World Childhood Foundation

Since 2017, WCF and Erikshjälpen have been collaborating on children's placement in institutions where orphanages are a common form. Few Swedish organisations are driving the issue in the aid world, so the collaboration has been important. Together they have developed barnhemskollen.se, a knowledge site about the problems of sending volunteers to, running and supporting orphanages. A joint project was granted by the Postcode Lottery in 2019. The project "Ur Askan i elden" (Out of the Ashes in the Fire) spreads knowledge about the damage to children that placement in institutions has and the inappropriateness of being a Volunteer in institutional environments. By seeking out Swedish orphanage actors, a dialog is conducted about alternatives. The project has also supported organisations in the world that work with alternatives to institutionalization of children such as foster care, foster families, reunification of children and organisations that support institutions to find family-based alternatives.