Healthy love is a fundamental need we all have, but for some, it’s sadly not there to receive. I’m sitting in my office reading through a brochure about ending institutional care in Africa. A quote from a young person growing up in a children’s home stands out the most.

“In all the years at the institution, I never got even a single hug from a housemother. They told us they were our “mothers”, but they never came close to the vague memories I had of my mother.”

Most of us know that a lack of love is harmful. One feels unsafe and neglected and might look for love, or perhaps it is recognition, in all the wrong places. To feel valued, seen and heard, having a sense of trust and belonging is important for everyone. Shelter, food and education at an institution for children are far from enough for anyone’s well-being and development.

This is only one of many reasons why Give a Child a Family Africa (GCF) believes in family care and not institutional care. So many children in the world are removed from their parents due to various reasons and placed in long-term institutions with very little consideration of how it will affect them for the rest of their lives.

Did you know that between 80% and 96% (depending on what research you read) of all children in institutional care have at least one living parent? The sad part is that many of them could have remained at home if their parents just received support.

If you follow us, you are probably aware that we are in a transformational phase right now. Our main focus will be on even more preventative work than we already do, much of it in the local communities where we are located to avoid unnecessary removals and separation of children, parents, siblings, relatives and friends. With this, the organisation’s centre for children will eventually close its doors. If you want to know more about this, kindly read our previous blog about the topic here. ( https://www.gcf.org.za/is-give-a-child-a-family-africa-gcf-closing/#comments)

So, what do I want to say with all this? Well, February is the month of love, and you might be looking for a way to share some, too. Why not support our preventative work with an amount of your choice? Click here (https://www.gcf.org.za/donate/) and you will see what to do to contribute. We thank you in advance.

“Giving children a healthy start in life, no matter where they are born

 or the circumstances of their birth, is the moral obligation of every one of us.”

(Nelson Mandela)