Funding orphanages on donations and gifts: Implications for orphans in Ghana
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
New Ideas in Psychology
Abstract
Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing a growth in the number of children who need formal alternative care. One of
the principal factors contributing to this is orphanhood. While most orphans live with their extended families,
many end up in privately-run orphanages that operate outside of the government’s regulation and funding.
Without government assistance and being the most costly care option, the orphanages have to come up with
mechanisms to get the finances that they need. However, relatively little evidence exists on the funding streams
of orphanages in sub-Saharan Africa. Drawing on the literature from Ghana and other low-income countries, the
study explores the funding of orphanages and its implications for orphans in Ghana. The evidence from the
literature shows that the funding for most orphanages comes from donations by private organisations and in dividuals, mostly from the developed world. This funding system is generally unsustainable and carries negative
ramifications for the social-emotional progress and rights of orphans residing in orphanages, such as abuse,
unnecessary institutionalisation, and stigma. Policy and practice recommendations include increasing govern ment’s subsidy to the orphanages, regulating donations to and volunteering in orphanages, and helping unli censed orphanages to transition to the provision of family-strengthening services.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Residential care, Orphanages, Funding, Ghana