The Orphan Crisis: Why Help One Child?

     According to Worldwide Orphans Foundation, there are approximately 153 million orphans worldwide.  How do we stop the cycle?  Who decides what programs help best?  Should education, poverty, violence, the justice system, or unemployment be the focus?  If family preservation/reunification is not an option, do the answers lie in schools, orphanages, foster homes, or Missionary work?  Maybe some combination?

     International adoption cannot be the answer for all children, but this is what I believe.  An international adoption helps at least three children.  One child finds a home, the opening in the orphanage gives a home to a second child, and the donation made to the orphanage helps at least one other child in some way.  Many adopted children also grow up to return to their home country and help others in need. 

     Posted below is a 39 minute video of a panel of professionals (including Dr. Jane Aronson) touching on the subject of the orphan crisis.  I would definitely like to see more discussions like this...Maybe a series.  The idea of having a group of experts together is to listen to what they have to say, take that information and form our own opinions.:
http://live.huffingtonpost.com/#r/segment/solving-the-worldwide-orphan-crisis/5137ad632b8c2a5368000756

     Whether I am able to adopt a child or not is irrelevant to this post.  Taking a look at things on a broader scale, there is an orphan crisis and sooner or later, it becomes everyone's problem.

    Does anyone remember this quote from the movie Blood Diamond (the reporter Maddy says to Archer):
      "The whole country's at war.  Why should I help this one person?
      (...Pause) I can't believe I just said that."

     In this scenario, the character surprised herself with her response, but it is a question we must ask ourselves in order to best utilize our resources.  How do we help others?  For some people it may be to help one person, for some it may be to volunteer for an organization or help a group.  For me the answer is that everyone should do what is in their heart.
     ***There are lots of great organizations out there right now helping others.  Remember to look at their "About" page or "Mission Statement" to see their philosophy and check their credibility with other sources.