HCW joins prominent child welfare and faith organizations to support family reintegration

Although the western church has historically been a driving force in the proliferation of orphanages, it is poised now to become a huge part of the solution to the problem."  - Krish Kandiah, Home for Good

Helping Children Worldwide was honored to be at the table with global child welfare leaders for the "The Global Church’s Response to Children Without Parental Care," in conjunction with the 2019 UN General Assembly on September 23rd in New York City.  The group met to strategize how to engage the global church in the family reintegration movement, which seeks to place every orphaned or abandoned child in a safe and loving family.  Melody Curtiss and Laura Horvath represented HCW in the meeting with other leaders of child welfare and faith organizations, including World Vision, 1MILLIONHOME, Catholic Relief Services, Home for Good, and the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO).  Many of the participants were present at HCW's Rising Tides policy conference last month. 

The meeting was organized by Krish Kandiah, Founding Director of Home for Good, and Elli Oswald, Executive Director of Faith to Action.  Krish encouraged the assembly that the global church could become a "champion for children," and fulfill the Biblical promise to "let your light shine before men that they should see your deeds and praise you," by leading the movement to find loving families for all children.  "Although the western church has historically been a driving force in the proliferation of orphanages, it is poised now to become a huge part of the solution to the problem," Krish concluded.   Doug Leonard, World Council of Church representative to the UN, assured the group that they "can be a vehicle for advocacy to the UN on behalf of every child's right to grow up in safe, stable families."

Presentations by the participants framed the challenge: 

• Kim Lamberty, of Catholic Relief Services' "Changing the Way We Care" initiative spoke about the state of children without parental care, and the importance of church engagement.   
• Simon Njoroge of the Jabali Foundation spoke about the importance of church and government partnerships.
• A video of encouragement featuring Pastor and Author Francis Chan was shared.  Pastor Chan is a vocal supporter for placing orphaned and abandoned children in loving homes instead of orphanages.
• Florence Martin of the Better Care Network addressed progress in the international care reform sector, including the creation of the Key Recommendations, and the coalition of 240 organizations supporting the 2019 UN Resolution on the Rights of the Child, focused on the theme of Children without Parental Care. 

HCW is an endorser of the Key Recommendations.  Plans are underway to share the impact of the meeting with other Christian organizations, and develop language to communicate the mission and purpose of the group to share with church leaders across denominations.

Above: Krish Kandish (second from right) and Elli Oswald (right) convened the  meeting of child welfare and faith leaders.