Children's welfare
Orphan care
Keep orphaned children with family, fed, in school and looked after.
Illustrative photo: Oyemike Princewill / Unsplash
Objective for the 2026 funding round
Keep 250 orphaned children living safely with relatives, fed and in school, and make their households self-reliant within three years so support can move on to the next family.
Who it reaches: Children who have lost one or both parents, and the grandmothers, aunts and older siblings raising them.
Target$60,246
Funding for this cause closes in
From $70: two months of food for one child living with a relative.
The need
When parents die of AIDS, malaria or accidents, children usually go to a grandmother or an aunt who is already stretched. Without help, older children leave school to work and younger ones go hungry. Institutional orphanages are rarely the answer; supported families are.
Why give to this cause
- A grandmother raising four grandchildren on a small farm cannot cover food and school costs alone; a modest, steady gift closes that gap.
- Support goes to the family, not an orphanage, which is what child-welfare experts recommend for children's long-term wellbeing.
- Caseworkers visit every household monthly, so your gift reaches the child it was meant for and problems are caught early.
What your gift does
- $70two months of food for one child living with a relative
- $90school uniform, shoes and a year of supplies
- $400a year of caseworker visits, food and school costs for one child
Where your donation goes
The planned budget for this cause. Every quarter, the field report shows what was actually spent against each line.
- Monthly food packagesMaize flour, beans, oil and fortified porridge delivered to each household and signed for.38%$34 of $90
- School costsFees, uniforms, shoes, books and exam registration.24%$22 of $90
- CaseworkersLocal caseworkers who visit every household monthly and follow up on health and safety.20%$18 of $90
- Savings groups for guardiansTraining and starter capital so households can stand on their own.10%$9 of $90
- Monitoring and reportingIndependent checks, data collection and your quarterly field report.8%$7 of $90
How we do it
- 1
Local caseworkers identify children who have lost one or both parents, with village leaders and schools.
- 2
Each child's guardian gets a monthly food and school package, delivered and signed for.
- 3
Caseworkers visit every household monthly to check health, schooling and safety.
- 4
Guardians join savings groups so the household can stand on its own within three years.
The impact your gift will have
- Children grow up in their own families and villages instead of institutions, keeping their language, land and relatives.
- Older children stay in school rather than leaving to earn, so they finish with the qualifications that lead to work.
- Guardians build savings and income, so within three years the household can carry on without outside help.
What we measure and report
Targets for the 2026 funding round. Results against each one are published in the quarterly field report sent to every donor to this cause.
| Measure | Target |
|---|---|
| Children supported in family care | 250 |
| School attendance of supported children | 90%+ |
| Households visited every month | 100% |
| Guardians in savings groups | 80% |
Join in the cause today
Make an impactful change in Africa.
Donate to orphan careFund orphan care
Your gift goes to this programme. You'll get an email receipt now and the field report every quarter.
Funding for this cause closes in
Choose an amount
- $70two months of food for one child living with a relative
- $90school uniform, shoes and a year of supplies
- $400a year of caseworker visits, food and school costs for one child
Gifts start at $50. Choose your own amount on the next page.
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$75 a term of school lunches for one child.
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Monthly support for one child's schooling, health and meals, with updates.
$78 two months of sponsorship.
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DonateQuestions donors ask
Does my gift go to the cause I choose?
Yes. A gift to a named cause is recorded against that cause and spent on that programme. If a cause becomes fully funded, we use extra gifts for the next round of the same programme, and tell you in the report.
How will I know what my gift did?
You get an email receipt straight away, and a field report on your cause every quarter, with what was delivered, where, and the results measured against the targets listed on each cause page.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
In the United States, yes: GiveToAfrica is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 27-3982730) and your email receipt is valid for your tax return. In other countries, deductibility depends on local rules.
Which payment methods can I use?
Card or M-Pesa through Paystack (charged in US dollars), or cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT and more than 100 other coins) through NOWPayments. With crypto you can choose your gift amount in US dollars, pounds, euros, Australian or Canadian dollars and pay the equivalent in the coin of your choice. No crypto wallet? You can buy Bitcoin in PayPal or Cash App (PayPal also offers Ethereum and other coins) and send it straight from the app.
Can my company match my gift?
Many employers match their staff's donations. Add your employer's name when you give and we will send the paperwork. Companies can also give directly or sponsor a whole project on our company giving page.