Working Together to End Orphanhood

Serbia Without Orphans – From Vision to Reality 

Institutional care of children has been increasing again in Serbia, so the timing of a national movement couldn’t be better. We’ve been busy working with the new Serbia Without Orphans facilitation team to build awareness and organise a Thrive launch event. 

Co-facilitated by the Serbian team and leaders from Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania, the launch took place in February. The gathering was an encouraging start to this movement, and we will continue to walk alongside the Serbian team as they work towards a Serbia without orphans. 

Transitioning from Orphanages to Family-Based Care 

We know a family is best, but how do we move from orphanage-based care to family-based care in a way that keeps the wellbeing of the child as our focus? What about situations where it’s more complicated? These are the questions we addressed in our latest webinar. 

From success stories to principles of best practice, we had an amazing time together. We talked about what specific and individualized care looks like, and how to meet the needs of each child while they remain in alternative care. We heard of how an entire orphanage was emptied when a church opened their homes to the children! 

Stay tuned for our next webinar scheduled for June. 

Collaboration is the Key to Success 

In March, I had the privilege of gathering with a group of leaders from Eastern Europe for the Lifeline Summit in Sinaia. It was a rich few days of fellowship, networking, and leadership development. We also spent time in groups, focusing in on how we can best address the unique challenges and opportunities we face in our different areas of work. Everyone left with new friends, resources, and opportunities for partnerships.  

Events like this highlight the importance of collaboration: working together for greater impact. We can build on one another’s strengths, hearfresh perspectives, and encourage one another to keep on going. 

Hope

A theme that has come out of our team meetings is the idea of hope. This last quarter saw many hopes fulfilled, and we look ahead to 2025 with hope for all that’s to come. 

Croatia 

The team and trustees recently gathered in Croatia for our face-to-face meetings. It was a jam-packed few days, as we strategized for the future of WWO Europe. We are officially planning a second European Forum in 2026. Stay tuned for more details to come.

We also visited a project underway called House of Hope: a multi-family, multi-functional building, that when complete, will house young adults aging out of the social care system, giving them a safe space to grow in independence, as well as providing short-term housing for at-risk families. We know this will be a beautiful place of healing and growth. 

Serbia 

Several of our partners have been mentoring the emerging leaders in Serbia towards a national Without Orphans movement launch in February 2025. We anticipate anywhere between 30 - 50 key people to be in attendance. We are eager to see the fruit of this collaboration and how it will bring real change for the children and families of Serbia. 

Finland 

The Finnish team are sharpening their vision and mission, and providing practical help. In October, foster parents and care givers attended trauma-based care training in Helsinki. Since then, the team has been planning several more gatherings for 2025 in different regions of the country. They are also launching an Orphan Sunday campaign. It is thrilling to witness the momentum building and hear the positive feedback from those who have received training. 

Giving Tuesday 

This year’s campaign was a great success! Your generosity allows us to carry out these projects with hope and confidence. Thank you for your continued support and the role you play in helping children across Europe.