Orphan World Relief

Orphan World Relief’s goal is to help orphanages, orphan relief efforts and at-risk children in areas of the world where few (if any) social services are available. Along with providing financial support, we want to help orphanages become more self-sufficient in three areas:

1. Nutritional Needs
2. Educational Needs
3. Financial Needs

In the 21st century, there are over 144 million orphans in the world. Most orphanages are independently run and a small percentage operates without external support from America or Western Europe. Most, however, depend on external financial resources to survive.

While some will always need external resources, many can become more self-sufficient with the proper resources and knowledge.

The number of orphans around the globe is staggering. Current estimates suggest that there are over 144 million orphans around the globe. Some countries have been hit harder than others. Here are some of the statistics… 

• Every day 5,760 more children become orphans

• 2,102,400 more children become orphans every year in Africa alone

• Every 15 seconds, another child in Africa becomes an AIDS orphan

• There are an estimated 14 million AIDS orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa (a number higher than the total of every under-eighteen year old in Canada, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Ireland combined) This figure is estimated to reach 18 million orphans in Africa alone by 2010.

• 8 out of 10 children orphaned by AIDS lives in sub-Saharan Africa

• Approximately 250,000 children are adopted annually, but…

• Each year 14, 505, 000 children grow up as orphans and age out of the system by age sixteen 

• Each day 38,493 orphans age out

• Every 2.2 seconds another orphan ages out with no family to belong to and no place to call home

• In Russia and the Ukraine, studies have shown that 10% – 15% of these children commit suicide before they reach age eighteen

• These studies also show that 60% of the girls become prostitutes and 70% of the boys become hardened criminals

• Another Russian study reported that of the 15,000 orphans aging out of state-run institutions every year, 10% committed suicide, 5,000 were unemployed, 6,000 were homeless and 3,000 were in prison within three years.

Overall Strategy

Orphan World Relief seeks to provide a consistent level of support to orphanages, orphan relief efforts and at-risk children. Our financial support is based on a number of key factors including:

• Number of children being cared for 

• Cost of living for that region of the world

At no time do we want to provide more than 20% support for any group and/or person as a risk mitigation effort. In other words, we do not want any one group or individual to be so dependant on support from Orphan World Relief that they risk closure should our ability to support them fail for whatever reason.

Additionally, we work with individual orphanages to help them become more self-sufficient. Partnerships with such groups as ECHO help provide the needed data, equipment and expertise to help groups raise a portion of their own food no matter where they’re located.

Our recent work with Art and Orphans is another way to help orphanages by providing an outlet for them to sell pieces of art, the financial proceeds directly benefit the orphanage.