Helping Children Worldwide

Giving Tuesday is December 3rd, and this year we’re on a mission to raise $90,000 for families in Sierra Leone! Your support can help us save lives and uplift communities through: 🏥 Maternal health care to reduce alarming mortality rates 👨👩👧 Reuniting and supporting orphans and vulnerable children with stable families 💪 Empowering families with business training and microloans for financial independence By coming together, we can make a lasting impact for hundreds of families. 🫶 Mark Your Calendar & stay tuned for more ways to get involved!  #SaveTheDate #GivingTuesday #SupportFamilies #MaternalHealth #FamilyEmpowerment #HCW

Did you know that most children in orphanages aren’t actually orphans? 🤔 Despite common beliefs, over 80% of children living in orphanages have at least one living parent. 💔 Why Are Children in Orphanages? Poverty: In many countries, poverty is the leading reason why children end up in orphanages. Desperate parents, unable to provide basic needs like food, clothing, and education, often feel they have no other option but to send their children to these institutions, hoping they will receive the care they can’t afford. 💵 Lack of Support for Disabilities: Children with disabilities or special needs frequently end up in orphanages because their families lack access to essential support services. Without the right resources, these families feel they have no choice but to place their children in institutional care. 🏥 Orphanages are not the solution we often think they are. Many of these children have families who love them but need support. Let’s shift our focus towards empowering families and providing the resources they need to care for their children at home. 🏠💕 Learn more about how you can observe Strong Family Sunday and make a difference: https://lnkd.in/ehtVbEDQ #purereligionsunday #strongfamilysunday

From orphanage walls to family homes 🏡✨ David Titus Musa shares his inspiring journey into family reintegration, highlighting the powerful collaboration between orphanages, governments, and communities to make it happen. George Kulanda sheds light on his work strengthening family bonds and supporting successful reintegration through hands-on case management. Join us to discover why face-to-face connections are the heart of child protection in Sierra Leone. Tap in to be part of this transformative conversation! 🎧💬 https://lnkd.in/eecJP-UE #FamilyReintegration #ChildProtection #StrongerFamilies

Every Child and Family Deserves a Brighter Future. The Child Reintegration Centre’s Case Management Team is focused not just on meeting the needs of vulnerable families in its program, but designing interventions that help those families move gradually toward their own independence and self-sufficiency. The goal is always to ultimately release these families as soon as they are ready to stand on their own two feet both relationally and financially. But how do Case Managers know what a family needs, and what will help them the most? The Williams family is just one family on CRC Case Manager Abdulai’s caseload. Recently, Abdulai conducted an assessment of the Willaims’ family needs using a tool he frequently uses to assess the family’s needs in 8 different domains, called the Family Status Index (FSI). The FSI allows Abdulai to not only identify what the Williams family might need at any given point in time, but also to track how they’re progressing in these key areas and becoming stronger as a result of the CRC’s targeted interventions on their behalf. Abdulai realized that the family has been resilient in the face of multiple challenges, but they needed a little more support if they. Two key areas of immediate concern included food insecurity and ability to receive a regular income. As a petty trader of charcoal, Mrs.WIlliam needed funding to buy more supplies. As the sole caregiver for her two grandchildren, she was struggling to make ends meet and contemplating sending the children to her sister so they could get more to eat, but Abdulai, recognizing that the children are well-bonded and deeply attached to their grandmother identified key interventions that CRC could provide to keep this family intact and prevent the need for separation. CRC provided some raw materials for Mrs. Williams to make and sell charcoal, but they also enrolled her in a two-day financial Literacy Training course so that she can learn to manage her finances as well and make the most of the resources CRC has provided.   This Giving Tuesday, December 3rd, help us reach more children and families in Sierra Leone through our family-strengthening programs. From maternal health to education and microloans, your donation will provide the tools for every child, everywhere, to thrive in a safe, loving environment. 📍 Every donation brings us closer to reaching our $90,000 goal to transform lives. Learn more:https://lnkd.in/eDQeGRwy #EveryChildEverywhere #GivingTuesday #ChildrenFirst

Have you seen our Strong Family Sunday Toolkit? Along with media resources and a special prayer guide, we’ve also curated a Spotify playlist filled with worship and prayer songs to inspire and unite us as we lift up vulnerable children and families. Whether you're gathering with small groups, congregations, or spending time with family, this toolkit has everything you need to make an impact. Let’s come together to strengthen families and provide every child with the love and care they deserve. 💛 #StrongFamilySunday #OrphanSunday #FamilyForEveryChild #TogetherWePray

🔹 Tools for Strong Family Sunday 2024 are now available online! 🔹 Who: Churches, organizations, spiritual leaders, families, and all followers of Jesus Christ. What: Join us in advocating for every child to experience the love of a family, whether through biological, kinship, foster, or adoptive care. Let's promote family care globally, nationally, and locally. 🏠❤️ How: We've created a helpful booklet as a toolkit for observing Strong Family Sunday on November 10, 2024. Use it for home devotions, church small groups, and incorporate its suggestions into your worship service. Let's inspire our friends, families, and congregations to pray for children and families in need! Get your booklet now: https://lnkd.in/eii3Z7Sn

🗓️ Save the Date: Giving Tuesday 2024! On December 3rd, join us in making a powerful impact for families in Sierra Leone. This year, Helping Children Worldwide is aiming to raise $90,000 to support maternal health, strengthen care for orphans and vulnerable children, and empower families through microloans and capacity-building programs. 💙 Here’s how your support will help: Equip and train 240 midwives to deliver safe maternal care 👩⚕️ Support 300+ children through reintegration and case management services 👶 Provide families with the tools for financial independence and stability 💼 Mark your calendars and get ready to make a difference this #GivingTuesday! Together, we can help create healthier futures for families in Sierra Leone. 💚 #SaveTheDate #GivingTuesday2024 #MaternalHealth #FamilyStrengthening #Empowerment #HCW

Recently, we were proud to be at #DevexWorld2024 in Washington, D.C. This incredible conference brought together some of the most influential voices in the global development sector. We joined in important discussions on localization, collaboration, and navigating a future where challenges grow, but funding shrinks. It was an honor to be part of these critical conversations and to contribute to finding solutions that will make a lasting impact on the lives of children worldwide. #globaldevelopment #childrights #nonprofit #internationaldevelopment

Did you have a chance to listen your latest podcast yet? In our latest episode, we chat with Nat Kofi Abu Bansara, a current volunteer, and Michael Lee, president of Friends of Sierra Leone, about their inspiring journeys in sustainable development and cultural exchange in Sierra Leone. 🇸🇱 Learn how Peace Corps changes lives—both for volunteers and the communities they serve—and how Friends of Sierra Leone continues to support growth and collaboration. Tune in now! 🎙️💡 #PeaceCorps #VolunteerImpact #SierraLeone #CommunityDevelopment #CulturalExchange #ServiceForGood

🛑 The Hidden Costs of Orphanages on Child Development 🛑 Living in an orphanage can have profound and lasting effects on a child's development. Numerous studies highlight the detrimental impacts these environments can have on young minds and bodies. 📈 Emotional and Cognitive Development: Children in orphanages often experience emotional neglect, which can lead to high stress levels that harm brain development. This frequently results in delays in IQ, language, and speech. Research shows that children raised in orphanages can have an average IQ 20 points lower than those in foster care. 🧠 Physical Growth: Orphanages can also hinder physical development. For every three months a child spends in an orphanage, they may lose one month of physical growth—affecting their height, weight, and head circumference. 🧒 Attachment and Social Issues: Inconsistent caregiver relationships in orphanages can cause attachment issues, making it challenging for children to form positive connections. This often leads to behavioral problems such as anxiety, depression, and restlessness. 😰 Long-term Consequences: Children raised in institutions are at higher risk of unemployment, criminal activity, and victimization as adults. Unfortunately, they may also perpetuate the cycle by having their own children placed in orphanages. ⛓️ Mental Health: The lack of affection and proper care in orphanages can lead to attachment disorders and low self-esteem, making it difficult for these children to form meaningful relationships later in life. ❌ The environment in many orphanages is linked to significant developmental delays and long-term psychological and social challenges. It’s crucial to prioritize family-based care and ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow in a loving, supportive environment. 👤 Get your Strong Family Toolkit and learn how you can help provide every child with a strong, loving family: https://lnkd.in/ee3xN6TR