Most children in orphanages aren’t orphans, this is their untold story

Did you know, globally, an estimated 80% of children in orphanages have a living parent?

One of the main reasons families send a child to live in residential care institutions is often because it's the only way to access basic services, such as education and health care.

However, decades of research show that living in institutions is harmful to children where they can experience attachment disorders, developmental delays and lack the life skills and stability that come from growing up in a family. These problems can continue into adulthood, where young adults leaving institutional care are more likely to become victims of trafficking, exploitation, unemployment and homelessness and are at increased risk of suicide.

World Expeditions Travel Group has long advocated to put an end to orphanage tourism. Rather than volunteering in orphanages, we believe in empowering family-based care. Here are 10 things to look for to make sure your time overseas is spent making a genuine difference.

This short documentary, titled The Love You Give, reveals the untold stories of orphanages, a system that's harming the very children we believe it protects, and how you can choose to be part of the solution. It presents the negative impact of orphanages but doesn’t seek to criticise the motivations behind volunteering, instead it showcases how people can be part of the solution, not the problem.

Take the pledge to #ChangeVolunteering at loveyougive.org and make the commitment not to volunteer in an orphanage as you could unknowingly be breaking up families.

#ThoughtfulTravel