In this blog post for Hope and Homes for Children, Stephen Ucembe writes about the damaging impacts of orphanages in the African context. "In many countries in Africa, orphanages remain a legacy of colonial rule that continue to undermine traditional family and community responses to caring for vulnerable children," says Ucembe. "In the name of caring for children, across Africa, ever more buildings are constructed and filled with beds and subsequently filled with children to convey the illusion of protection," he continues. "Donors are convinced that 'orphan' children are being cared for and safe-guarded. But these children are recruited from families and communities – often from desperate parents who have little or no say in the decision. They face an impossible choice; either giving up the child to the orphanage which promises to meet their needs or keeping their child and being denied that support. Sadly, as a result of making this heartbreaking decision, families often end up being portrayed as unloving and criminalized as poor care givers."
Ucembe urges readers that the answer is investing in strengthening family care, rather than separating children from their families. "Every time a child is removed from the community we weaken the fabric of that community and the ability of that child to value the meaning of a community, to contribute to that community in the future."