Orphans
UNICEF has estimated that there are approximately 210 million orphans worldwide. Orphans are among the most vulnerable people globally and of particular concern to JMI. In order to meet this initiative, JMI is working to connect families in the U.S. with an international orphan through its Project Chosen Ones and transitional living programs. Project Chosen Ones attempts to match orphans with an American sponsor and also advocates strongly for adopting. Grace House in Moldova, is a residential transitional living program for girls and a model for holistic support at their most vulnerable age.
Many orphans and waiting children worldwide have lost their parents due to armed conflict or disease, such as AIDS. In some countries, however, children are increasingly abandoned at alarming rates due to poverty, restrictive population control policies, disabilities or perceived disabilities, and cultural traditions that value boys more than girls.
- 143 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents
- UNICEF actually estimates this number at 210 million orphans worldwide
- At least 16.2 million children worldwide have lost both parents
- The proportion of children who are orphans generally increases with age:
- 12% (17.5 million) are 0-5 years old.
- 33% (47 million) are 6-11 years old.
- 55% (79 million) are 12-17 years old.
From “Cry of the Orphan: Joining voices to care for Orphans.”
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” -James 1:27
