 Kids without a mom and dad
7,700,000 in Sub-Saharan Africa ….
16,200,000 in Latin America and the Caribbean ….
7,700,000 in Asia ….
1,500,000 in Eastern Europe …
More than 500,000 in foster care in the US.
According to UNICEF, there are more than 143 million orphans worldwide.
Unless action is taken, this number is expected to INCREASE overtime.
Growing up without stable relationships affects children of ALL ages.
- Infants lacking touch, stimulation, and nurturance fail to thrive resulting in physical, emotional, and intellectual impairments, or even death. Lack of coordination, hyperactivity, developmental delays, language impairment, and attachment difficulties will follow them throughout life; all due to not having a caring adult hold and love them during their first few months of life.
- Toddlers and school-age children experiencing abuse, abandonment, or neglect fail to develop a crucial sense of trust and safety, causing impairments in their ability to form and maintain relationships as adults. The toll emotionally on these precious children manifests itself in their behavior, many times causing teachers to label them as “problem children” and following them throughout school.
The longer children live in institutions or foster homes without a stable, loving adult connection, the bleaker
their future becomes.
- 1 in 10 will commit suicide
- Less than half will finish high school
- 1 in 3 will be homeless
- 50% will end up in jail
- 1 in 4 will become parents before the age of 20, and their children will likely end up in orphanages or foster homes
- Many will turn to drug trafficking or prostitution to survive
Many of these children are overlooked for adoption because they are “older” (more than six-years old) and parents believe they don’t want to be, or can’t be adopted. It is not okay. |
