ORPHAN SUPPORT FAQ
WHAT IS ORPHAN SUPPORT?
Orphan Support is an opportunity for individuals, families, or groups to financially partner with the Solace Family Home to fund its operation through monthly, reoccurring giving. You can be an Orphan Supporter for as little as $55/month.
WHAT DOES ORPHAN SUPPORT COVER?
Orphan Support not only feeds and clothes children, it also pays for medical costs, school tuition, utilities and supplies.
WHY IS ORPHAN SUPPORT MORE EXPENSIVE THAN SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMS (I.E., COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL, WORLD VISION, ETC.)?
We love programs like Compassion and World Vision, but they have a much different model. Those programs work through the local church to partner with families. Typically, sponsored children, though conditions are extremely difficult, have a family to live with. We will be housing children full-time and we are responsible to care for their every need. This makes the cost much higher per child. On average, it will cost $275 a month for one orphan to live at the Solace Family Home. The rest of the cost is covered through Home Support.
WILL I GET TO WRITE LETTERS TO THE CHILD I SUPPORT?
Yes. Every person who contributes to Orphan Support will be connected with an orphan. You will receive a picture of that specific child, annual updates, the opportunity to write letters to them, and ultimately the chance to visit them in Tanda. Most children will be connected with three supporters. We believe this will benefit each child as they receive letters and prayers from multiple supporters. For ideas on how to begin writing to your child visit (Write My Child) on our homepage.
In addition to receiving updates about your child, you will also receive photos and updates about the Home so you can see the impact your support is making on other children, employees, and the community.
WHEN CAN I VISIT MY CHILD?
We plan to take at least one trip a year to the Solace Family Home. Applications are required for trips, but we will take into consideration individuals who are supporting children and do our best to connect them in person.
Our partner organization, The 1040 Initiative takes a team to Tanda every June. If you would like to be a part of their team you can find dates, cost, and applications on their website. Other opportunities might be added throughout the year. Our most up-to-date information will be found on our Facebook page: Facebook.com/PlaceofRefugeGlobal
IS ORPHAN SUPPORT THE ONLY WAY I CAN GIVE?
No. You can also give to the Home through Home Support or Staff Support. Each Support opportunity has varying amounts of how much you can give. Many people want to support the mission, however, they do not want to support a specific child. You can support the home through these other routes.
WHAT IS AN ORPHAN?
In the United States the common definition of an orphan is a child who has lost both of his or her parents through death or abandonment. But globally there is a different definition. According to UNICEF any child who has lost one parent is an orphan. In many countries there are "single orphans" (have lost one parent) and "double orphans" (have lost both parents). It is estimated there are over 140 million orphans in the world today.
WHO WILL THE SOLACE FAMILY HOME HELP?
The simple answer is The Solace Family Home exists to provide a place of refuge for children in need.
The complicated answer is the Solace Family Home will have children without any living biological parents, some with one living parent, and others with both parents still alive. Most will have some family (uncles, aunts, grandma, cousins, etc.) but some may have no one at all. The Solace Family Home will help orphaned, as well as, vulnerable and at-risk children who may come from a home with unsafe living conditions.
HOW IS THE SOLACE FAMILY HOME DIFFERENT FROM AN “ORPHANAGE?”
We will give our best effort to keep our children connected to their community. During the summer break from school children will go back to their city or village to stay with a family member or guardian. This may not fit the image of how an orphanage runs, but we believe it is best for our children. If a child comes from an abusive or dangerous home they will not return unsupervised.
Ultimately our desire is not to remove children from their culture or their country. In fact, the opposite is true. We have dreams that children will grow up, receive an education, learn a trade, and go back and improve the village or community they are from. We believe that someday children from the Solace Family Home will be leaders and innovators in their own country.