more
careful still." . The care of orphans was particularly commended to
bishops and, during the
Middle Ages, to
monasteries. 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 their support and their learning an
occupation.
Historically, certain birth parents were often pressured or forced
to give up their children to orphanages: those of children
born out of wedlock or into poor families;
those with disabilities or of children born with disabilities; and
those of girls born into
patriarchal
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.
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
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, and as far fewer people die of
diseases or violence while their children are still young, the need
to operate large orphanages has decreased.
Parents or the extended family that are unable or unfit to care for
children have their kids removed from them. This is temporary if
the parents or extended family is willing to be given training to
care for their kids. Major charities are increasingly focusing
their efforts on the re-integration of orphans in order to keep
them with their parents or extended family and communities.
Orphanages
are no longer 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.
In many works of
fiction (notably
Oliver Twist and
Annie), the administrators of
orphanages are depicted as cruel monsters.
- England
During the
Victorian Era, child
abandonment was rampant, and orphanages were set up to reduce
infant mortality. Such places were often so full of children that
"killing nurses" often administered
Godfrey's Cordial, a special concoction of
opium and treacle, to soothe colic in babies.
- Estonia
"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."In 2007, there are
20 orphanages and foster homes across Estonia and 1600 children in
orphanages.
- Hungary
"More than 22,000 orphaned and abandoned children are in state
custody in Hungary."
- Lithuania
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 ten children's villages have
been created, in which 300 children live. In each house in each
village, there are five to seven children living along with their
guardian, or "mother". Children aged eight or over are taken into
these villages and stay there until they are 18.
- Poland
"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."
- Republic of Moldova
There are approximately 2000 children in orphanages, including 279
in orphanages "of the family type", in the Republic of
Moldova.
- Romania
We have reformed the child protection system and made it possible
for local authorities to prevent abandonment and protect all
children in need, by appropriate placement in substitute
families.
What the investigation makes clear is that some county authorities
are not implementing the child right legislation.
/Romania government.
[47347]
- Slovakia
"Slovak orphanages house about 5,000 children aged 3-18 in 70
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 Healthof
the Slovak Republic; orphanages for children of ages 3–18 by the
Ministry of Education and Science of the Slovak Republic.
- Egypt
"The [Mosques of Charity] orphanage houses about 120 children in
Giza, Menoufiya and Qalyubiya.""We [Dar Al-Iwaa] provide free
education and accommodation for over 200 girls and boys.""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."The are also 192
children at The Awladi, 30 at Sayeda Zeinab orphanage, and 300 at
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)."Ramadan brings
charity to Egypt's orphans".
Shanghai Star (12/13/2001)."A
Child by Any Other Name" by Réhab El-Bakry.
Egypt Today
(11/2002).
Orphanage Project in Egypt—www.littlestlamb.org
- Ethiopia
"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."
GhanaA 2007 survey sponsored by OrphanAid Africa and carried out by
the Department of Social Welfare came up with the figure of 4800
children in institutional care in 148 orphanages.Of these at least
four have since been closed. The website www.ovcghana.org details
these reforms.
- Kenya
A 1999 survey of 35,000 orphans found the following number in
institutional care: 64 in registered institutions and 164 in
unregistered institutions.
- Rwanda
Out of 400,000 orphans, 5,000 are living in orphanages.
- Tanzania
"Currently, there are 52 orphanages in Tanzania caring for about
3,000 orphans and vulnerable children."
- Nigeria
In Nigeria, a rapid assessment of orphans and vulnerable children
conducted in 2004 with UNICEF support revealed that there were
about seven millions orphans in 2003 and that 800,000 more orphans
were added during that same year. Out of this total number, about
1.8 million are orphaned by HIV/AIDS. With the spread of HIV/AIDS,
the number of orphans is expected to increase rapidly in the coming
years to 8.2 million by 2010.
- South Africa
Since the year 2000 South Africa does not licence orphanages
anymore but rather preferes community based family homes. One
example is the homes operated by Thokomala,
http://www.thokomala.org.za
- Zambia
A 1996 national survey of orphans revealed no evidence of orphanage
care. The breakdown of care was as follows:38% grandparents55%
extended family1% older orphan6% non-relative
- Zimbabwe
Statistics on the total number of children in orphanages
nation-wide are unavailable, but caregivers 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.
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.)
- Togo
In Togo, there were an estimated 280,000 orphans under 18 years of
age in 2005, 88,000 of them orphaned by AIDS. Ninety-six thousand
orphans in Togo attend school..
- Sierra Leone
Orphans, Children (0–17 years) orphaned by AIDS, 2005, estimate
31,000Orphans, Children (0–17 years) orphaned due to all causes,
2005, estimate 340,000Orphans, Orphan school attendance ratio,
1999-2005 71,000
- Senegal
- Orphans, Children (0–17 years) orphaned by AIDS, 2005, estimate
25,000
- Orphans, Children (0–17 years) orphaned due to all causes,
2005, estimate 560,000
- Orphans, Orphan school attendance ratio, 1999-2005 74,000
- Bahrain
The
"Royal
Charity Organization" is a Bahraini governmental charity
organization founded in 2001 by King
Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah to
sponsor all helpless Bahraini orphans and widows. Since then almost
7000 Bahraini families are granted monthly payments, annual school
bags, and a number of university scholarships. Graduation
ceremonies, various social and educational activities, and
occasional contests are held each year by the organization for the
benefit of orphans and widows sponsored by the organization.
- Taiwan
"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."
- South Korea
"There are now 17,000 children in public orphanages throughout the
country and untold numbers at private institutions."
- Afghanistan
"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." The non-governmental organisation
Mahboba's promise assists orphans in
contemporary Afghanistan.
- Bangladesh
"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 institutions250 -babies in three available
"baby homes"400 -Destitute Children's Rehabilitation Centre100
-Vocational Training Centre for Orphans and Destitute Children1,400
-Sixty-five Welfare and Rehabilitation Programmes for Children with
Disability
The private welfare institutions are mostly known as orphanages and
madrassahs. The authorities of most of these orphanages put more
emphasis on religion and religious studies. One example follows:400
– Approximately - Nawab Sir Salimullah Muslim Orphanage
- Cambodia
As in other parts of the world, non-government organizations such
as Save the Children are increasingly focusing their efforts away
from orphanages and into
community-based care for orphans. The
first community-based care program in Cambodia was established in
2000 by Servants to Asia's Urban Poor
[47348] and
called Project HALO
[47349] (Hope, Assistance and Love for Orphans),
mobilizing care for more than 1000 children orphaned by AIDS within
their own communities and extended families. A large number of
other organizations, such as World Orphans, who have funded
construction for 47 orphanages in the past three years, house
thousands of orphans in orphanages dotted across the country. Most
Cambodian orphans are orphaned due to their parents dying from AIDS
and some from land mines. The total number of orphans is unknown:
"There are no accurate figures available on how many orphans there
are in Cambodia."
- China
"Currently there are 50,000 children in Chinese orphanages, while
the number of abandoned children shows no sign of
slowing.""Official figures show that fewer than 20,000 of China's
orphans are now in any form of institutional care."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.
- India
Orphans, Children (0–17 years) orphaned due to all causes, 2005,
estimate 25,700,000
State of [Andhra Pradesh] -Children's Homes – 5,050 : 6 – 18 years
of age Refer to “Children’s Homes.” Government of Andhra
Pradesh
- Iraq
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."
- Laos
In the town of Phonsavan is one of the largest orphanages in Laos.
It is an S.O.S. orphanage and there are over 120 orphans living in
the facility.
- Palestinian Territory
"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."
- Fiji
Orphans, Children (0–17 years) orphaned due to all causes, 2005,
estimate 25,000
- Russia
There are some 153,000 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.
[47350] There are many web pages of Russian
orphanages, but very few of them are in English, such as St Nicholas
Orphanage in Siberia
or the Alapaevsk
orphanage in the Urals."Of a total of more
than 600,000 children classified as being 'without parental care,'
(most of them live with other relatives and fosters) as many as
one-third reside in institutions."
- Azerbaijan
"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."
- Belarus
Approximate total – 1,773 (1993 statistics for "all types of
orphanages")
- Kyrgyzstan
Partial information: 85 – Ivanovka Orphanage
- 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.
- Tajikistan
"No one can be sure how many lone children are there in the
republic. About 9,000 are in internats and in orphanages."
- Ukraine
103 000
Other information:
- thousands - Zaporizhia region
- 150 – Kiev State Baby Orphanage
- 30 – Beregena Orphanage
- 120 – Dom Invalid Orphanage
- Uzbekistan
Partial Information: 80 – Takhtakupar Orphanage
No information for the number of children actually in orphanages.
The number of orphaned and abandoned children is approximately
91,000.
"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."
"…at least 10,000 Mexican children live in orphanages and more in
unregistered charity homes"
Partial information:
- Independent Order
of Odd Fellows was the first fraternal order and first
organization to establish an orphanage in the United States. Odd
Fellows established countless orphanages throughout the United
States, all funded through charity. More Odd Fellows orphanages
existed than any other in the United States, before the government
would pay for them. To this day Odd Fellows works to help and
support orphans through SOS Village, just one of their many
projects of charity.
- Established in 1790, The Charleston Orphan House, located in
Charleston, SC was the first public orphanage in the United States.
Today the organization continues its 200 year legacy under the name
of [Carolina Youth Development Center]http://www.cydc.org. A
complete history of the organization entitled, A Legacy of
Caring: The Charleston Orphan House 1790-1990 was published by
Wyrick and Company, Charleston, SC 1991.
"…currently there are about 20,000 children in orphanages."
[47351]
In a Columbia orphanage, a nurse takes
care of three children.
Significant charities that help orphans
Prior to the establishment of state care for orphans in First World
countries, many private charities existed to take care of destitute
orphans.
- Independent Order
of Odd Fellows was the first fraternal order and first
organization to an establish an orphanage in the United States. Odd
Fellows establish countless orphanages throughout the United
States, all funded through charity. More Odd Fellows orphanage
existed than any other in the United States, before the government
would pay for them. To this day Odd Fellows' works to help and
support orphans though SOS Village. Just one of Odd Fellows many
projects of charity.
- 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.
See also
References
- [1] Education in orphanages, accessed September
28, 2009
- [2] Children in Institutional Settings,
accessed September 28, 2009
- Coalition for Residential Education
- [3], accessed September 3, 2009
- Abernethy, Virginia D. _Population Politics_. New York: Plenum
Press, 1993.
- [4]
- Social Protection and Risk Management - Social
Safety Nets
- Africa - Africa Region Human Development Working Paper
Series
- Table Of Contents
- http://www.unicef.org/media/media_27420.html
- [5]
- MPAK
- LA Times Article
- Poverty forces Kabul parents to send kids to
orphanages |csmonitor.com
- Virginia Haussegger Mahboba's promise ABC TV 7.30 Report.
2009. http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2009/s2615472.htm (last
accessed 15 July 2009)
- Women And Children In Disadvantaged Situations
- China: A Policy of Fatal Neglect in China’s State
Orphanages
- Russian Orphans Facts and Statistics
- Information about Russian orphans
- BBC NEWS |Health warning over Russian
youth
- Human Rights Watch
- Azerbaijan
- Kyrgyzstan Children's Work
- Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia
- [6]
- The
parentless don’t need cheap pity. Alla KOTLIAR, Yekaterina
SHCHETKINA | Society |People
- A photoreport: “From Heart to Heart – 2”: a trip to
the rural orphanages of Zaporozhye region :: Zaporozhzhya orphans.
Ukraine
- Kiev Children's Work
- Dnepropetrovsk Children's Work
- [7] page 14 and 15 of actual report, not web
page counter
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