The reason behind the project Most children in 'orphanages' are not orphans but victims of poverty and a lack of support for families in difficult situations. Institutions, even at their best, have been shown to be very damaging to children. In order to grow up to be a happy and healthy adult with good life opportunities and the ability to build lasting relationships, every child needs the love and care of a family. Children who grow up in institutions have an extremely high chance of spending their adult life in poverty, in abusive relationships or in prison, and high numbers will commit suicide. Hope and Homes for Children is closing child institutions and finding local families for children in Central and Eastern Europe and we will soon close our first institution in Africa. Our objective is that 'no child will be left behind' and we find a place for every child, no matter what problems they have. In order to close institutions we must also prevent children from entering them, so we also set up a whole range of new services so vulnerable children can grow up within family care. To do this we must work with governments that want to change their way of caring for children, and are willing to take on the on-going costs of the new services, so that our work is fully sustainable. Project end goals Hope and Homes for Children is currently working to close orphanages in Romania, Rwanda, Belarus, Ukraine, Bosnia, Moldova and Sudan. In Sudan we are closing our first institution in Africa - the Maygoma Baby Home in Khartoum - a desperate place which housed hundreds of babies abandoned on the streets of Khartoum and where 80% of the babies and toddlers died. Now these babies are surviving and start a new life cared for by local families - no child will be left behind! In Bosnia we are finding 'lost children' living in institutions as a result of the Balkans war, and returning them to their families. This project will work with 500 children to move them out of institutions, or prevent them entering. All the children will be moved into or will remain in local families. Our Big Idea will help us to close 7 orphanages in 7 countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Africa and help 7 governments to reform their childcare systems. The cost of the project We are trying to raise £200 per child towards the direct costs of helping them, so we need to raise £100,000 to reach our target of 500 children. Every £1 that is donated through The Big Give will be matched with another £1 from our Matched Giving Fund, so a donation of £100 could enable a child to leave an institution, or prevent a child entering one. Just £100 can make a child's dream come true by giving them a family and a home of their own. Please help us to make sure that no child is left behind.