It is easier to build
strong children
than to repair broken men.
~Frederick Douglass~
ABOUT
WORLDWIDE ORPHANAGES.COM
Searching the internet to find orphanages
where I could donate some time and energy to making some sad children a
little happy, I realized that all I was finding were agencies that
wanted to charge a lot of fees to hook me up for a volunteer experience.
Hummm! I want to give my time away to help those in need, but you want
to charge me to do that? Although I understand that some volunteers
aren't brave enough to go it alone and want those services, I also knew
that people like me had no desire to pay for services when that fee
could go to buy underwear and books and toys for orphans, and I'd
traveled enough to know I could get there on my own. Besides I wasn't
going for the social benefits of a group experience, I was going to give
of myself, my abilities, my resources. I didn't really want to be
distracted by the "group" mentality. So I looked deeper and deeper over
months of searching the internet to finally find a "direct" orphanage
experience where my money would go directly to the needy source. During
that experience I realized how few people would ever go to the trouble
of searching for that long. Some would just give the idea up. Others
would pay the fee and go with the group. I thought is would be awful to
lose donors and volunteers just because of the "fee" problem. So I
determined in 2008 to put this site together to link donors and
volunteers directly with orphanages around the world. I admit I didn't
realize what a huge undertaking this would be. As I began, I had to ask
friends and strangers to help me by telling me about orphanages they
know about or have experience with. I had to ask for help to search the
vast online network. I had to visit more orphanages and orphan related
enterprises to learn for myself how all this worked. It's a lot more
complex that I imagined, each country with their rules and regulations,
their customs and taboos. But in the end I'm glad I've begun. I know
this will be a lifelong pursuit that can only be completed with the
efforts of others. But if each volunteer contributes just a few hours a
month, we can truly have a wonderful resource here to help the innocent
children of the world. PLEASE HELP! Please send me your "orphanage
experience" stories. Please spread the word to friends and co-workers,
family and neighbors. This is a marvelous work that will, bit by bit,
leave mankind a little better off over time. The starfish story always
comes to mind whenever I'm on this topic. Here it is:
Starfish Story as I recall it:
One day a learned man was walking down the beach and noticed a little
figure in the distance, moving like a dancer. As he grew closer, he saw
a little girl in a pink bathing suit. She wasn’t dancing, but bending
down over and over again, throwing something into the sea.
When he got closer he realized she was picking up starfish that had
washed up on the sand. The man chuckled and shook his head, “Why are you
throwing those starfish into the ocean?”
The little girl pointed up, “The sun is hot and the tide is going out.
If I don’t throw them in, they will die.”
At hearing this the man replied, “Don’t you see that there are thousands
of starfish along many miles of beach? Your little effort can’t possibly
make much of a difference.”
The little girl looked up at him with big blue eyes and then bent down
again. She picked up another starfish and threw it into the water. As
the wave took it away, she smiled and said, “It made a difference to
that one.” WE NEED HANDS ACROSS THE WORLD!
PLEASE HELP THE CHILDREN!
WE CAN HELP YOU FIND A PLACE TO VOLUNTEER!
There are people
living close to the orphanages willing to help. Of course, you'll have
expenses for yourself. In some cases you'll need to pay a local guide a
nominal fee. On this site, you can contact many orphanages direct and
find out how you can help. Check out our "recommended" orphanages first.
These we have personally checked out one way or another. There are scams
out there. Be careful!
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