For other uses, see Orphanage (disambiguation). This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. The talk page may contain suggestions. (September 2007) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2007) Former Berlin Pankow orphanage St. Nicholas Orphanage in Novosibirsk, Russia Orphanage is the name to describe a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable to care for them. Parents, and sometimes grandparents, are legally responsible for supporting children, but in the absence of these or other relatives willing to care for the children, they become a ward of the state, and orphanages are a way of providing for their care and housing. Children are educated within or outside of the orphanage. Orphanages provide an alternative to foster care or adoption by giving orphans a community-based setting in which they live and learn.1 In the worst cases, orphanages can be dangerous and unregulated places where children are subject to abuse and neglect.2 An orphanage is sometimes called a group home, children's home, rehabilitation center or youth treatment center. Contents 1 History 2 Europe 3 Africa 4 Asia 5 Former Soviet Union 6 Oceania 7 North America & Caribbean 7.1 Haiti 7.2 Mexico 7.3 United States 8 Central and South America 8.1 Guatemala 9 Significant charities that help orphans 10 See also 11 References 12 External links History The first orphanages, called "orphanotrophia," were founded in the 1st century amid various alternative means of orphan support. Jewish law, for instance, prescribed care for the widow and the orphan, and Athenian law supported all orphans of those killed in military service until the age of eighteen. Plato (Laws, 927) says: "Orphans should be placed under the care of public guardians. Men should have a fear of the loneliness of orphans and of the souls of their departed parents. A man should love the unfortunate orphan of whom he is guardian as if he were his own child. He should be as careful and as diligent in the management of the orphan's property as of his own or even more careful still."3 The care of orphans was referred to bishops and, during the Middle Ages, to monasteries. Many orphanages practiced some form of "binding-out" in which children, as soon as they were old enough, were given as apprentices to households. This would ensure their support and their learning an occupation. Such practices are assumed to be quite rare in the modern Western world, thanks to improved social security and changed social attitudes, but remain in force in many other countries.

Since the 1950s, after a series of scandals involving the coercion of birth parents and abuse of orphans (notably at Georgia Tann's Tennessee Children's Home Society), the United States and other countries have moved to de-institutionalize the care of vulnerable children—that is, close down orphanages in favor of foster care and accelerated adoption. Moreover, as it is no longer common for birth parents in Western countries to give up their children, and as far fewer people die of diseases or violence while their children are still young, the need to operate large orphanages has decreased. Major charities are increasingly focusing their efforts on the re-integration of orphans in order to keep them with their parents or extended family and communities. Orphanages are no longer common in the European community, and Romania in particular has struggled to reduce the visibility of its children's institutions to meet conditions of its entry into the European Union. In the United States, the largest remaining orphanage is the Bethesda Orphanage, founded in 1740 by George Whitefield. In many works of fiction (notably Oliver Twist and Annie), the administrators of orphanages are depicted as cruel monsters. Europe Bulgaria "The Bulgarian child welfare system has changed. In November 2007, Bulgaria adopted a national strategic plan for the period 2008–2018 to improve the living standards of the country's children. Among the expected results of the strategy is a reduction in the number of children living in institutions. Bulgaria is working hard to close institutions and find alternative ways to take care of the children. Support is given to families who want to take care of their children and work during daytime; correspondingly, day centers have started up on a small scale. A smaller number of children have also been able to be relocated into foster families".4 In the still yet 144 orphanages there are living 8,700 children wrongly classified as orphaned. Only 10% of whom are orphaned, the fact is that many of the children placed in orphanages in temporary periods when the family is in such crisis.5 United Kingdom During the Victorian Era, child abandonment was rampant, and orphanages were set up to reduce infant mortality. Such places were often so full of children that "killing nurses" often administered Godfrey's Cordial, a special concoction of opium and treacle, to soothe colic in babies.6 Estonia In 2007, There are 45 orphanages, which house about half of the state's approximately 1600 children living in Estonian orphanages.7 Hungary A comprehensive national strategy for strengthening the rights of children adopted by Parliament in 2007 and will run until 2032. Child flow to orphanages has been stopped. And they are now protected by social services. Violation of children's rights leads to court.8 Lithuania

Six thousand children are living in institutions, of a nationwide total of 14,000 children without parents.9 Poland They are many state orphanages "where several thousand children are kept and which are still part of an outdated child care system.10 Republic of Moldova There are approximately 2,000 children in orphanages, including 279 in orphanages "of the family type", in the Republic of Moldova. Romania The Romanian government says after an investigation by the reporter Chris Rogers of the orphanages November 2006. "The child protection system is reformed and it possible for local authorities to prevent abandonment and protect all children in need, by appropriate placement in substitute families. The investigation makes clear that some county authorities are not implementing the child right legislation". [7] When Chris Rogers came back to Romania in December 2009 and reopened a new investigation it revealed still significant hardship for orphans. And they sent the complaint to the Government. The Government's response: "The problems highlighted are not representative of the care system" adding... "Romania has constantly paid attention in the field of disability and has assumed responsibility to ensure the most appropriate frame in order to meet human rights in this domain".11 Romania has the highest number of orphaned children in Europe. # year Total children in care of the state. Number of children in orphanages 1. 1990 &000000000004740500000047,405 2587012 2. 1994 5298612 3. 1997 &000000000005146800000051,468 39569 4. 1998 &000000000005564100000055,641 38597 5. 1999 &000000000005708700000057,087 33356 6. 2000 &000000000008775300000087,753 57181 7. 2001 &000000000008788900000087,889 57060 8. 2002 &000000000008786700000087,867 4996513 9. 2003 &000000000008637900000086,379 4309214 10. 2004 &000000000008444500000084,445 3766015 11. 2005 &000000000008305900000083,059 3282116 12. 2006 &000000000007876600000078,766 28786 13. 2007 &000000000007379300000073,793 2659917 14. 2008 &000000000007104700000071,047 2497918 15. 2009 &000000000006885800000068,858 2422719 16. 2010 &000000000006200000000062,000 1900020 21 Slovakia The Committee gave some recommendations, such as proposals for the adoption of a new "national 14" action plan for children for at least the next five years, and the creation of an independent institution for the protection of child rights.22 Sweden In Sweden there are 5,000 children in the care of the state. None of them are currently living in an orphanage, because there is a social service law which requires that the children reside in a family home. Africa Egypt "The [Mosques of Charity] orphanage houses about 120 children in Giza, Menoufiya and Qalyubiya." "We [Dar Al-Iwaa] provide free education and accommodation for over 200 girls and boys." "Dar Al-Mu'assassa Al-Iwaa'iya (Shelter Association), a government association affiliated with the Ministry of Social Affairs, was established in 1992. It houses about 44 children." The are also 192 children at The Awladi, 30 at Sayeda Zeinab orphanage, and 300 at My Children Orphanage.

Note: There are about 185 orphanages in Egypt. The above information was taken from the following articles: "Other families" by Amany Abdel-Moneim. Al-Ahram Weekly (5/1999). "Ramadan brings charity to Egypt's orphans". Shanghai Star (12/13/2001). "A Child by Any Other Name" by Réhab El-Bakry. Egypt Today (11/2002). Orphanage Project in Egypt—www.littlestlamb.org Ethiopia "For example, in the Jerusalem Association Children's Home (JACH), only 160 children remain of the 785 who were in JACH's three orphanages." / "Attitudes regarding the institutional care of children have shifted dramatically in recent years in Ethiopia. There appears to be general recognition by MOLSA and the NGOs with which Pact is working that such care is, at best, a last resort, and that serious problems arise with the social reintegration of children who grow up in institutions, and deinstitutionalization through family reunification and independent living are being emphasized."23 Ghana A 2007 survey sponsored by OrphanAid Africa and carried out by the Department of Social Welfare came up with the figure of 4,800 children in institutional care in 148 orphanages.Of these at least four have since been closed. The website www.ovcghana.org details these reforms. Kenya A 1999 survey of 35,000 orphans found the following number in institutional care: 64 in registered institutions and 164 in unregistered institutions.24 Rwanda Out of 400,000 orphans, 5,000 are living in orphanages.25 Tanzania "Currently, there are 52 orphanages in Tanzania caring for about 3,000 orphans and vulnerable children."26 Nigeria In Nigeria, a rapid assessment of orphans and vulnerable children conducted in 2004 with UNICEF support revealed that there were about seven millions orphans in 2003 and that 800,000 more orphans were added during that same year. Out of this total number, about 1.8 million are orphaned by HIV/AIDS. With the spread of HIV/AIDS, the number of orphans is expected to increase rapidly in the coming years to 8.2 million by 2010.citation needed27 South Africa Since 2000, South Africa does not licence orphanages any more but rather prefers community based family homes. One example is the homes operated by Thokomala, http://www.thokomala.org.za. Zambia A 1996 national survey of orphans revealed no evidence of orphanage care. The breakdown of care was as follows: 38% grandparents 55% extended family 1% older orphan 6% non-relative Recently a group of students started a fundraising website for an orphanage in Zambia. http://mmorphanage.org 24 Zimbabwe There are 38 privately run children's charity homes, or orphanages, in the country, and the government operates eight of its own. Statistics on the total number of children in orphanages nationwide are unavailable, but caregivers say their facilities were becoming unmanageably overwhelmed almost on a daily basis. Between 1994 and 1998, the number of orphans in Zimbabwe more than doubled from 200,000 to 543,000, and in five years, the number is expected to reach 900,000. (Unfortunately, there is no room for these children.)28 Togo

In Togo, there were an estimated 280,000 orphans under 18 years of age in 2005, 88,000 of them orphaned by AIDS.2929 Ninety-six thousand orphans in Togo attend school.29 Sierra Leone Children (0–17 years) orphaned by AIDS, 2005, estimate 31,000 30 Children (0–17 years) orphaned due to all causes, 2005, estimate 340,00030 Orphan school attendance ratio, 1999–2005 71,00030 Senegal Children (0–17 years) orphaned by AIDS, 2005, estimate 25,00031 Children (0–17 years) orphaned due to all causes, 2005, estimate 560,00031 Orphan school attendance ratio, 1999–2005 74,00031 Asia Bahrain The "Royal Charity Organization" is a Bahraini governmental charity organization founded in 2001 by King Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah to sponsor all helpless Bahraini orphans and widows. Since then almost 7,000 Bahraini families are granted monthly payments, annual school bags, and a number of university scholarships. Graduation ceremonies, various social and educational activities, and occasional contests are held each year by the organization for the benefit of orphans and widows sponsored by the organization. Taiwan The number of orphanages and orphans drastically dropped from 15 institutions and 2,216 persons in 1971 to 9 institutions and 638 persons by the end of 2001. South Korea "There are now 17,000 children in public orphanages throughout the country and untold numbers at private institutions."32 Afghanistan "At Kabul's two main orphanages, Alauddin and Tahia Maskan, the number of children enrolled has increased almost 80 percent since last January, from 700 to over 1,200 children. Almost half of these come from families who have at least one parent, but who can't support their children."33 The non-governmental organisation Mahboba's promise assists orphans in contemporary Afghanistan.34 Bangladesh "There are no statistics regarding the actual number of children in welfare institutions in Bangladesh. The Department of Social Services, under the Ministry of Social Welfare, has a major programme named Child Welfare and Child Development in order to provide access to food, shelter, basic education, health services and other basic opportunities for hapless children." (The following numbers mention capacity only, not actual numbers of orphans at present.) 9,500 -State institutions 250 -babies in three available "baby homes" 400 -Destitute Children's Rehabilitation Centre 100 -Vocational Training Centre for Orphans and Destitute Children 1,400 -Sixty-five Welfare and Rehabilitation Programmes for Children with Disability The private welfare institutions are mostly known as orphanages and madrassahs. The authorities of most of these orphanages put more emphasis on religion and religious studies. One example follows: 400 – Approximately – Nawab Sir Salimullah Muslim Orphanage35 Cambodia

There are numerous NGOs focusing their efforts on assisting Cambodia's orphans: one group, "World Orphans" constructed 47 orphanages housing over 1500 children in a three year period.36 The total number of orphans is much higher, but unknown: "There are no accurate figures available on how many orphans there are in Cambodia." One charity named C.H.O.I.C.E. is run by expats based in the capital city of Phnom Penh; it helps support orphans and other poor and homeless people. China "Currently there are 50,000 children in Chinese orphanages, while the number of abandoned children shows no sign of slowing."citation needed "Official figures show that fewer than 20,000 of China's orphans are now in any form of institutional care."citation needed Chinese official records fail to account for most of the country's abandoned infants and children, only a small proportion of whom are in any form of acknowledged state care.citation needed The most recent figure provided by the government for the country's orphan population, 100,000, seems implausibly low for a country with a total population of 1.2 billion.citation needed Even if it were accurate, however, the whereabouts of the great majority of China's orphans would still be a complete mystery, leaving crucial questions about the country's child welfare system unanswered and suggesting that the real scope of the catastrophe that has befallen China's unwanted children may be far larger than the evidence in this report documents. India Orphans, children (0–17 years) orphaned due to all causes, 2005, estimate 25,700,000 "Unicef India Statistics". http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/india_statistics.html. Retrieved 11-12-2007.  State of Andra Pradesh -Children's Homes – 5,050 : 6 – 18 years of age Refer to “Children’s Homes.” Government of Andhra Pradesh Maldives Orphans, Children (0–17 years) orphaned due to all causes, 2010, estimate 51 "Minivan News". http://minivannews.com/society/2010/04/04/vilingili-orphanage-understaffed-and-overcrowded/. Retrieved 06-04-2007. dead link Iraq UNICEF maintains the same number at present. "While the number of state homes for orphans in the whole of Iraq was 25 in 1990 (serving 1,190 children); both the number of homes and the number of beneficiaries has declined. The quality of services has also declined." A 1999 study by UNICEF "recommended the rebuilding of national capacity for the rehabilitation of orphans." The new project "will benefit all the 1,190 children placed in orphanages." Laos "It is stated that there are 20,000 orphaned children in Laos. There are only three orphanages in the whole country providing places for a total of 1,000 of these children." No Title. By Anneli Dahlbom One of the largest orphanages in Laos is in the town of Phonsavan. It is an S.O.S. orphanage and there are over 120 orphans living in the facility.37 Palestinian Territory

"In 1999, the number of children living in orphanages witnessed a considerable drop as compared to 1998. The number dropped from 1,980 to 1,714 orphans. This is due to the policy of child re-integration in their household adopted by the Ministry of Social Affairs." Former Soviet Union The Moscow Orphanage (founded in 1763, constructed in the 1770s) In the post-Soviet regime, orphanages are better known as the Children Homes (Russian: Детскиe домa). After reaching school age, all children enroll into internat-schools (Russian: Школа-интернат) (see Boarding school). Russia There are some 153,000 children and teenagers living in state institutions according to Russia's Health Ministry. Some 15,000 young people graduate from the state-run orphanages every year. [8]383940 There are many web pages for Russian orphanages, but very few of them are in English, such as St Nicholas Orphanage in Siberia or the Alapaevsk orphanage in the Urals. "Of a total of more than 600,000 children classified as being 'without parental care' (most of them live with other relatives and fosters), as many as one-third reside in institutions."41 Azerbaijan "Many children are abandoned due to extreme poverty and harsh living conditions. Family members or neighbors may raise some of these children but the majority live in crowded orphanages until the age of fifteen when they are sent into the community to make a living for themselves."42 Belarus Approximate total – 1,773 (1993 statistics for "all types of orphanages") Kyrgyzstan Partial information: 85 – Ivanovka Orphanage43 Tajikistan "No one can be sure how many lone children are there in the republic. About 9,000 are in internats and in orphanages."44 Ukraine 103,00045 Other information: thousands – Zaporozhzhya region46 150 – Kiev State Baby Orphanage47 30 – Beregena Orphanage 120 – Dom Invalid Orphanage48 Uzbekistan Partial Information: 80 – Takhtakupar Orphanage Oceania Indonesia No verifiable information for the number of children actually in orphanages. The number of orphaned and abandoned children is approximately 91,000. "Convention on the Rights of the Child" (PDF). Archived from the original on 2007-11-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20071129174720/http://193.194.138.190/html/menu2/6/crc/doc/report/srf-indonesia-1.pdf. Retrieved 2007-11-12.  Fiji Orphans, children (0–17 years) orphaned due to all causes, 2005, estimate 25,000 "Unicef Fiji Statistics". http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/fiji_statistics.html.  North America & Caribbean Haiti Haitians and expatriate childcare professionals are careful to make it clear that Haitian orphanages and children's homes are not orphanages in the North American sense, but instead shelters for vulnerable children, often housing children whose parent(s) are poor as well as those who are abandoned, neglected or abused by family guardians. Neither the number of children or the number of institutions is officially known, but Chambre de L'Enfance Necessiteusse Ha_tienne (CENH) indicated that it has received requests for assistance from nearly 200 orphanages from around the country for more than 200,000 children. Although not all are orphans, many are vulnerable or originate in vulnerable families that "hoped to increase their children's opportunities by sending them to orphanages." Catholic Relief Services provides assistance to 120 orphanages with 9,000 children in the West, South, Southeast and Grand Anse, but these include only orphanages that meet their criteria. They estimate receiving ten requests per week for assistance from additional orphanages and children's homes, but some of these are repeat requests."49

In 2007, UNICEF estimated there were 380,000 orphans in Haiti, which has a population of just over 9 million, according to the CIA World Factbook. However, since the January 2010 earthquake, the number of orphans has skyrocketed, and the living conditions for orphans have seriously deteriorated. Official numbers are hard to find due to the general state of chaos in the country. Mexico "…at least 10,000 Mexican children live in orphanages and more live in unregistered charity homes" Mexican Orphanages Mazatlan Mexico Orphanage Casa Hogar Jeruel: Orphanage in Chihuahua City, Mexico United States Partial information: Bethesda Home for Boys, in Savannah, Georgia, is the oldest child caring institution in the country. In fact, founded in 1740, it’s older than the country itself and was a site frequently visited by many of the country’s founding fathers. Benjamin Franklin was an early investor and Bethesda was constituted by a grant from King George with the encouragement of Charles and John Wesley. Established in 1790, The Charleston Orphan House, located in Charleston, SC, was the first public orphanage in the United States. Today the organization continues its 200 year legacy under the name of [Carolina Youth Development Center]http://www.cydc.org. A complete history of the organization entitled, A Legacy of Caring: The Charleston Orphan House 1790–1990 was published by Wyrick and Company, Charleston, SC 1991. Central and South America Guatemala "…currently there are about 20,000 children in orphanages." [9] In a Colombian orphanage, a nurse takes care of three children. Significant charities that help orphans Prior to the establishment of state care for orphans in First World countries, many private charities existed to take care of destitute orphans. SOS Children's Villages is the world's largest non-governmental, non-denominational child welfare organization. Its mission is to provide stable homes and loving families for orphaned and abandoned children around the world. Dr Barnardo's Homes (now simply Barnardo's) The Miracle Foundation is concerned with helping orphans in India. ACTUP! is a student run charity set up in aid of an orphanage in the Vinh province, Vietnam. The group raises money through theatrical performances and movie screenings. See also Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Orphanages Adoption Boys Town (organization) Community-based care Settlement movement Residential education Whole Child International References ^ Coalition for Residential Education ^ [1], accessed September 3, 2009 ^ "The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XI". http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11322b.htm.  ^ http://www.manskligarattigheter.gov.se/dynamaster/file_archive/080325/51cacb4e4318d3f2d78c62ef72787efe/Bulgarien.pdf ^ http://www.oneheart-bg.org/ ^ Abernethy, Virginia D. _Population Politics_. New York: Plenum Press, 1993. ^ http://www.manskligarattigheter.gov.se/dynamaster/file_archive/080314/74c53f5440e23b5fa2b948c7b40eb5ca/Estland.pdf ^ http://www.manskligarattigheter.gov.se/dynamaster/file_archive/080325/eec1656e32f2e28fdd08acc8fa800070/Ungern.pdf ^ http://www.manskligarattigheter.gov.se/dynamaster/file_archive/080314/5c08d4415225dfc8695e0f535fbfe168/Litauen.pdf ^ http://www.manskligarattigheter.gov.se/dynamaster/file_archive/080317/20a0e4eb905a716c38ebac150e31965c/Polen.pdf ^ "What became of Romania's neglected orphans?". BBC News. 2009-12-22. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8425001.stm. Retrieved 2010-05-20.  ^ a b http://www.relieffundforromania.co.uk/romanian_orphans.html#orphans ^ http://www.copii.ro/Files/ian2002ro_20073231017965.xls ^ http://www.copii.ro/Files/ianuarie2003ro_20073232438465.xls ^ http://www.copii.ro/Files/aprilie2004ro_20073231959852.xls ^ http://www.copii.ro/Files/Prezentare_sistem_Ianuarie_2005_20073231527580.xls ^ http://www.copii.ro/Files/statistica%20noua%20SISTEM%20PROTECTIE%20SPECIALA%20LA%2031.0.xls ^ http://www.copii.ro/Files/martie%202008_20091271533500.xls ^ http://www.copii.ro/Files/sinteza%20statistica%20copii%2031.03.%202009_2009645558187.xls ^ http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iFys757S1kugffpHRFj3zWz80oRw ^ http://www.copii.ro/Files/NAPCR_brochure_200744184931.pdf ^ http://www.manskligarattigheter.gov.se/dynamaster/file_archive/080326/654ede7f41f8b2f5f95f901fa88fbd95/Slovakien.pdf ^ [2] ^ a b Social Protection and Risk Management – Social Safety Nets ^ Africa – Africa Region Human Development Working Paper Series ^ Table Of Contents ^ http://www.unicef.org/media/media_27420.html ^ [3] ^ a b c "Unicef Togo Statistics". http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/togo.html.  ^ a b c "Unicef Sierra Leona Statistics". http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/sierraleone_statistics.html.  ^ a b c "Unicef Senegal Statistics". http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/senegal_statistics.html.  ^ MPAK – LA Times Article ^ Poverty forces Kabul parents to send kids to orphanages |csmonitor.com ^ Virginia Haussegger Mahboba's promise ABC TV 7.30 Report. 2009. http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2009/s2615472.htm (last accessed 15 July 2009) ^ Women And Children In Disadvantaged Situations ^ [4] ^ "Phonsavan Orphanage". Cloud Depot Nine Charity. http://www.clouddepotnine.com/hand_warmers_charity.htm.  ^ Russian Orphans Facts and Statistics ^ Information about Russian orphans ^ BBC NEWS |Health warning over Russian youth ^ Human Rights Watch ^ Azerbaijan ^ Kyrgyzstan Children's Work ^ [5] ^ The parentless don’t need cheap pity. Alla KOTLIAR, Yekaterina SHCHETKINA | Society |People ^ A photoreport: “From Heart to Heart – 2”: a trip to the rural orphanages of Zaporozhye region :: Zaporozhzhya orphans. Ukraine ^ Kiev Children's Work ^ Dnepropetrovsk Children's Work ^ [6] page 14 and 15 of actual report, not web page counter External links Rescued Orphans – World's Largest Directory Of Orphanages MyOrphanage.org - In Touch With Orphanages Orphanage Review Board  "Orphans and Orphanages". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913.  World orphanages website Aid to Vietnamese orphans History of Beaver County Children's Home Remembering Children Homes and Orphanages