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.