Polish Orphanages

“I will not leave you orphans”

J. 14, 18

Only God could say this word, He is faithful in His promise. Not all human families are as God intended them to be; as the one He was born in.

It’s an amazing model that God left for us in His Holy Family. God gave us a model of how to raise children, what is the best environment for their growth and development. “The family is the first school of living, and the influence received inside the family is decisive for the future development of the individual,” said John Paul II.

Poland is one of the countries in Eastern Europe where many children still grow up in orphanages, in Polish called “Dom Dziecka” meaning Child’s Home. In reality these are not homes. Although people working there try to keep it clean, safe, warm, and even attractive, an orphanage is not a home. It’s just a public institution where children are coming to from very different circumstances. There are many reasons children come to orphanages. Sometimes it happens because of the death of their parents. Sometimes extreme economic hardship may cause parents to abandon their children or prevent them from properly caring for their little ones.

Although Poland is changing, its economic growth varies in different areas and surroundings. In Poland about 24% of the population lives below the poverty line. People are struggling with huge unemployment. There are parents who can’t make a living for themselves and are unable to provide for their own children. Some of them are sick and can’t afford medical care. To make it even worse, these situations often push them to leave their own kids without help or even to try to commit suicide. In some instances the parents’ rights are legally terminated.

These conditions force children to grow and mature in other living structures such as orphanages, Child’s Homes. Even the homes which are run by religious orders struggle to provide adequate care. They depend on contributions, as the Polish government can provide only minimal financial assistance. They often have too many children for their little facilities.