Orphans International

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Orphans International Worldwide (OIWW) and Orphans International America (OIA) are charitable organizations (referred to together as OI) created to house and educate orphans and abandoned children. In response to the crisis facing orphaned children around the world, former investment banker Jim Luce founded OI in 1999. OI's headquarters are in New York City.

Through its network of small "homes" for children, OI provides immediate aid to some of the world's most disadvantaged children. OI operates with a small staff and the help of over 100 volunteers, on an annual budget of less than a half-million dollars. OI houses and educates children orphaned and abandoned after the 2004 Tsunami in Sri Lanka and Indonesia and 2004's Hurricane Jeanne in Haiti and, beginning in 2008, supports foster care for AIDS orphans in Moshi, Tanzania.

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[edit] OI's history, philosophy and models

OI opened its first home in Sulawesi, Indonesia in 2001.[1] It became active in housing orphans in Aceh, Indonesia; and Galle, Sri Lanka after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.[2][3][4] Beginning in 2008, OI also supports foster care for Tsunami orphans in Sri Lanka by supporting children living with members of their extended families.[5] OI provides tutoring, English classes and jobs training, such as sewing classes and hospitality classes. In 2009, OI began serving 27 Aids affected orphans in Moshi, Tanzania. There the orphans live with their grandmothers in impoverished conditions with families living on less than $1 per day.

With the AIDS epidemic, natural disasters, low world health standards and widespread poverty contributing to a global crisis for children, OI's model of "Raising Global Citizens" seeks to make a difference in both the short-term needs of children and the long-term improvement of disadvantaged communities throughout the world by raising children as responsible citizens. OI's mission is interfaith, interracial, international, and intergenerational – that is, it discourages discrimination on the basis of faith, race and nationality and seeks to utilize the experience of senior volunteers. OI seeks to benefit orphans through education and vocational opportunities that are coupled with a nurturing environment, proper nutrition and healthcare. OI also monitors the children's education and provides after school tutoring, computer classes and English classes. Each orphan is given support until graduation with a baccalaureat degree. Donors can financially support a child for $600 per year. OI does not place children for adoption, but rather helps them live successfully in their native countries and cultures.

OI's homes: Orphans are referred to OI by local social service agencies. The children are generally preschool age (2-4 years old) when accepted by OI, and the average age of the children in OIs programs was 9 years old as of 2008.[6] OI's foster homes generally have four children per home and a house "parent" who was raised in the local culture and religion.

OI's family care model: In 2008, OI began experimenting with a new extended-family foster care model, which it calls "Family Care", to help extended families in Sri Lanka. There, aunts, uncles and grandparents were offered training and financial support to take care of orphans. In Tanzania, OIWW established the Salama Center in Moshi to offer services to very poor grandmothers caring for Aids-affected orphans. Family care allows OIWW to care for twice as many orphans on the same budget, compared with renting, building, staffing, or maintaining an orphanage.

[edit] Administration and structure

OIWW sets the global worldview, mission and standards for its project nations. It consists of ten officers. The OI executive office is in New York City. Founder Jim Luce is a director of both OIWW and OIA. Dr. Donald W. Hoskins became President of the Board of OIA in 2006, followed by Kristie Dekoker in 2009. Beginning in January 2008, Linda Stanley became OIA Executive Director.[7][8] The OI staff is assisted by over 100 volunteers who help with fundraising and other tasks. Its annual budget is less than a half-million dollars.

OI has received donations from over three hundred benefactors from around the world, many of whom have become child sponsors. It receives no government money. OIWW is associated with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations[9] OI's activities include overseeing a semi-annual World Congress, publishing the e-newsletter OI InterNews,[10] and maintaining a website.[11] OIWW approves global NGO and corporate "Partners for Progress".[12] The sixth anniversary benefit of OI, in October 2007, was held at the home of Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, and Mary, who entertained the group by singing his song "Puff the Magic Dragon".

[edit] Global focus

OI advocates service to humanity and attempts to instill in children an appreciation of both national and global citizenship and both modern technology and traditional arts and crafts. OIWW plans to bring internet connections to all of its projects to expose the children to information from around the world accessible on the internet. Global Advisors to OI include Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa, Former President of the United Nation's General Assembly, Prince Albert of Monaco, and Gloria Starr Kins, CEO of the Kins Group Ltd. The fifth anniversary benefit of OI was held at the United Nations in November 2006.[13]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ 2002 article on OI's early efforts
  2. ^ "Tsunami Saint", New York Post, April 15, 2005
  3. ^ Luce, Jim. Riding the Tiger: The Creation of Orphans International Worldwide 2006
  4. ^ Luce, Jim. "First One Orphan, Then Many More", New York Times, November 12, 2007
  5. ^ Luce, Jim. "Will a Vow of Poverty Fill the Void in My Soul?" Huffington Post, August 16, 2008
  6. ^ FAQs about OI
  7. ^ December 2007 OI news
  8. ^ OI staff biographies
  9. ^ Information from the United Nations
  10. ^ Information from the OI website
  11. ^ Official OI website
  12. ^ OI's partners page
  13. ^ Article on fifth anniversary benefit for OI

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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