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It’s no secret that every child needs unconditional love and support from their family. In fact, as we've previously researched and written, children in loving families will, later in life, consider themselves worthy of being loved, be able to cope with life’s challenges in healthier ways instead of lashing out, and understand that others too have thoughts, actions and feelings, which will ultimately make them understanding, empathetic and tolerant individuals.
Read more about attachment and love in childhood here: Our kids need unconditional love and support – not added pressure
But unfortunately, South Africa is still home to thousands of children who don't have families and are in need of alternative care, even though the Bill of Rights within our Constitution says “every child has the right to family care or parental care, or to appropriate alternative care when removed from the family environment.”
On this #WorldFosterDay on 31 May, you can make a difference by joining the Kin Culture pioneered movement in educating others about this very important issue and raising awareness for the movement to ensure more children are placed into healthy foster care.
Foster care is defined as the placement of a child, who needs to be removed from the parental home, into the custody of a suitable family or person willing to be foster parents. Understanding the complexities of alternative care and the great need for responsible foster families put us on the road to a long-term, sustainable solution.
- Also read: The bumpy road to fostering
How can you spread the word?
The movement hopes to spread the word on social media and you can help! All you need to do is draw a smiley face on any three fingers, capture your family of smiley faces by taking a picture and share it on your feeds on 31 May 2018 using #worldfosterday on Instagram or Twitter.
If you want to take things a step further and get more involved, you can show a foster family some love or contact your closest organisation.
So join in this #WorldFosterDay as it becomes a day of uniting families, organisations and government in doing their part for creating a better, brighter future for the children of South Africa.
For more information about the movement and how you can get involved, visit the World Foster Day and Kin Culture websites.
Do you have a foster child? How have they added value to your family? Share your stories with us by emailing chatback@parent24.com and we may publish it on the site. Do let us know if you'd like to remain anonymous.
Read more:
- Foster care surprise ruling
- The right way to adopt in 7 steps
- Heartwarming moment as mom is reunited with son 44 years after adoption
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