Beyond Orphanages: Family & Community-Based Orphan Care

Wednesday, August 19th, 11 am Pacific Time | Register

In the midst of a devastating HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa that has left an estimated 11 million children orphaned, the time has come to consider best practices in orphan care and examine the negative impacts of orphanage volunteerism. Despite good intentions, strong evidence suggests that these short-term service programs actually increase the risk of poor child development, child abuse, and the rate of orphanage presence as demand for these programs continues to grow. This webinar will discuss the recent UNICEF/CARE campaign against orphanage volunteerism, and explore healthier, family and community-based alternatives.

 

Featured Presenters:

Anna McKeon is the facilitator of Better Volunteering, Better Care – an global initiative led by the Better Care Network and Save the Children UK, aimed at discouraging international volunteering in residential care centres (also known as orphanages) and promoting ethical volunteering alternatives. Better Volunteering, Better Care works cross- sector, promoting collaboration and information exchange, and seeks to support actors advocating for positive change on responsible volunteering – especially volunteering with children. 


Aloyce Koillah is Senior Health Secretary at Meru Rural District Council in Tanzania. He is also co-founder of Children Growth and Development Centre (CGD), a non-profit foundation working to support poor and underprivileged children. CGD works with women’s groups to identify and support children living in impoverished situations without placing them at the Orphanage Centre. Mr. Koillah previously worked with ACORD International as Research and Learning Officer, documenting best practices for the Ngorongoro Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Project. He holds a Masters Degree in Development Studies from Uganda Martyrs University.


Jessica Evert, MD is a Family Physician who straddles international education, global health ethics, clinical service, and academics. She is Executive Director of Child Family Health International (CFHI) and is widely published in global health educational program development, ethics, and practices toward health equity. Dr. Evert is Faculty at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Department of Family and Community Medicine. She serves as liaison to trainees for the Consortium of Universities in Global Health (CUGH), as well as on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Center for Global Health Initiatives. Dr. Evert is a recipient of Global Health Education Consortium’s prestigious Christopher Krogh Award for her dedication to underserved populations at home and abroad.