As a care leaver, the phrase “rooted in families” carries deep personal significance. Care for children is not just a policy issue—it’s profoundly personal. I grew up in institutional care, and I know what it feels like to live without permanency, to constantly wonder where you truly belong. That’s why this campaign resonates so strongly with me. To be rooted is to feel stable, connected, and part of something greater than yourself.
Children in orphanages are often denied this sense of rootedness. I knew what a family and a real home meant, and I carried a constant longing for a place that felt permanent—a place where I could say, “this is my family.” In care, the substitutes were caregivers, teachers, mentors, and friends. While these relationships mattered, they were often transient. There was always the fear that they would leave, and with them, the fragile sense of security I had built.
Today, I am a child welfare advocate. I use both my personal journey and professional knowledge to speak up for those marginalized in care—especially young people who feel abandoned and excluded by the very systems meant to protect them.
Looking back, I believe our society must urgently address the root causes of child-family separation. Poverty is a major driver. It forces many parents to relinquish their children to orphanages in hopes of accessing education, food, shelter, and healthcare. For caregivers of children with disabilities, the lack of community-based support—such as respite care, physiotherapy, orthopaedic services, and inclusive education—often leads them to institutions out of desperation.
Other factors like conflict, substance abuse, maltreatment, and parenting challenges also contribute to separation. Yet, many interventions remain reactive, failing to address the long-term implications of institutional care.
One of the deepest longings I had growing up in care was for love and belonging. The orphanage was never home—it was a temporary space, and the staff knew we were just passing through. Inside, I yearned for a place I could truly call home. That sense of belonging is something institutions simply cannot provide.
Now, with a family of my own, I understand that care is not just about physical space—it’s about love, consistency, and individualized attention. My child sees me as their whole world, and that’s what every child deserves: to feel cherished, safe, and rooted. I’ve never encountered an orphanage that can replicate that kind of love. Family relationships are continuous, consistent, and deeply personal—and that’s what children need to thrive.
The Rooted in Families campaign is about preserving these vital connections. It’s about ensuring that children grow up with strong bonds that give them identity, belonging, and cultural continuity. Families may not be perfect, but like the Japanese art of kintsugi, they can be repaired—made even more precious through early intervention and responsive support.
Without roots, growth is fragile. With roots, children can flourish—even in the face of adversity. The roots are families. And every child deserves to be rooted in one.
Deborah Dzifa Tamakloe
Deborah is a child welfare advocate and social worker from Ghana who brings lived experience, and professional insight to her work of improving lives of marginalized children, youth, and families. She’s passionate about creating safe, supportive spaces where young people can truly thrive.
