Thanks to your donations, Divine is happy again. Out of the orphanage. Back to those who love her. Back to family. Watch her incredible feature for insight into the incredible impacts of your donations.

Watch now: Divine’s Journey Back to Family

Will you help get millions of separated children #BackToFamily? Donate today.

Today, Divine’s living her life as a confident young woman. Surrounded by family. Surrounded by love.

Divine’s story – life inside an orphanage

Divine, who was born with disabilities, spent nine years alone in an orphanage. Like 80% of children in institutional care, she wasn’t an orphan. She had family, family who just needed support. Divine’s mother, Mahoro*, remembers when Divine was sent away.

“It was so difficult for me to take care of her. I needed assistance for her medical care.”

Mahoro, Divine’s mum.

Mahoro was seriously ill at the time, and needed help to support Divine’s development. Instead of receiving help, her family was torn apart. And Divine lost huge swathes of her childhood inside an orphanage. Neglected. Alone.

“Life in the institution is so hard, and constantly hearing that you are an orphan even though you have parents hurts so much. Having brothers and sisters, and being the only family member living in an institution – you wonder what you have done wrong to end up there.”

Divine

Coming back to family

Thankfully, people like you stepped in to help. Mahoro received the support she needed all those years ago. And Divine was finally able to go home. Gisa*, one of our social workers in Rwanda, remembers when Divine found out she was going back to family.

“The day before she went home, she was very anxious. She folded her clothes so carefully and packed her bag early. She kept asking if things with her family and caseworkers might change, and if she might not go home after all.”

Gisa, Hope and Homes for Children Social Worker

Thanks to your donations, everything went right on track. Divine came home from the orphanage. After nine long years, back to family.

Learn more about how we bring children like Divine back to family.

The importance of home

Now she’s back home, Divine’s life has changed immeasurably. She looks back on those days in the orphanage with a sense of sadness, reflecting on the 5.4 million children who still remain trapped inside.

“If you remain inside an orphanage, your ability to learn will be limited,” says Divine. “You’d grow up lacking essential life skills. But when in a family, you’re in a place where you’re supposed to be, as a human. Where you learn skills, where you prepare for independence in later life, to rely on yourself without parents’ support.”

Learn more about how orphanages harm children.

When in a family, you’re in a place you’re supposed to be, as a human.

Divine

Once neglected and alone, Divine now has the power to grow. Because when you’re loved, you’re limitless.

Looking to the future

Today, Divine’s got great hopes for the future. She wants to pursue her education and realise her dreams.Divine’s ambitious, confident, and determined to advocate for change for people experiencing the same things she did.

“By God’s grace, I’ll become a journalist, or I’ll study law. I want to advocate for people in justice, mainly people with disabilities, because things are not advancing. There are some things people don’t know, but I, as someone who lived in an institution, know them. I can understand the challenges these people encounter, and what they can do as a response. That’s what I want to do.”

Divine

And now that she’s back to family, that’s exactly what she’ll do.

Your generosity got Divine #BackToFamily. Now, will you help millions more children like her? Donate today.

Right now, 5.4 million children are trapped inside orphanages. Children like Divine. Together, we can help children get back to family.

Head to our donation page and make a gift today.

* Names changed to protect identity.

The post Watch now: Divine’s incredible journey Back to Family appeared first on Hope and Homes for Children.

Help millions of separated children get back to family. Add your name to the Back to Family petition today.

This is an urgent child welfare crisis. We need to act now.

As a patron for Hope and Homes for Children, I’m proud to invite you to join me in adding your name to the Back to Family petition.

As you may now know, there are currently 5.4 million children growing up inside orphanages. They have been separated from their families and trapped inside orphanages, even though 80% of them are not orphans.

Inside orphanages, these innocent children are at risk of being abused, trafficked, or suffering physical and psychological trauma that can last for the rest of their lives. This is an urgent child welfare crisis. We need to act now.

I have personally been a supporter of Hope and Homes for Children for nearly twenty years now. Over this time, I’ve seen the power of their work and their commitment to bringing children back to family.

In Romania, from where we all recall seeing harrowing footage inside orphanages in the 90’s, Hope and Homes for Children has reduced the number of children living in orphanages from 100,000, to just 3,000. They aim to close that last remaining orphanage by 2026.

Similarly, in Rwanda, their team has helped to close at least 34 orphanages – finding loving homes for every single child once stuck inside. Now, Rwanda is set to become the first orphanage-free country in Africa.

Make no mistake. This is a winnable mission with a clear road map back to family.

As a mother of three, I know the importance of a loving, family home can’t be overstated. So please, join me today by signing the petition calling on world leaders to act now. You have the power to help millions of separated children get back to family.

Thank you.

– Kristin Scott Thomas

Add your name to the Back to Family petition today.

“You have the power to help millions of separated children get back to family”

Dame Kristin Scott Thomas – Award-winning Actress & Ambassador for Hope and Homes for Children

• Learn more about how orphanages harm children.
• Learn more about how we bring children back to family.
• Read the stories of children we’ve brought back to family.

The post Dame Kristin Scott Thomas: “You have the power to help millions of separated children get back to family” appeared first on Hope and Homes for Children.

Right now, 5.4 million children around the world are shut away inside orphanages, despite 80% not being orphans. It’s not right. And it ends today.

Now, the likes of Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, David Furnish, Huey Morgan, Natalie Pinkham, Mel Geidroyc, Nick Hewer and Bear Grylls are urging people to sign the petition to get these children #BackToFamily. Where they belong.

Watch them explain why they’ve joined the movement below.

Help millions of separated children get back to family. Add your name to the Back to Family petition today.

Dame Kristin Scott Thomas

“You have the power to bring millions of separated children back to family.”

Read Kristin Scott Thomas’ full story on why she’s joined the Back to Family movement.

Huey Morgan

“Get children back to family, where they belong.”

Huey Morgan – Musician, presenter, father.

Natalie Pinkham

“This really will make a big difference.”

Natalie Pinkham – Presenter, mother, proud Hope and Homes for Children Ambassador.

Help millions of separated children get back to family. Add your name to the Back to Family petition today.

• Learn more about how orphanages harm children.
• Learn more about how we bring children back to family.
• Read the stories of children we’ve brought back to family.

The post “This is a winnable mission” – Celebrities join the Back to Family Movement appeared first on Hope and Homes for Children.