Hope and Homes for Children

About the charity

Hope and Homes for Children

Imagine growing up not knowing what a family is, not having the sense of belonging, or the emotional support that being part of one provides. Families are a source of comfort, warmth, nurturing, protection and security. If children are denied this love and respect their chances in life are dramatically reduced.

At Hope and Homes for Children we believe that every child should grow up within a caring family. We work together with children, their families and communities across Central and Eastern Europe and Africa to ensure that children grow up in an environment where they have the opportunity to fulfil their potential. We move children out of institutions into family-based care, help keep together families at risk of breakdown – due to the pressures of poverty, disease or conflict – and work to prevent child abandonment. 

Laurien’s story, Rwanda

Laurien was just 16 years old when his parents died. As the eldest of six children he instantly became head of his household, caring for his younger brothers and sisters. Left alone, there was no time for grieving. Laurien dropped out of school to find work but he could not earn nearly enough to support his siblings. He had no choice but to split his family up and send the children to live with distant relatives and family friends in the hope they would be able to clothe, feed and give shelter to them.

Laurien was distraught when we found him but we made sure he got the emotional and practical support he needed to bring his family back together. For Laurien, after reuniting his siblings, the most significant thing we did was arrange a small business loan so that he could trade eggs. Laurien quickly established a thriving business. Now, Laurien’s family is on the path to self-sufficiency and has a real chance of an independent future.

Laurien says, “The greatest thing Hope and Homes for Children has done for my family is bringing us together. We were scattered but now we are a family; we go through challenges together and try to find the solutions together. The microcredit loan has empowered my family and I am able to contribute to the school fees and materials for my brothers, I can buy food for the family and pay the house rent. When I was jobless I was isolated but now I meet various people and they respect me because I am a business man.”

With your support we can help more families like Laurien’s.