Orphaned and Abandoned Children

Research shows that the first few years of a child's life are vitally important. A child lacking the love, nurture and support of dedicated parents in those early years faces significant challenges (worse than bad parenting is no parenting at all). Unfortunately, this is the reality that confronts many orphaned or abandoned children living in a developing country.

All too often, orphanages and welfare institutions suffer from over-worked staff doing the best job they can within their limited operating budgets. The number of children requiring support is simply too large. Consequently, babies and infants (those aged 0 to 3 years) typically spend most of their waking moments alone in the safety of their cribs or largely unattended in large play areas. They are safe, well fed, and warm – however, developmentally they fall well behind their more fortunate peers who have families to care for them.

Embrace steps in to help finance the employment and equipping of additional nannies that provide this vital nurture, love and care. Nannies, usually retired mothers who have a real passion to raise more children, are employed to hug, stimulate, tickle, fuss over and help develop babies through to pre-school age. The benefits of this program are clear to see when you compare children in a pre and post program situation. Where silence once dominated the ambience of a room (due largely to babies learning that crying does not result in attention), laughter and noise now dominates. Toddlers once shy to approach visitors now reach out their arms for a hug.