It can't be rounded out or smoothed over.
Some have downplayed it saying that 18 is more accurate, that there are mitigating factors that need to be taken into account for a more accurate assessment.
Either way, both of those numbers are far too high when you consider that they represent real children growing up all over the globe with no family to hold them tight, walk with them through life, celebrate the everyday victories, and grieve the losses that are already stacked far too high in young lives.
The most recent number I could find place the global estimation or current orphans at 143 million children. That's a heartbreaking number when you consider how many affected lives that actually signifies. Even more painful was the downplaying, the attempts to rationalize the numbers recognizing that the status of orphan in these surveys still includes those being raised by extended family and single, surviving parents. To read sites that seem to be aiming for reassurance that the issue isn't as big as originally feared as there are only approximately 18 million orphans should be devastating, it should drive us to action.
Instead, it feels like many either buy into the reassurances that the problem isn't as bad as feared (even at the conservative number of 18 million we're still looking at the population 18x the size of Saskatchewan, Canada) or freeze overwhelmed at the sheer scope of the task ahead.
This is why I love organizations such as Reece's Rainbow. Even though I'm well aware of the 30 000 wards of the crown in my own country and hope to , one day, be in a better place within our family to help address that number. I'm equally aware that for disabled orphans around the world, their lives could depend on whether or not a family steps up to take them home.
Whether it's a lack of funds, unavailable medical care, uncaring workers, overcrowded homes, aging out and falling victim to suicide (a reality for potentially 10% of aged out children), drugs use, gangs, or trafficking, or even a life sentence in an adult mental institution for children as young as those we'd normally see in kindergarten.
The is the sad reality for orphans around the world and it doesn't have to be!
Reece's Rainbow is what I call a starfish organization.
Following the story of the starfish washed upon the shore aided by one small boy, Reece's Rainbow recognizes that while 18 million is a staggering number, anyone can help another, single person.
As E. Hale says "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do."
Reece's Rainbow helps advocate and raise awareness for these children, aiding families bring them home through grants and the support of parents who have gone before. Valuable assets given the cost -emotional and financial for bringing a child home.
However, even though RR represents a minuscule portion of the 18 million.Taking 10 minutes to scroll through their website and see the faces, read the ages, and realize the reality of these children can still feel daunting.
Here enters Angel Tree.
Angel Tree takes a small(ish) number of children from within RR and highlights them for the months of November and December. Instead of trying to raise as much as possible (although larger grants are always helpful) each child has a goal of 1000 dollars raised towards their grant within the 2 months with one specific person assigned to help the child meet their goal or find a family through fundraising and advocacy.
18 million is staggering and the total cost of adoption is no little goal. However, 1 child and a few dollars here or sharing them with a friend, looking into the needs of orphans around the world. These things are doable and should be.
18 million - I can't help everyone, but I can help one and I can't wait to introduce you to her. . . Next time!