Ending the institutionalisation of children in Haiti (360G-CR-1133075)

An estimated 8 million children live in institutions or orphanages globally. More than 80% of these children are not orphans. The primary reason for admission is poverty; additional triggers such as war, disaster and disease compound the problem in different countries. Decades of research demonstrate that institutions severely harm the health and development of children. Most institutional placements are considerably more expensive than the support needed to keep a child safely in a family. In Haiti there are approximately 30,000 children in institutions and more than 80% have at least one living parent. Lumos will work with the government of Haiti and a range of partners to design and implement a long-term strategy to replace all institutions for children with community based services and structures that prevent separation of children from their families. This will be done whilst simultaneously dismantling institutions and supporting children to return and remain in a safe environment with their families and communities.