What Does An Orphanage Need?

Based on my experience of doing community work, let me just share with you on some of my thoughts on this matter, "What does an orphanage need?"

The first and most important thing that the orphanage need is of course money. Why money? Because it is the one thing that will determine the life and death of the orphanage. Is it the most important thing? No, I don't think so. Why don't I think so? Because there are enough good Samaritans in Malaysia who wants to do charity but don't know how to do it. Typically, they just give donations to orphanages, old folks' homes and welfare homes. So, the money is not the biggest concern for orphanages because it's lacking only at the 'want', not lacking at the 'need'.

The second most important thing that an orphanage need are the other things like shelter, occasional support in terms of materials and so on. Why is it so important? There are times when things are expensive and money can't buy it. Partially it is also the reluctance of people and companies to give cash straight to the management of the orphanages. So, these people and companies donate things instead of money. With the increasingly prevalent trend of corporate companies having their own CSR programmes, donations in kind don't come in as difficult as it used to be anymore. 

The last and most important thing that an orphanage needs is long-term commitment. One example of things that need long-term commitment is tuition for the children in the orphanages. Orphanages typically don't send their children to tuition because they can't afford it. So these children lose out in school because they don't get additional guidance at home (lack of attention from their caregivers) on their education. As donors to homes, I believe that it is difficult for the most of them to commit to a long-term project/programme for the children at the home because personally, everyone of us have our own priorities. More importantly, commitment to the home that they contribute to is not the top priority to the donors. 

This leads to a dire need for more contributors, not in monetary or in kind but in terms of energy, time and effort. There are many things that orphans need. But one thing that is lacking for these children is LOVE. By committing our energy, time and effort to love these children, I believe that the children will have a more enriching life. I think that we should try to contribute to orphanages for a longer term which will enhance the benefits of the contribution instead of the one-off cash or in kind contribution. 

With Love,

Alex