Celebrating Family on Orphan Sunday: Molly’s Story
Today is Orphan Sunday, a day where people across the globe come together to stand up for orphaned and vulnerable children.
Most orphans in developing countries are being cared for in orphanages. However, there is compelling research showing that institutional care has devastating long-term effects on the physical, emotional, and psychological development of children.
And with approximately 15.1 million orphans worldwide, it’s clear there are so many kids who desperately need the love of a family.
Thankfully, that's where you come in! You are changing the way the world cares for orphans by providing loving family-style care. In our locations in Mexico, Honduras, and Thailand, you are helping kids get out of orphanages and into families…where they belong!
So on this Orphan Sunday, we celebrate the children whose lives you’ve changed! Today, we celebrate Molly, a young girl from Chiang Mai, Thailand…our newest location!
Molly’s Story
Last month, we announced that thanks to you, The Hope Effect is now changing lives in Chiang Mai, Thailand. (If you missed our initial announcement, click here to watch the announcement video from The Hope Effect’s founder, Joshua Becker!)
The need in Thailand is great, as there are an estimated 100,000 children living in orphanages in that country, primarily due to poverty. The vast majority of those children have families who could care for them, but send them to orphanages thinking they’ll have access to shelter, food, and education.
Molly’s story is no exception. As a baby, Molly was left with her grandparents in a village near Chiang Mai. When her grandparents grew too old to take care of her, they sent her to an orphanage in the city so she could go to school.
As a result, Molly spent several formative years in institutional care rather than with a family. She lived in the orphanage for eight years before the directors began trying to find extended family for Molly and the other children to live with.
Initially, the directors struggled to find family members who were willing to care for Molly. Because the orphanage was closing, our team in Chiang Mai provided family-style care for Molly during this time.
Incredibly, Molly's cousin was interning with our Chiang Mai team. Molly’s cousin knew she had an older sister who wanted to care for her but didn't know where to start.
Our team contacted Molly's sister and started the process to help the sisters reunite. Molly recently moved in with her sister and brother-in-law, and she is thriving! We are so thankful that Molly is back with family and doing so well!
And we are so grateful that you are helping children like Molly get out of orphanages and back into loving families. We can’t wait to share even more stories of the lives you are changing in Thailand.
Give Hope on GivingTuesday
Your continued generosity is helping children like Molly get out of orphanages and into loving families. You are changing so many lives in Thailand…and around the world! And in just a few weeks, there's an opportunity for you to once again give a lifetime of hope.
November 30 is GivingTuesday. We would be honored if you would partner with us on this global day of generosity to help more orphaned and vulnerable children find families.
Your generosity on last year’s GivingTuesday allowed us to grow into two new locations in the last 12 months, including Chiang Mai. Imagine what your gift this year will do!
This GivingTuesday, our goal of $100,000 will be used to expand family-style care even further in our locations in Mexico, Honduras, and Thailand. Plus, you can double your impact…a generous team of donors will match every donation dollar-for-dollar…up to $50,000!
And there’s no need to wait until November 30! If you’d like to jump in early, our donation site is up and running! All gifts made on this donation site will be matched, even if you give early.
As always, thank you for your generosity and partnership. You are changing lives…and together, we are changing the way the world cares for orphans!