If you’re a parent, you’ll no doubt do everything you can to make sure your little ones feel loved and protected. Unfortunately, many kids around the world don’t have mums or dads to look after and nurture them. In fact, it’s estimated that there are as many as 200 million orphans across the globe, many of them in desperate need not just of love and attention, but practical necessities like food and shelter to help them survive.
Things are especially tough for youngsters in developing countries, where families can really struggle to cope if one or both parents of a child dies. Orphans in these circumstances are often denied secure and happy childhoods, and many of them drop out of school early because they have to start earning money. This can have a major impact on their life chances. Because of the scale of the problem, and the fact that a lot of these children live far away overseas, it can be difficult to know how to help. However, it’s important to realise that there are simple steps you can take to make things easier for these kids.
Help to fund charity projects
The simplest and most effective way to do your bit for orphaned children is to give to charity. There are a range of projects that you can choose from. For example, the aid and development charity Human Appeal sponsors orphans around the world in places including Lebanon, Pakistan, Eritrea, Bangladesh, Tanzania and Palestine. You can find out more about its Little Human Appeal projects by visiting the humanappeal.org.uk website. The broad aim of this initiative is to ease the harsh realities of being an orphan by helping to provide the resources these children need to lead secure, safe and healthy lives.
It involves one-to-one sponsorships, meaning that if you donate, you’ll get information about the specific child you’re helping. It’s important to realise that even small donations can have a major impact on kids’ day-to-day experiences. For example, £25 a month (which works out at 83p a day) can help to provide food, education, clothes and medicine for little ones.
One boy’s story of hope
One youngster who understands the power of this support is Noordin in Tanzania. His dad died before he was even born, and his mum lost her life while giving birth to Noordin and his twin. A family took the siblings in, but they didn’t always have enough money to give them what they needed. Now, the children are being sponsored and the donations help the family to cope financially. Thanks to the extra support, Noordin and his twin are healthy enough to study and they get the chance to play with their friends in school.
It’s easy to feel helpless when it comes to the plight of kids like Noordin, particularly if they’re half way around the world. However, by making donations to charity projects, you can make a real difference to their quality of life.
Are you supporting a charity? What are your reasons for or against it?
Image credits: Magnus D via Flickr, Human Appeal
Becky says
August 16, 2016 at 12:59 pmI support sightsavers with regular fundraising events and in September I am walking a marathon for the Britsh heart foundation so important to do Something!