Information and Links about Orphans and Adoption
There are numerous reports and organizations that deal with the plight of orphans. While some organizations report as many as 143 to 210 million orphans worldwide, it's difficult to calculate the numbers and impact of parent-less children. In Africa and some other areas of the world, the AIDS epidemic has resulted in hundreds of thousands to millions of children left with a parent. In countries like Russia and even the United States there are many more "social" orphans--children who are without a family because their parents have turned them over to the government, or the parents have lost custody of the child due to abuse or neglect. No matter what report, article, or website you read, the main fact remains the same: Throughout the world, there are far too many children living in institutions, or on the streets, struggling to survive.
Consider some of these statistics, courtesy of HarvestMinistry.org:
Consider some of these statistics, courtesy of HarvestMinistry.org:
- It is estimated that between 143,000,000 and 210,000,000 children are orphans. That’s at least 143 MILLION children in the world today. (Recent UNICEF report.)
- Every 15 seconds, another child in AFRICA becomes an AIDS orphan. (At the end of every year, 2,102,400 more children will become orphans, in Africa alone.)
- Every day, 5,760 more children in the world become orphans.
- Every 2.2 seconds another orphan ages out, with no family and no home.
Orphans in Russia
Think about what happens to an orphan in Russia if they reach the age of sixteen without being adopted. About 15,000 children leave Russian orphanages each year, once they are 16 to 18 years old. Of these, 5,000 are unemployed, some 6,000 are homeless, around 3,000 resort to crime, approximately 1,500 commit suicide, and roughly half the girls are forced into prostitution. From The CoMission for Children at Risk, 2002.
Even if a child is safe and living in an orphanage, many of these institutions have limited funds, and the high rate of children to caregivers means orphans don't receive the attention, affection, or even nutrition and medical care they need to develop normal physical and social skills. Studies have shown that for every three months a child spends in a Russian orphanage, the child falls one month behind in development. The vast majority of children who have lived in an orphanage for a long period (many months to years) have physical, emotional, social, or cognitive delays.
Even if a child is safe and living in an orphanage, many of these institutions have limited funds, and the high rate of children to caregivers means orphans don't receive the attention, affection, or even nutrition and medical care they need to develop normal physical and social skills. Studies have shown that for every three months a child spends in a Russian orphanage, the child falls one month behind in development. The vast majority of children who have lived in an orphanage for a long period (many months to years) have physical, emotional, social, or cognitive delays.
Helpful Sites and Links
To read more about orphans and adoption visit some of these sites.
Children's Hope Chest: a non-profit organization ministering to orphans around the world
Rainbow Kids: A portal site with lots of detailed information about orphans, adoption, photo listings of available children, and agency listings
iOrphan: A non-profit organization ministering to orphans. Website has interesting statistics and information.
Rainbow Kids: A portal site with lots of detailed information about orphans, adoption, photo listings of available children, and agency listings
iOrphan: A non-profit organization ministering to orphans. Website has interesting statistics and information.
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
to look after orphans and widows in their distress." (James 1:27 NIV)
to look after orphans and widows in their distress." (James 1:27 NIV)
