Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) Orphan Sponsorship Program Paves the Way for a New Future for 550 Afghan Orphans
- ajoyce140
- Aug 7
- 4 min read
To be a parent is to embody the warmth, security, stability, and love our children require to grow. They build confidence to approach the world with the knowledge that we are by their side. Now imagine this safety net is suddenly pulled from under a child’s feet. In a moment, their entire existence is flipped upside down, and their sense of belonging and peace disappears overnight. This is the heartbreaking reality of approximately 153 million orphans worldwide. Thrust into sudden financial, emotional, and societal insecurity, these vulnerable children are twice as likely to live in poverty compared to non-orphans, with 80% of orphans experiencing stunted growth due to malnutrition.
Due to sudden pressures to support the needs of their families, this shift naturally impacts all aspects of their lives, especially their ability to pursue an education that could potentially provide them and their families with a future of security and stability. They essentially fall victim to a poverty trap that inevitably could last generations.
It is a saddening reality that only 45% of orphans attend primary school, and those that do attend are more likely to drop out of school by age 12, with dropout rates of up to 30%. Instead, burdened with the heavy responsibility to provide for their families, many orphans must bid farewell to any dreams or aspirations for a better future. Not only are they expected to overcome the loss of a loved one—a pillar of support for their families—ironically, many orphans must suddenly take on their deceased parent’s very role, as carer and provider.
Ilhamul Haq, a young orphan girl, captures the depth of anguish faced by millions: “Orphanhood was not just about losing a father, but also about losing hope.”
Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) recognizes the lasting struggles that millions of orphans face daily and has secured monthly sponsorship for 550 orphans in the Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan. From the 21st of August 2024 until the 17th of November 2024, the consistent distribution of goods was provided for orphans and their families. 550 food baskets reached 197 male orphans and 353 female orphans, all of whom were under 18 years of age. This initiative also reached a further 1,500 individuals, as the siblings and family members of the orphans reaped the benefits of this project.
While the immediate aim of these food baskets was to ensure orphans and their families did not suffer from hunger and malnutrition, LIFE’s orphan projects are implemented with the objective of empowering orphans through access to education. Orphans not only received food baskets, but were also provided with clothing, books, educational materials, places to study, and other opportunities.
We can see the transformative impact this project has had on Muhajira. She had to face the tragic death of her father at the vulnerable age of two years old. Born into a poor village, all she knew in life was hardship and instability. Her situation was dire, enduring life in a refugee camp where she barely had the necessities to survive. Yet, in spite of this, she held tight to a lofty dream in the hopes of securing a better future: becoming an engineer.
Through LIFE’s educational opportunities for orphans, this dream suddenly became a reality, as Muhajira has now embarked on a journey to become a talented and knowledgeable engineer. She is forever grateful for the incredible opportunities that were provided to her by all the donors and workers of the LIFE organization.
Another glimmer of hope can be found in Musa’s story, thanks to the impact that LIFE and its donors’ support has had on him and his family. Orphaned at a young age after the death of his father, he suddenly found his childhood stolen from him. He was forced into becoming the guardian of his family, carrying the responsibilities of providing for them. Despite his best efforts, they consistently suffered from a lack of food, clothing, and, as a result, educational opportunities. Becoming sponsored by a donor through LIFE’s monthly sponsorship program has now given Musa a new lease on life. Freed from the premature stress of becoming a guardian, he is now full of hope as he reclaims his childhood: attending school, excelling at his studies, and playing with friends.
These are not just the stories of Musa, Muhajira, or Ilhamul Haq, but are stories of hope and change for all orphans sponsored by LIFE’s projects and donors. The gaping hole created by parental loss left orphans facing instability, loneliness, and isolation. Now, thanks to your help and support, these 550 orphans feel that they are no longer alone and have a renewed hope for their future.
Your help not only changes their lives, but gifts them a new path to hope and progress.
