OrphanCare Foundation is emphasising the need to remove children from institutional care, advocating instead for family-based environments where they can grow with love and support.
Its chairman Tan Sri Faizah Mohd Tahir highlighted the organisation’s dual objectives, saving abandoned babies and assisting children in orphanages who are better suited to being reunified with their families or adopted, rather than remaining in institutions.
She added the foundation aims to help children in orphanages who often suffer from emotional, psychological, and developmental challenges due to the lack of family support.
"We feel it's crucial to help disadvantaged children, especially those living in orphanages.
"These children shouldn't have to grow up without a loving family. Our goal is to provide them with a brighter future and the family support that's essential to their development,” she said when met at the OrphanCare Foundation in Bukit Gasing, Petaling Jaya, recently where a media appreciation session was held at their headquarters.
Fellow trustees Datin Elya Lim Abdullah, Nor’aini Hashim, and Datuk Aminah Abdul Rahman
Faizah stressed that at 18, these children face an uncertain future, often unprepared to navigate life on their own.
OrphanCare aims to support them by reuniting them with extended family members such as grandparents or uncles or, when that’s not possible, by finding adoptive families to provide a loving home.
"The things that happened in GISBH (Global Ikhwan Sdn Bhd), we want to prevent children from ending up in institutions; that’s not the right place for them. It shouldn’t even be a last resort,” she added.
She said that many parents on their adoption list are willing to adopt older children, offering them the love and stability they need.
She emphasised that every child deserves to grow up in a family, not an institution, and that children thrive best within a family environment.
To support this, their efforts focus on removing children from institutions and helping struggling families find solutions to avoid sending their children away.
Faizah stressed that no child should grow up without the support of a family, as institutions are far from ideal. She noted it’s unfortunate that these children miss out on the love and care that children in stable homes experience, emphasising that a family environment is essential for their well-being.
"Please help these disadvantaged children. They didn’t choose to be born into these circumstances or to grow up in orphanages," she said.
She added that the foundation also operates baby hatches to save abandoned infants where through this programme, babies can be safely left at hatches, allowing the foundation to provide immediate care.
Additionally, pregnant women or mothers who feel unable to care for their newborns can voluntarily bring the baby to OrphanCare. This initiative serves as a lifeline for vulnerable babies, giving them the chance to be adopted by loving families.
To further its mission, OrphanCare also expanded its baby hatch operations and established more centres nationwide, helping to prevent the institutionalisation of children.
The foundation places strong emphasis on finding suitable adoptive parents who align with the best interests of the children. Prospective parents undergo a thorough screening to ensure that the child is placed in a secure, loving home.
She said that expanding operations, particularly in the area of older child adoption, requires significant resources, including social workers and support for families during the care planning process.
OrphanCare is actively seeking additional funding to scale up its efforts.
They will host a fundraising High Tea on Nov 23 at Berjaya Times Square to secure vital funds for its mission to connect orphaned children with families. The event will be graced by the Royal Patron, HRH Sultanah Hajah Kalsom, a steadfast supporter of OrphanCare since its inception.
A keynote address will be delivered by Roger Singleton, advisor to Lumos, the charity founded by J.K. Rowling who will discuss the impact of institutional care on children.
This event will also provide attendees with insights into the challenges faced by orphaned and adopted children, with personal stories shared by adoptive parents.
Sponsorship packages are available from RM3,000 to RM20,000, with donations eligible for tax exemption. For more information, please contact Zakiah at 013-384 0421 or Riza at 019-280 7977.