Helping, not harming: making sure your giving truly protects children
- Olivia Barker White
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
When supporting international charities, it can be hard to know where your money is actually going. We give because we care about others and want to support positive change. However, even well-meaning efforts can sometimes cause harm.
Across the UK and Ireland, individuals and Churches are responding to God’s call to care for children in need through mission trips, donations and long-term partnerships. This generosity comes from a good place, but donations can sometimes unknowingly contribute to systems that do more harm than good for children.
That’s why The Homecoming Project, a coalition of organisations that believe family-based care is the best thing for children, spearheaded by Home for Good and Safe Families, is encouraging people to think carefully about how they give.
Why good intentions aren’t always enough
In many parts of the world, child protection systems, accountability structures, and care practices look very different from those in the UK. What we might see as “helping” can unintentionally fuel systems that separate children from their families or expose them to harm.
For example, did you know that more than 80% of children living in orphanages actually have at least one living parent? Many also have grandparents, siblings, or extended family members who love them but may be struggling to provide for their basic needs due to poverty. Sadly, orphanages can sometimes become magnets that attract families to surrender their children.
At first glance, a full orphanage might look like a success story to a UK donor. But in reality, success is when children thrive in safe families, not institutions. The Homecoming Project aims to inspire donors to support more sustainable alternatives, such as family strengthening, reunification, kinship care, fostering, and local adoption.
Why this matters to Kids Club Kampala
At Kids Club Kampala, we share the same belief: children belong in families, not institutions. For years, we’ve seen how strengthening families, supporting parents, and empowering communities creates lasting change. Poverty should never be the reason a child grows up without their family.
That’s why we’re proud to support and amplify initiatives like The Homecoming Project. Their work aligns with our mission to protect and empower vulnerable children in East Africa, not by removing them from their communities, but by helping those communities to thrive.
One of our longstanding projects, the Ewafe Project, embodies this philosophy. Ewafe, meaning “Where We Belong” in Luganda, focuses on rescuing, rehabilitating, and reintegrating abandoned and at-risk children back into loving families. Since its launch in 2013, Ewafe has rescued over 250 children, with almost 200 successfully reintegrated into family care.
When a child is referred to the Ewafe Project, our team of social workers begins searching for their immediate and extended family members. Where possible, we implement reintegration plans to bring these children home. If reintegration isn't an option, we place children with trained foster families. Each family receives a care package, including food, clothing, and educational sponsorship, along with ongoing support from our social workers. This family-based care approach provides children with stability, supporting their wellbeing and development.
Annabel’s story
Annabel* had a difficult childhood and lived with many different family members when she was young. At 11 years old, Annabel ran away from home after a disagreement with her family. Sadly, she ended up living on the streets for several weeks. Annabel was rescued by a local child protection officer, who referred her to the Ewafe Project.
As part of the rehabilitation process at the Ewafe home, Annabel received one-on-one counselling and support from social workers. As well as shelter, medical care and nutritious meals, she enjoyed learning and making crafts. Over the past 3 years, Annabel became a role model to the younger children at the Ewafe home.
In May 2025, as a result of successful family tracing efforts, Annabel was reunited with her grandmother. The family is receiving ongoing support from a social worker, to ensure the reintegration is working well for everyone. Annabel is now 14 years old and recently said:
“I hope to join high school.”
*Name has been changed
Ensure your giving is ethical
The Homecoming Project has just launched a new Due Diligence Tool. This is a free resource designed to give donors confidence that their giving is ethical. If you are supporting a project overseas and want to make sure that your money is protecting vulnerable children, this tool can help.
We want to see every child grow up in a loving family, because when children are safe and supported, they can truly thrive. If you are interested in supporting vital work that rescues children from situations of abuse and reunites them with loving family members, why not donate to support our Ewafe Project?
Photos: Nick Spollin Photographer UK
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