Easy to Understand Orphanages Overview
Orphaned children are society’s most vulnerable and susceptible population. Often, these children have lost the most important people in their lives due to disease, violence, or accidents. In other cases, these children have suffered from abuse, neglect, or abandonment.
Background
Orphanages were created in order to address the increasing number of children who were left without parental care. Throughout history, children who were abandoned or who lost their parents due to disease or violence, were placed in the care of relatives. However, not all orphaned children had family members who were willing to undertake the responsibility of caring for them.
Governments understood that it was essential to develop institutions that would provide these children with basic necessities, education, and protection. In many cases, these Government-funded institutions subjected children to the exact opposite.
Oftentimes, orphanages were not provided with sufficient funding, and as a result, orphaned children did not have access to adequate supplies of food or proper clothing. These institutions were often understaffed, and abuse and neglect became widespread throughout orphanages. Some countries, such as the United States, chose to close State-run orphanages in favor of other programs. However, orphanages can still be found in many countries throughout the world.
Origins
The institutionalization of orphanages has an extremely long and complex history. Since the time of the ancient Athenians, governments have ensured that children who lost their parents due to disease or warfare continued to be provided with protection and the necessities that they need in order to survive. Once Christianity became accepted, Christians around the world began to establish institutions in order to house, clothe, feed, and care for children who lost their parents.
As time progressed, these orphanages became important not only for children who lost their parents, but also for children who were born to parents that were not able to care for them. Orphanages quickly became essential institutions throughout much of Europe. These institutions continued to increase in importance in the United States and in various countries throughout the world.
International
The necessity for international orphanages continues to increase. Many countries throughout the world are experiencing extreme poverty and armed conflict. In countries such as Africa, millions of people die every year due to starvation, violence, and disease. Oftentimes, these diseases are treatable with medicine. However, many people throughout these countries do not have access to healthcare. Infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, are rampant through many impoverished countries. As a result, millions of children are orphaned every year.
In many cases, the quality of international orphanages are atrocious. They often do not have adequate funding in order to provide children with the food, clothing, and education that they need. Many children die in orphanages around the world because they do not have access to proper healthcare. It is essential to establish more and better quality international orphanages in order to protect and care for the children who have had their parents taken from them.
Domestic
Orphanages became extremely important in the United States during the 19th Century. This era experienced a great deal of financial hardships and violence. The Civil War claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, and diseases many more, orphaning children across the country.
In many cases, parents did not posses the financial ability to adequately care for a child. As a result, hundreds of orphanages were established throughout the nation. These orphanages were responsible for providing children with shelter, food, clothing, and education.
As time progressed, it became commonly known that children in orphanages were subjected to abuse and neglect. As a result of the terrible conditions that were found in many United States orphanages, most of these institutions were closed down. The United States began to focus on the foster care system in order to protect orphaned children. Today, some improved and modern group homes exist for orphans. However, foster care is considered to be a better option for children.
Christian Orphanages
The majority of the orphanages that continue to exist in the United States are associated with a particular religious denominations, which provides the orphanage with financial funding. Hundreds of Christian orphanages have been established throughout the United States. These orphanages seek to provide children not only with basic necessities, but also with love and support.
Many of these orphanages were developed as boarding schools, where orphaned children live and receive an education. The majority of Christian orphanages place a strong emphasis on religious education and spend a great deal of time teaching the Bible to orphaned children.
An extensive database containing the major Christian orphanages throughout the country can be found online. Christian orphanages are not only important within the United States, but are also extremely crucial in countries throughout the world. Many Christian orphanages have been established in impoverished countries to help protect and provide for desolate children. These institutions rely heavily on public donations in order to continue their mission.
NEXT: Children Aging out
