Americans are funding orphanages against expert advice

Around the world, millions of children are growing up in orphanages, or children’s homes as they are called in many places. But research has shown that the vast majority of them, actually have families. Still many Americans are giving their money to these institutions, which researchers say are bad for children. In countries like Uganda, those well-intentioned funds have created a whole industry around orphans. For the past year, The World’s Africa correspondent Halima Gikandi has looked into Western-sponsored orphanages in Uganda, and seen what can go wrong. This is part one of her investigation.

Will you support The World?

The story you just read is not locked behind a paywall because listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Now more than ever, we need your help to support our global reporting work and power the future of The World. Can we count on you?