A Campaign on Reclaiming Family for Every Child
For decades, we’ve echoed the call: African solutions for African problems. Today, that call is more urgent than ever. Across the continent, over 35 million children are growing up without parental care—more than the population of Ghana. This is not just a statistic. It’s a crisis.
We know what family means to a child. It’s not just a place—it’s a foundation. A family nurtures a child’s emotional, social, physical, and cognitive development. It’s the bedrock of a cohesive and prosperous society. When children grow up without the love and protection of a family, the consequences ripple across generations.
The Problem Isn’t New—But It’s Growing
Historically, African communities had strong systems of kinship and community care. When children lost their biological parents, extended families and communities stepped in. But today, many children are growing up in institutions, on the streets, or in child-headed households. The safety net is fraying.
We cannot continue with business as usual. The old ways are not enough. The time has come for radical, intentional, and visionary action.
Rooted in Families: A Movement for Change
This campaign, is spearheaded by Transform Alliance Africa, which is a growing collective of national NGOs and civil society organisations working across the continent. We are united by a belief: Africa has what it takes to solve this problem. We are amplifying the voices of those who are changing the narrative—including those with lived experience of care. We are exposing the cracks in the current system, and we are spotlighting community-rooted, family-based solutions that work.
This is not just a campaign. It’s a movement. A movement to restore dignity, belonging, and love of family to every child.
Why Now?
Global and regional momentum is building. With the Africa Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child set to launch the General Comment and Monitoring Framework on Children Without Parental Care in December, and the UK-led Global Charter on Care Reform already launched—change is in the air. We must lead with our own solutions, rooted in our cultures, values, and communities.
From CHOGM to UNGA resolutions, the world is watching. Let’s show them what Africa can do.
Join Us
This month, we launch Rooted in Families. We invite you to walk with us, share your stories, challenge the status quo, and build a future where no child grows up alone.
Follow the campaign. Share your voice. Be part of the change.
