Latin America

The situation of children in Latin America and the Caribbean in numbers

95% of our children in care are in institutions and NOT in families, waiting on average 4.5 years. And MANY more are living exposed and vulnerable within their own homes, but have nowhere to go, for lack of safe families to care for them.

CHILDREN IN INSTITUTIONS
240,000 children grow up in residential care centers 10% are under 3 YEARS OLD

CHILD POVERTY
46,2% of children aged 0-14 in Latin America live in poverty. These children mostly live in remote rural areas, and increasingly in peri-urban settings.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
63% of children under 15 years old experience violent discipline at home (psychological or physical)

7.9 MILLION migrants under 18 in the Americas. There is an increasing number of vulnerable children moving on their own often ¬eeing from poverty and violence in their homes or communities

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

  • Almost 12 million children and adolescents are outside the education system
  • Over 8 million children under 14 have a disability and are at risk of being excluded
  • 1 out of 20 children under 5 is left home alone or under the care of a child under 10 years

The solution is clear:

  • Children at-risk of separation need family strengthening
  • Children removed from their homes need temporary loving foster families while their case proceeds
  • Children separated from their families need reunification whenever possible and safe
  • Children who can’t go home to their own family need permanency with a local adoptive family
  • Youth aging out of children’s homes need families/mentors to love and support them

Latin America WO works to: 

  • End the institutionalization of children through lobby and advocacy campaigns
  • Strengthen crises families to prevent family-child separation and support Foster and Adoptive families through training and support programs
  • Engage churches to support families and promote adoption
  • Building new national movements in the region

"Source: UNICEF, Humanium, SOS Children's Villages International".

RECURSOS PARA IGLESIAS EN ESPAÑOL

Countries with National Initiatives

Brazil Without Orphans

There are many good stories from Brazil, many stories of reunification that were successful and many stories of adoption that were also successful. I think that one of the greatest things that we have reached in Brazil is that, sooner, we are really starting, officially starting the movement, the WWO movement in Brazil and we are gathering a group of important leaders from many different organizations that are making a great impact in their regions and even in the nation. We are very excited about that.

Paraguay Protects Families

Paraguay is one of the poorest nations in the Americas. Nearly 40 % of the population faces a life in poverty. Due to this, it is difficult for families to raise children in good living conditions. Many Paraguayan children face great hardships as they go through life. Statistics show that 15%, or one in four children in Paraguay between the ages of 10 and 17, work to help their families survive. Many children from low-income families either decide to leave their homes to work and live in the streets. This situation causes children to be separated from their families.

Regional Stories

The Power of Connection Transforms Lives!

WWO believes in the power of gathering as a community, whether online or in person. Last month's WWO Roadmap Forum featured a combination of in-person gatherings with virtual participation. India successfully brought together over 120 women in person, not only to learn but also to be refreshed.
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Putting Roadmap Training into Practice

This month, leaders will take evidence-based strategies and tools shared during the WWO Roadmap Forum that was held in May and put them into practice. Some have been part of the WWO family for many years and will continue to build upon what they have learned and shared with others over the years.
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Global Roadmap Forum Equips Over 900 Leaders Worldwide

The news regularly reports the tragedies and the growing number of crises in the world – and the number of children that are affected has increased significantly. Sometimes, it can feel hopeless changing the tide because it seems too big for us to tackle.
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Ending Orphanhood Through Adoption

One of the ways we can end orphanhood is to consider adopting children who do not have families they can live with and are living in institutions. The vision of World Without Orphans is to see every child grow up in a safe and loving family and to know their Heavenly Father.
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Collaboration Aids Adoption in Brazil

Creating a World Without Orphans wouldn’t be possible without starting by collaborating with others who are called to serve children and strengthen families. That is why World Without Orphans provides platforms that not only share evidence-based best practices and tools but also promote healthy collaboration and friendships.
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