For over a decade, BRAVEAURORA has walked alongside children and families in northern Ghana, championing a simple but powerful conviction: every child deserves to grow up in a loving and caring family.
In Ghana today, far too many children are growing up without the care, love and security of a family. One in five children lives apart from their parents. Thousands more are in orphanages—formally known as residential homes—often not because they’ve lost their parents, but because of poverty, disability, violence, or social stigma. Sometimes, well-meaning but harmful practices like voluntourism and unregulated adoption also play a role.
But here’s the truth: orphanages are not the answer. Decades of research have shown that institutional care can harm children’s development. Amongst many other issues, children raised in institutions often face emotional trauma, lack a sense of identity and belonging, and struggle with mental health, life skills, and social stigma.
At BRAVEAURORA, we’ve listened to the voices of children who have lived through this system. Their stories are filled with pain—but also with hope. They remind us why we must act.
A Holistic Approach Rooted in Families
Our work is focused in northern Ghana, a region where poverty is widespread and families often struggle to meet even the most basic needs. In these communities, caregivers of children with disabilities often lack the resources and support to care for them. Domestic violence and family conflict are common, and many parents—out of desperation—believe that sending their children to an institution is the only way to give them a better life.
We’re here to change that narrative.
Through our Child Protection Program, we reunite children from residential homes with their families and ensure they are not just back home, but thriving. Our team follows up with each child, offering support to prevent further separation.
But we know that reintegration alone isn’t enough. That’s why we also tackle the root causes of family separation. Our Livelihoods Promotion Program equips vulnerable caregivers with vocational skills and start-up kits so they can support their families with dignity. We also run an education program to help children stay in school, succeed, and break the cycle of poverty.
And because violence is a major driver of family breakdown, we partner with the Department of Social Welfare and the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) to raise awareness about abuse and connect families to support services.
It Takes All of Us
We’ve learned that truly rooting children in families requires more than just interventions—it demands a shared commitment. A commitment that tackles the root causes of separation, not merely its symptoms. A collective effort that unites governments, civil society, faith-based organizations, communities, and—most importantly— families and children.
Together, we can build a future where no child grows up in an orphanage. A future where every child is safe, loved, and supported to reach their full potential—in a family.
Because children don’t belong in institutions.
They belong in families.
