It takes a Village Foundation

21/10/2024

NEW WEBSITE AND NAME

More and more our focus addressing the issue of children belonging in families, rather than institutional care, expanded beyond Tanzania and the Netherlands.

Because of this we felt it was time for a new name. We chose "It takes a Village Foundation" because raising children is not solely the responsibility of parents or close family members. The entire community has a role to play in a child's development and well-being—everyone from parents and teachers to neighbors and grandparents.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD

And only by working together as a village can we ensure that children grow up safely in a family setting, where they belong. Join us!

https://villagefoundation.com/new

15/05/2024

𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗢𝗙 𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗦
𝙇𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 🙏🏼

Today, on International Day of Families, we want to highlight the importance of families to ALL children, also children with special needs.

There are several types of families in our society: single-parent families, blended families (step families), grandparent families, childless families, extended families. No matter the composition, no matter the family ties, they are all families in which a child can thrive. Because children thrive better in safe and loving FAMILIES.

Therefore, we need to redirect our focus, energy and resources, away from institutional care toward family-based care. We need to support and protect families, to prevent unnecessary separation of children with their families and bring children from institutions like orphanages, children’s homes and disability centers, back into loving families.

❤️ 🏠 Check out this touching story of a little boy who unnecessarily grew up in an institution, but we brought him HOME! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nClKW1CFXM8&t=5s

21/03/2024

This is the 2024 theme of 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗦𝗬𝗡𝗗𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗬. Stereotypes harm dignity!

Stereotypes can stop people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities, from being treated like other people. They get treated like children, are underestimated and excluded. Often also excluded from growing up with their families. But also children with down syndrome belong in families. Let’s make that a reality.

03/12/2023

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

In 1992 the UN General Assembly announced 3 December as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). It aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 (UNCRPD)
On 13 December 2006 the UN General Assembly adopted the UNCRPD. 188 countries have ratified this convention. With this they promise to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲
One of the rights is the respect for home and the family. (art. 23). “States Parties shall ensure that children with disabilities have equal rights with respect to family life. With a view to realizing these rights, and to prevent concealment, abandonment, neglect and segregation of children with disabilities, States Parties shall undertake to provide early and comprehensive information, services and support to children with disabilities and their families.” (art. 23.3)

Let’s support families and keep them together. Let’s redirect our resources away from institutional care, like orphanages and children’s homes towards a family-based care approach. PLEASE.

𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣. 𝘽𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜. 𝙄𝙣. 𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨.

29/11/2023

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗔 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗥

We need to talk and listen more to those who grew up in institutional care like orphanages. We need to listen to their stories, their experiences. But are we brave enough to do that? Or do we (still) think that if we give them enough food and education they are doing fine?

𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮
This is a story of a boy who grew up in an orphanage, in a ‘good’* one as he calls it. An orphanage supported by amongst others, a Dutch Foundation.

He shared his feelings and thoughts about orphanages versus family with our chairperson Monique. She met him during one of her missions to Tanzania. He was her taxi driver. He asked her what she was doing in Tanzania and Monique told him that she advocates that children belong in families and not in orphanages.

He agreed with her and he told her that he grew up in two orphanages. He got rescued from a bad one to grow up in a ‘good’ one, supported by a Dutch NGO. Not uncommon in Tanzania because several orphanages are run or supported by Dutch NGOs and Dutch people.

*NOTE: Instead of talking about good or bad orphanages, we rather talk about the right of a child to grow up in a family.

𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨
Monique wanted to talk to him about his experiences. They met for a second time, but time was short and Monique was reluctant to ask too personal questions. After all they had just met.

Unfortunately, after that she did not see him again. But they had become Facebook friends and through that he could see what Monique was doing. In the meantime Monique was hoping that one day he would reach out to her, ready to talk more. Because she felt that he had a story to tell.

How did it affect him growing up in an orphanage? What would he have done differently if he had the change? What would he advise orphanage owners/volunteers?

But Monique did not wanted to confront him with her questions through social media, not being there for him if things got emotional. She just kept hoping for that day he would be ready to open up the conversation again to talk more about his story. So she decided to leave the initiative with him.

𝙔𝙀𝙎, 𝙬𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮
Time passed and once in a while he just said hello to Monique through Messenger. We fully understand that if a child is rescued from a bad orphanage and raised in a ‘good’ one, he or she doesn’t want to hurt the feelings of his ‘saviours’ by opening up how it all affected them.

But then he opened up. This time his message was more than just saying hello. He wrote: “see your work keep a good work going.” “The work you are doing is good for the children in an orphanage also they will choose family over orphanage so what you are doing is good I support it 100%.” The whole conversation you can read in the pictures. For privacy reasons we don’t reveal the identity of this young man.

𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚
Not only would he have chosen family too, if he had the change, he also has some advice for orphanage owners: “I think the people who start orphanage they may should focus on helping those children who need help right at their families eg support them for education, health shelter etc., and that will make sure that child stays in the family and he or she gets the basic needs to head into there future goals.” And again the conversation ended on the topic.

Some months after this conversation Monique informed him that she is using his messages in her presentation, also anonymized of course. But that she is hoping that one day he is ready to openly speak up on behalf of the next children growing up in orphanages. He told Monique that he thinks he will give her a call one day for such a discussion. We do hope he does because the voices of care leavers must be heard, from them!










📷 Screenshots of the conversation. For privacy reasons we don’t reveal the identity of this young man.

20/11/2023

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗡'𝗦 𝗗𝗔𝗬
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯: 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁

November 20th is an important date as it is the date when the UN General Assembly in 1989 adopted the '𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝' (UNCRC), acknowledging that all children have rights, also children with disabilities.

And one of these rights (art. 9) is not be separated from his or her parents against their will, unless it is not in their best interests.

The concept of the child's best interests is aimed at ensuring both the full and effective enjoyment of all the rights recognized in the Convention and the holistic development of the child.(1) And holistic development is embracing the child´s physical, mental, spiritual, moral, psychological and social development”(2)

Not only mothers, fathers, government and religious leaders play an important role in standing up for these right and make then a reality. Also YOU and ME. Let’s support families, let’s keep them together. Let’s redirect our resources away from institutional care, like orphanages and children’s homes towards a family-based care approach. PLEASE.

𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙍𝙔 𝘾𝙃𝙄𝙇𝘿, 𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙍𝙔 𝙍𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏
𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣. 𝘽𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜. 𝙄𝙣. 𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨.











(1) General comment CRC No. 14,
(2) General comment CRC No. 5, para. 12

19/11/2023

𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗡'𝗦 𝗗𝗔𝗬
𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙚 2023: 𝙕𝙚𝙧𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚.

November 19 has been declared as International Men’s Day. A day to celebrate the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities.

But men can struggle with mental health issues and take their own lives. We need to acknowledge that men's su***de is not just mental health, we need to acknowledge the situational distress leading to this.
The three leading reasons* for men's suicidal ideation is
1. family relationship breakdown,
2. loss of access to children, and
3. court and financial reasons.

Together we can stop male su***de. Let’s support fathers, their families and communities. Supporting them is also in the best interests of their children. With supporting fathers (and of course mothers) we directly support children. Because children need their parents.

It is only when we all, both men and women, lead by example that we will create a fair and safe society that allows everyone the opportunity to prosper.













* Source: internationalmensday.com

18/11/2023

🎉🎉🎉🎉

We are thrilled to see that already 70 Dutch NGOs have endorsed the Dutch NGO Pledge Every Child A Family. By doing so they aknowledge the importance of children growing up in safe and loving families.

More than 60 years of research has shown the negative effects of institutions on the development and well-being of children.

𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡 𝗨𝗦
Are you a board member at a Dutch NGO active in the Global South and do you agree that children need and belong in families? Please don't hesitate, join us. Send an email to [email protected] or send us a private message.

Alone we are strong, together stronger!

𝗔 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗘

Today we welcomed signatory number 70: Stichting 4Gambia / 4Gambia Foundation – active in The Gambia ~ www.4Gambia.nl

The 4Gambia Foundation aims to support the people of The Gambia. In doing so, they focus on the responsibility and strength of the people in The Gambia.
Their focus is mainly on education, health care, and sports, and everything related to these topics.

𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦
By endorsing our Dutch NGO Pledge , the signatories pledge to support children in families.
The signatories also call on individuals, organisations, corporations, faith-based groups, and others who support or work with vulnerable children around the world, to join us in promoting the right of a child to grow up in a family and directing resources to strengthen families.

𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡 𝗨𝗦
Are you a board member or a volunteer at a Dutch NGO and are you interested in signing our pledge too? Please don't hesitate and contact us. Alone we are strong, together we are stronger!

26/10/2023

ZOU JIJ DAT OOK DOEN?

Waarschijnlijk wel. Want daar is familie toch voor? En dat zouden we voor onze eigen kinderen toch ook willen?

Toch bouwen en ondersteunen we als Nederlanders nog steeds weeshuizen in ontwikkelingslanden (Globale Zuiden), voor weeskinderen als deze.

Het is echter veel beter voor deze kinderen (die toch al heel veel hebben meegemaakt) om ze op te laten groeien in een gezin en niet in een instituut. Meer dan 80 jaar onderzoek toont aan dat langdurig opgroeien is een instituut, negatieve effecten heeft op de mentale, fysieke en emotionele ontwikkeling van kinderen.

Daarnaast is opgroeien in een gezin ook veel goedkoper. Opgroeien in een instituut, zoals een weeshuis of kindertehuis, kost 6 tot 10x meer dan opgroeien in een gezin. Denk hierbij aan aankoop grond en bouw van het weeshuis zelf, het onderhoud, het personeel en de infrastructuur.

Overdenking. Wat als we dat geld, dat we nu investeren in weeshuizen, zouden gebruiken om gezinnen te ondersteunen die bereid zijn deze kinderen in hun gezin op te nemen, en ze een veilige en liefdevolle omgeving willen bieden? Zou dat een idee zijn?

Want extra mondjes voeden, deze kinderen kleden en naar school sturen, kost geld, kosten die we ook zouden hebben als we deze kinderen in een weeshuis zouden plaatsen.

Daarom pleiten wij er voor om het geld dat nu naar weeshuizen gaat, om te buigen naar het versterken van families en communities. Zou dat niet een beter idee zijn?

Gelukkig zijn er steeds meer (vermogens)fondsen die geen financiële middelen meer beschikbaar stellen voor het ondersteunen van instellingen zoals weeshuizen/kindertehuizen, zoals bijvoorbeeld Wilde Ganzen. Maar er is nog een lange weg te gaan.

Help ons mee dit onder de aandacht te brengen door ons bericht te delen. Kinderen hebben (bij wet) het recht om in een gezin op te groeien. Laten we ons daar voor blijven inzetten.









📷 Screenshot website AD.nl Link naar het artikel (met betaalmuur) in de comments.

04/10/2023

𝗞𝗘𝗡𝗬𝗔 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗦 𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗡'𝗦 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗦
and other kind of institutional care facilities

The Government of Kenya already announced that they want to abolish boarding schools, but this week they also announced to abolish all children’s homes and orphanages that are privately owned.

Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore noted that private homes have been avenues for child trafficking.

The Kenyan Children’s Act is aimed at supporting the rights of children to grow up in families and communities.

Did you know that 80% of all children growing up in institutional care have at least one living parent or other family members who could take care of them given the right support?

Therefore we need to redirect our time, efforts and resources, away from institutional care towards a family based care approach. Because children thrive better in safe and loving families.

Congratulations to all who were/are a part of this amazing movement.

ℹ️ Source Citizen Digital 👉🏽 https://www.citizen.digital/news/govt-to-close-private-childrens-homes-n328500

02/10/2023

𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗢𝗙 𝗡𝗢𝗡-𝗩𝗜𝗢𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘

International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.

Gandhi stated that poverty is the worst form of violence. Poverty is very often the reason children are placed in institutions, like orphanages or children’s homes. They are taken to these institutions to provide them with food and shelter. Separated from their family and community. But poverty should never be the only justification for the removal of a child from parental care. This is stated in the 2019 UNGA Resolution on the Rights of the Child which all member states of the UN adopted.

Imagine the emotional turmoil of all involved. The feeling of failure parents have when they want to take care of their children but don’t have the means to do so.

Next to that institutional care is 6 to 10 times more expensive than providing social services support to vulnerable families. With the same amount we can support more families to stay together.

Therefore we need to redirect our funds from institutional care to a family based care approach. Because children need and belong in families.

Download the FREE booklet ‘Children without a HOME’. Via link in the bio.