What is an Orphan?
When I was growing up, I refused to eat broccoli.
In fact, I refused to eat a lot of things. During one phase, I refused to eat anything except cold hot dogs and cottage cheese. If I was feeling extraordinarily flexible, I might consider a Libbyland TV Dinner.
This led to no small amount of conflict in my house, usually culminating in the words every child has heard and every parent has uttered at least once: “THERE ARE CHILDREN STARVING IN CHINA” (or Africa, for those of you who are a little younger than me and don’t remember Libbyland dinners….)
Ever the social activist, I’d deadpan, “Then put it in a box and send it to them.”
I never thought specifically about these kids. I never imagined what it would really be like to be them.
If I had tried, I might have pictured them sitting in a kitchen much like ours, but with a refrigerator stuffed with only broccoli. With their mom and dad yelling at them to eat it.
My worldview was pretty limited when I was five.
It didn’t even occur to me some of these kids might not even have a mom or a dad.
Orphans
The most recent estimates from the United Nations Childrens’ Fund (UNICEF) indicate that there are 153 million orphans in the world.
The numbers aren’t complete. There are a lot of countries, including China and Russia, that don’t even report the number of orphans in the country.
153 million orphans is a low estimate.
Who are they?
When we think of an orphan, we typically think Dickens…at least I did. We think of a child with no parents, no extended family. Living in an orphanage or on the streets.
UNICEF defines orphans a little differently. They see parents as a child’s first line of defense.
A parent provides protection.
Fewer parents = greater danger.
Trafficking. Starvation. Disease. Death.
Because of this simple fact, particularly in developing nations, UNICEF’s statistics represent the total number of children who have lost at least one parent.
- 153 million children have lost at least one parent.
- 18 million children have lost both parents.
This is not OK.
What now?
There are a lot of numbers from a lot of different sources. There are a lot of conflicting opinions and incomplete statistics.
Over the next few weeks, I will attempt to unpack some of this in a way that’s digestible, a way that we can really get it. Because only when we understand the statistics and the factors affecting the issue can we be strategic about how to engage.
None of us can solve this by ourselves. But together, globally, we CAN make a difference.
I am outraged.
I am taking action.
Are you with me?
What does “orphan” mean to you? Leave a comment…..
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About Christine
I am a writer, a project manager, and a corporate refugee with a heart for orphans around the world. My two daughters were adopted from Ukraine at ages 12 and 14. I post about writing, chasing dreams, and making a difference in the world, and sometimes I share fun snippets of fiction in-progress.
wow, I did not know that definition of Orphan. I always thought no parents. Will enjoy reading more about this Christine. It’s still unbelievable to me there are that many.
Cottage cheese, really? That’s weird! I also remember the Libbyland TV dinners, weren’t there chicken nuggets the best!!
Chris, I was as surprised as you when I started working with the numbers. At first, I thought, “that’s a little deceiving” until I discovered WHY they count it that way…That’s in next Monday’s post.
It’s so awesome to see you writing about this issue. It’s something that tugs on my heart so much and to hear from someone who’s not only taken up the cause but actually got her hands dirty in it is such a great example of the love of Christ in your life.
Bless you sister. I’m excited to continue reading about this.
Louis, my hands aren’t dirty enough–there’s lots more to do!
We’re instructed to care for widows and orphans, so this is something that is very near and dear to God’s heart. There’s so much pain out there in the world.
Loren, thanks for coming by. I agree wholeheartedly!! The blessing is in our ability to impact lives that are hurting.
Stopping by from 15 Habits! I think it is quite impressive that this is your passion, and the adoption community needs more people like you.
My daughter was an orphan, she was abandoned at birth by her mother and sent to an orphanage. I saw many children when I was there, and although they were not all orphans, the conditions that these children live should make us think twice about how we live here in the US. It is disgusting that we have such abundance here, and still you hear people say, “I would adopt, if it wasn’t so expensive.” I want to look at the finances of such people and see what debt they have and how they spend their money. I want to take them to an orphanage, spend some time in there and look at a a child in the eye and actually say to them, “I would take you home, I just don’t have any money.”
Okay, I will stop, I am also passionate about this, so I could go on and on. Love your series!
Ellen, i think we were in Ukraine the same time as you guys! How small is this world!! I can’t wait to read through your blog!!
I’m with you…I know it’s a complicated issue with so many factors all interrelated, but I just want to shake off the complacency and do *something.* That looks different for different people, but yeah.
The world is gettin’ changed if we ever end up at a Starbucks at the same time…. 😉