World Orphans

To empower the church to care for orphans and vulnerable families.

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

ETHIOPIA // My name is Tsige, and I am a mother of three children. After their father got sick and died, I was very poor because I did not know how to work. He was the one who supported us, so we were in great trouble. When the suffering increased, I started working as a day laborer. The children were very young, and someone referred me to this church to ask for help. They did not have a place for me in their program at the time, so I returned home. I went back in a year and registered, and since there was a place, I joined. I started receiving help every month. Thank God, the problems disappeared from our house. I took the loan and started selling drinks. I have customers in Addis Ababa and I will work to get more in the future. I want to thank Belgenesh, the foreigners, and the church people here. May God bless you very much.

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

Meet Lily Sachsenmaier, a student in Taylor University’s unique Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) program. This summer, Lily bridged the gap between Indiana and Guatemala by completing her OVC internship directly with World Orphans. From studying holistic family care in the classroom to meeting the artisans who made Taylor's latest T-shirt order, Lily is seeing firsthand how the economic empowerment program and the local church are making a generational impact.

@tayloru

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

IMPACT // Team visits impact churches and families. World Orphans trips strengthen bonds between churches and families by providing an opportunity to build relationships, encourage one another, and spend time together. In 2025, 1,551 people were impacted by trips.

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

This year, Taylor University sourced custom apparel directly from a World Orphans artisan co-op in Guatemala. This program empowers vulnerable women by providing dignified, living-wage jobs that help them escape poverty and care for their families. But it’s not just about employment—it's about strengthening families and anchoring them in a local church community that walks with them for the long haul.

@tayloru

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

INDIA: I am Arjun, and I have two daughters. In 2016, the girls’ mother d*ed, and I did not feel capable of taking care of them. In this challenging situation, I felt overwhelmed and unsure of how to manage the crisis, so I went to the church for help. The church strengthened our family by providing professional counseling and advice from doctors. They also approached community elders and leaders to get the certificates and government paperwork that we needed.

The church took steps to lift our family from the very toughest situation of our lives, and they continue to support and strengthen us through regular financial support and the children’s education support. One of my daughters wants to be a teacher to inspire her students, and the other dreams of being a nurse, caring for others with compassion and dedication.

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

"Taylor University needs T-shirts, and single moms in Guatemala need good jobs. Our need can help meet their need."

When Andy Gammons, Director of Admissions at Taylor University, placed an order for custom T-shirts, he wasn't just purchasing campus apparel—he was linking Taylor's material needs with an economic empowerment program run by World Orphans in Guatemala. The World Orphans Market equips women with sewing skills to earn dignified income, while helping them deepen their walk with God. As they discover and develop these skills, they are empowered to provide for their families and become thriving contributors to their communities.

@tayloru

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

Estimates suggest that over 80% of children living in an orphanage around the world have at least one living parent. While the reasons for abandonment are complex and vary by country and culture, preserving families is one of our biggest priorities.

In 2025, 544 families were preserved through our Home Based Care (HBC) program and the local church.

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

My name is Flor. I became an orphan when I was just 8 years old. My father had already abandoned us, leaving my mother alone with three children and then, that same year, my mother passed away. My siblings and I were sent to live with relatives outside Guatemala City, but life there was very hard. Eventually, we moved into the city, hoping for something better. One of my sisters struggled with alcohol, and our home was filled with instability and pain. As the youngest, I was especially vulnerable. When I was 13, I made the decision to run away. I found a house where I could work in exchange for food and shelter, but my sisters eventually tracked me down and brought me back home. Later, I began working in another home, earning only about $53 a month, and sometimes I wasn’t paid at all. Still, I stayed, because I had a roof over my head and food to eat. It took several years, but I finally found the courage to leave that situation. I rented my own room and started studying. That’s when things began to shift. During that time, I met the father of my children. But even then, life was not easy. When my first baby was born, my sisters tried to take him away, saying I wasn’t capable of raising a child. They even planned to give him away. But I held him tight and I refused to let him go. I knew I could fight for him. Afterward, I lived with some of my father’s relatives, and it was there that I suffered domestic violence. One day, the abuse became so severe that the neighbors called the police. My abuser was arrested and sent to jail. That moment became a turning point in my life.

When the church first reached out to me, I was scared. I didn’t trust easily. I was anxious about joining the sewing cooperative, but over time I began to feel more comfortable. I’ve worked hard and now create products I’m proud of. Thanks to the income I earn through the sewing program, I can pay for my children’s school fees and support our home. Most importantly, I’ve found a community of women who make me feel safe, valued, and accepted--something I didn’t know I needed so deeply. My life hasn’t been easy. I’ve faced abandonment, loss, and violence. But looking back, I’m proud of how far I’ve come. I see my children growing strong, healthy, and full of life. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunities that have helped us move forward, step by step.

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

In India, 100% of World Orphans Home Based Care program program’s older youth successfully passed their major state board exams this year, opening doors to higher education and breaking generational cycles! Even better, children who once faced severe hardships are now setting big goals to become doctors, teachers, and public servants.

True community transformation doesn’t just meet a physical need; it restores dignity, builds friendships, and sparks hope for a brighter future.

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

When Sarah from Ethiopia was suddenly abandoned by her husband, she had three young children and no income. Without a way to earn money, she and her children often went hungry. After joining the Home Based Care program through a local church, Sarah was able to get food baskets and a loan to sell charcoal, which she has turned into a profitable business.

Thank you for your support of World Orphans, which helps mothers care for their families in the present and for years to come.

#orphans #family #church #poverty #worldorphans

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

Our partner churches in India continue to provide training and support to dozens of children and caregivers spread throughout the city. Pray for strength and encouragement as staff works to meet needs, offer counsel, and chart a course for independence for these caregivers. Pray for the government as they continue to place financial and bureaucratic roadblocks in the path of Christian churches and nonprofits.

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

KURDISTAN UPDATE// One of the most exciting recent updates from our Kurdistan team is that we had the opportunity to provide dental care for the refugees in our program and their families. It was a sweet ending the year. @therefugeinitiative

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

We are so thankful for all that God has done this year: for the lives impacted, for the families preserved. Thank you for being a part of all that God is doing and for joining us in praying for an even bigger 2026!

Thank you for being a part of this journey with us!

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#worldorphans #orphancare #familypreservation #mothers #preservingfamilies #serve #missions #africa #ethiopia #iraqkurdistan #refuge #refugerecovery #God #globalchurch #economicempowerment #economicempowermentforwomen #churchpartnerships #nonprofit #nonprofitgiving

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

2025 has been an incredible year and we thank God for all that he has done in the lives of thousands of families around the world. We are truly grateful to be a small part of his church, reaching the lost and caring for those in need.

Thank you and all of our friends who have sacrificially given to help local churches around the world care for vulnerable families this year. We look forward with great anticipation to all that our God will do in 2026.

Thank you for being a part of this journey with us!

Giving link in bio or https://t.co/b7VFmOK6Hj
Please share and repost to invite more people to join us!
#strengthandhope #donate #nonprofit #charity #orphans #widows

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

(2/2) “Now I have started a coffee business. I have learned a lot in the program. My life has improved and I have found many mentors, sisters, and mothers by my side. I am happy that I joined this program. I feel so emotional when I try to express my gratitude. I am so grateful to everyone who has been praying for me since I joined this church.”

World Orphans partners with international churches through our Home Based Care program to support women like Mekdes and her children. Your gift to our year-end campaign helps us impart strength and hope to families like hers.

Giving link in bio.
Please share and repost to invite more people to join us!
#strengthandhope #donate #nonprofit #charity #orphans #widows

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

(1/1) “My name is Mekdes and I am the mother of two children. Their father abandoned me while I was pregnant with my youngest child. When I gave birth, I had nothing to eat or drink, and my milk dried up, so I had nothing to feed my baby. I was thinking about where to beg on the street when someone told me about the [World Orphans Home Based Care] program. After we entered the program, my children and I were created as new. My life was washed from ashes. We got what we needed to eat and drink. They gave me oil, flour, and teff. Thank God, when he raised me, he did not diminish anything. He raised me from ashes and dust. He raised me from hunger and thirst. I have found everything, thank God.”

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

The operation of the World Orphans Market is flourishing, and families are being empowered through the development of artisan skills. Artisans in Guatemala, Ethiopia, and South Africa continue to develop skills like jewelry making, sewing, crochet, and leather work, resulting in the production of one-of-a-kind necklaces, earrings, bracelets, journals, aprons, purses, and so much more.

Seven artisan craft co-op businesses continued to operate in Guatemala.

Will you join us in making an even bigger impact in 2026?

Giving link in bio or https://t.co/b7VFmOK6Hj
Please share and repost to invite more people to join us!
#strengthandhope #donate #nonprofit #charity #orphans #widows

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

Merry Christmas from all of us at World Orphans! As we celebrate Jesus, the incredible gift of God, we also thank him for all he is doing in the lives of so many families around the world.

May God bless you and your family this holy season!

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

(2/2) “While I work, my children attend the children’s classroom at the vocational training center. This has had a great impact on them. They've become more responsible, developed better habits, and now have a set routine for schoolwork. They even take the initiative to complete their homework and help out at home. I’ve truly experienced God’s provision in my life, and it has been a source of strength and encouragement. Not only am I committed to attending church, but I’m also dedicated to reaching out to others who are in need, just as I was helped when I needed it the most.”

World Orphans partners with international churches through our Home Based Care program to support women like Marleny and her children. Thank you to all who have helped us along the way!

#strengthandhope #donate #nonprofit #charity #orphans #widows

[World Orphans @worldorphans]

(1/1) “I’m Marleny, and I’ve been attending the sewing workshop at my church for over two years. I’m incredibly grateful to God for all the achievements my children have made. One of them graduated from middle school, and another completed elementary school–something I never imagined was possible until I joined the church’s programs. The work I do in the sewing and leather workshop has made all of this possible. I feel blessed and happy because I was able to send my children to school this year with the income I’ve earned. Through the workshop, I’ve expanded my sewing skills and gained more confidence in my abilities. This has allowed me to take on more responsibilities in the workshop, which has been both empowering and fulfilling.”