Living here at The Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission, we get emails every week from random people asking for information on how to start an orphanage. Judging by the sheer number of these inquiries, starting an orphanage is a very common dream—which is encouraging. There are millions of desperate children in the world who need homes, and lots of people feel called to do something about it.
It certainly is a romantic notion that I fully understand. When I meet someone who has had the courage to trade the safety of his or her former life for a life of challenge and service on behalf of orphaned children…these people are my heroes. So I’m not surprised that this type of selflessness speaks to others who yearn to make a difference. Don’t we all want our lives to count for something? Don’t we all hunger for more than the emptiness of the earn/spend cycle that modern life has to offer? I know I do.
The thing is…starting an orphanage is not easy. In India for example, you can’t just move here and open one up. There are visa restrictions concerning how long you can stay in the county, and there are strict laws that protect children. Kids are not stray dogs you can legally pick up off the street. The police and local authorities need to be involved. And you need certain government registrations that are not possible for foreigners to get. And land is incredibly expensive. And the bureaucratic Indian system is designed to chew you up and grind you down like a tiger-elephant wrestling duo.
Still, I get the urge to start something.
Several years ago, I woke up in the middle of the night with an idea for how to save all the orphans of the world. It felt like a blast of inspiration and I wrote it all down right there in bed. The next day, I called a woman I’d been following online. Her name is Caroline Boudreaux and she started an organization called The Miracle Foundation. Based in Austin Texas, The Miracle Foundation finds poorly run orphanages in need of support, gets them to commit to a series of improvement standards, then finds funding for the operation to improve the lives of the children. With years of experience under her belt, I wanted to run my big idea by her.
After I finished with my “Here’s How I’m Going To Save The World” speech, Caroline said something practical that I’ve never forgotten. She said, “I can tell you’re passionate about this, but I’ve learned something over the years. Starting your own organization is great for your ego, but you’ll waste a lot of time and money that way. If you really want to make a difference, find someone who’s already doing the work you feel called to do and help them do more of it.”
At the time these words felt like a bit of a wet blanket, but in retrospect, it was good advice.
Today, we offer this same kind of suggestion to all those who write to the GSAM looking to start their own orphanages. Find someone who’s already doing good work and help them do more of it. Work with us if you like what we’re doing. Or pick a country that most calls to you and find a hero who’s already there. Or choose an organization closer to home, in your own state or town, and make your difference where you live. You don’t have to travel all the way around the world to serve children in need. They are, quite literally, everywhere.
That said, if you absolutely, 100% must start your own project…go do it. Or if you’re out in the world and trip over an urgent need that you simply cannot ignore…have at it. Maggie Doyne is doing this in Nepal. Katie Davis in Uganda. India Howell in Tanzania. Scott Neeson in Cambodia. The late Hanley Denning in Guatemala. The list goes on and on and beautifully on.
What you should not do is ignore the calling. Whether you help an existing project or start your own, the children of the world are waiting for another hero.
I hope that hero is you.
Note:This post is originally from www.JohnMarshall.com
Hi,
I want also to set up an orphanage. Here in my locale, there’s a lot of street children and my heart melts whenever I met them. I want to do something for them. In my location there is no an orphanage home yet that encourage me to start an orphanage to give home, food, clothing, love and care for those innocent children of God.
Comment…i want to established an orphanage because of the increased number of street kids in my area and also due to what i have gone through just to succed in my career path
Awesome! Good luck! The world needs more people who care about kids!
Praise the Lord brother Clifton,
I also want to open an orphanage and look after the kids that no one care about, I find children begging in the streets ,railway stations and bus stands and I am helpless right now to anything, This is a good thing actually, I learned and felt the pain of being alone and helpless while am surrounded by my family and friends. It made me think of the people that does not have anyone to care about. I am looking at the hand GOD for help. The FAQs about starting an orphanage is very useful and once I had all the resources I will come and meet you in person to know more about running an orphanage if it is the will of GOD.
I am so grateful to you and your family and I thank GOD for showing kindness towards the children of INDIA. May god bless your and your family(Both Old & New) currently I am having nothing to offer.But the only thing I have right now is prayer. It can make the mountains move. I will pray for you and I request the same from you,
Until Next time…….. Praise the Lord & God Bless You
That is right. I would like to announce about my Orphanage in Cambodia as well. I have been starting this Orphanage for 7 years.
It is so blessed to work for these kids.
Hi there
Do you have any knowledge of an orphanage home around JOHANNESBURG,i would like to give my services…Thank you
Unfortunately no, sorry. We do wish you all the best though!
Thank you for this article, I found it very informative and encouraging. I’m 19 and in college to become a nurse. After I finish nursing I want to go back and get my business degree. After that I want to start a non profit orphanage that also includes and school and hospital on campus for the children and foster families in the area. I’m still figuring out the logistics and system I would use to help manage the place but I hope to accomplish this in the next five to ten years. It’s a huge burden God has placed on my heart. I love children and I want to give them the same type of stability I have had the privilege of experiencing in my home. I would appreciate any form of advice or guidance that anyone could provide regarding this matter.
Hi Lauren,
That is awesome! I would imagine that the two biggest challenges that you are going to face is FUNDING and BUREAUCRACY. It will take a whole lot of money to get something like that off the ground; I would imagine more than $100,000 at a minimum. You will also face a range of laws and challenges to actually start both an orphanage and hospital. Orphanages come under the Juvenile Justice Act in India (you should be able to get a copy of it somewhere online) and hospitals/dispensaries have a huge range of laws that govern them (though I can’t advise which ones). So my advice to you is this: do lots and lots and lots and lots of research! All the best!
Hi my name is Elizabeth chabedi from Kroonstad in Free state. I am a single parents of 2 children. As a parent it really breaks my heart to see children on the street with no shelter,clothing and food.so I want to open an orphanage home for such kids. I already have a place where they will live. So plz do advice me
Hi Elizabeth, that is great that you have a passion for helping children. Unfortunately we are not equipped to give advice in this regard other than what we have posted already on our website. I would suggest you hire and lawyer and discuss things further with them. Kind regards, Clifton Shipway.