We live in a world of not-just-a-number. There is a clock in every room, a phone in our pocket, the mph in our cars. We know our families phone not-just-a-number, birthdays and kids weights and heights. There is no doubt in my mind that if we took all the not-just-a-number away we would fall apart.
The not-just-a-number also desensitize us in some ways. Unfortunately when we hear about the number of orphans in the world, the number hits us as large, but we are used to large not-just-a-number. I don’t think it affects us the way it should. Watching the news and hearing all the large money amounts being mentioned is enough to make me want to tune not-just-a-number out. We should be mad at these not-just-a-number, embarrassed, furious even.
Here are some not-just-a-number from UNICEF
Children without Parental Care
There are an estimated 133 million children who are orphaned (children aged 0–17 who have lost one or both parents) world wide.
Of these children, 15 million were orphaned by AIDS, more than 12 million of whom are in sub-Saharan Africa.
South Asia, East Asia and Pacific have 72 million orphans due to all causes.
In sub-Sahara Africa there are approximately 46 million orphans due to all causes.
133,000,000 children without parents.
133,000,000 little faces looking for love.
133,000,000 needed food and clothes.
Less than a year ago Mita and Enu were 2 of the 133,000,000 needing parents. Did our adoption solve the world’s orphan problems? Did it prevent starvation, child trafficking or child slavery? Obviously not. I wish it were that easy.
The fact is that our adoption of Mita and Enu gave them parents, a home, food and clothes. They go to school and are learning faster than I can teach them.
Our adoption of Mita and Enu gave Meg and Elle more sisters and gave hubby and I two more daughters to love.
To those that disagree with international adoption, I give you your right to your opinion and even see some of your points. But I live with two of the 133,000,000 faces now and I can tell you that international adoption can change lives in a positive way.
If done responsibly, ethically and in cooperation with aid organizations, medical organizations, charities and by individual countries themselves, we can all work together to make a difference.
If you are in the process of adopting internationally I challenge you to use an agency that works in country to help life better for all children, not just the kids they are working to get parents for. Let’s slowly chip away at the astronomically large number of 133,000,000.
