December, the month of reflection and warmth. Unfortunately, a warm and loving situation is not the reality for everyone. And that is exactly what the power of having a family can bring. In this newsletter we share news about the videos and awareness campaigns by the Family Power participants and the progress within the Mutual Learning Program. We also reveal a bit about the continuation of Family Power next year.

As part of her practical research, Family Power coordinator Anne Vijverberg visited local partner COLT in Cambodia and DLFF in Sri Lanka. Touched by the work of these organizations, she shares some impressions of her visit. Her most prominent observation was that change actually proves to be possible! 

The Mutual Learning Program is live! In co-creation with Wilde Ganzen, Transform Africa Alliance, Kanankil and Hope and Homes for Children, Family Power has developed a unique learning program. Are you or do you know an organization that provides family-strengthening and/or alternative care for vulnerable children and is interested in mutual transformation to high-quality family and community care? You are most welcome to participate in the pilot program starting September 2022!

On 24 May, Family Power and its Dutch network partners Wilde Ganzen, Better Care Netwerk Nederland (BCNN), Dutch Coalition on Disability and Development (DCDD), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Partin, Radboud University and SOS Children's Villages met at the Ministry in The Hague. There is a great need for professionalization of youth and child care worldwide in which the child is central.  

Only when we get moving together we will achieve our goal: let every child grow up in a safe, caring and permanent family.

Coordinator Anne visited three of the nine international partners in October and November. Acodeta (Tanzania), KidsCare (Kenya) and Macheo (Kenya) work on the African continent. Anne encountered great drive and expertise of the team members during the visit. Through their work they show that family-based care is indeed possible!

Susantha was born with autism and lives with his mother in the green scenery of Sri Lanka. There is a big taboo on having a disability. His mother did not know how to take care of the boy. 

Worldwide, over six million children live in institutions such as orphanages. And that while 300 convincing studies point out the negative effects of growing up outside a family context. In addition, these children are often not orphans at all. Research also shows that Private Initiatives (PIs) and their local partners – with the best intentions – play an important role in the current existence of orphanages and other institutions for children. Together with our network partners we believe change is possible! 

Zes miljoen kinderen wereldwijd wonen in een kindertehuis. Vóór de pandemie reisden naar schatting 10.000 Nederlandse vrijwilligers en stagiairs - met de beste bedoelingen - naar deze tehuizen. Ze komen daar om te helpen, maar brengen helaas juist schade toe aan de kinderen die er opgroeien.

Despite the holiday period, we are pleased to report significant progress. In this this newsletter we also share about the curiosity of our partners and we travel to Ecuador.

Friday May 21^st was the day: the first big Family Power Team Meeting. The meeting took place with no fewer than 19 participants from all over the world. It marked the kick-off to a collaboration in which sharing and learning are central.

Na bijna een jaar vol voorbereiding is Family Power in februari 2021 officieus van start gegaan. Maar liefst negen particuliere initiatieven en hun lokale partners waren het eens over een omvangrijk projectplan. Diverse adviseurs bestaande uit deskundigen en netwerkpartners worden actief betrokken bij het project. Samen, ieder vanuit eigen kracht en belangstelling, kunnen we de stevige ambitie van Family Power realiseren. Maar liefst zes werkgroepen draaien op volle toeren en we kunnen concluderen dat Family Power met een flinke dosis capaciteit en enthousiasme van start is gegaan.