Opieka nad sierotami w Afryce, a zwłaszcza w Nigerii to ogromne wyzwanie.
There are approximately 153 million orphans worldwide. Almost 6,000 more children become orphans every day. What's more, one in five children live in a conflict or war zone, and studies show that these children are at high risk of violence, psychological distress, hunger, loss of education and/or lack of access to basic resources. More than 12 million refugee boys and girls have not only lost their homes, but are no longer able to secure a future.
Orphans in Nigeria
Official government statistics state that there are more than 17.5 million orphaned children in Nigeria. However, these are statistics from ten years ago and date from 2014. Since then, the Nigerian authorities have not provided any data. This does not mean, however, that the problem of orphanhood in the country has diminished or completely disappeared. Quite the contrary - the number of orphans has increased dramatically and this is unlikely to change any time soon.
Why?
There are several reasons for this and each of them has a huge impact on children's lives. One is the lack of viable social programmes in the country and the lack of programmes to protect children's rights. Another is the ever-deteriorating economy since 2015, which causes massive unemployment and pervasive hunger. This, in turn, has resulted in a significant increase in crime in Nigeria since 2015, particularly kidnappings for ransom and organ trafficking. Many children become orphans for this very reason - they have lost their parents to militia attacks or have been kidnapped and no one has ransomed them from captivity, so they have been killed or sold by bandits. Hunger also contributes to high mortality rates. As a rule, children die of starvation first, but not always - sometimes parents and children are then left unprotected.
Among the reasons for such a huge number of orphans in Nigeria, we must also include attacks by Boko Haram, which operates mainly in Borno State and there very often razes entire villages to the ground. Children who survive such an attack usually become orphans.
When we talk about why there are so many orphans in Nigeria, we cannot forget the lack of a medical care system and the fact that people die because of a lack of treatment. Diseases that do not cause death in Europe are fatal in Nigeria for the poorest people (roughly 70% of the population), such as tuberculosis, diabetes and AIDS in the south of the country.
Life as an orphan in Nigeria
Africa is not a child-friendly place. Despite the fact that the governments of all African countries have created laws to protect children, no one there abides by them. Maybe on paper they do, but the reality in Africa is that children are still being used for slave labour, they have no access to basic education (in Nigeria we have a law that says education is compulsory until the age of 18, and more than half of the children in the country don't even have a school to go to, and there is a school nearby, the family doesn't have the financial means to pay the school fees and buy the books and notebooks needed for school), and orphans are completely outside of any legal system and are completely deprived of any care.
In Nigeria, orphans most often live on the streets or in rubbish dumps and are subjected to violence, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, organ harvesting, forced labour and other criminal practices.
There are even situations that are unimaginable in Europe - government officials forcibly marrying off orphaned girls. Such a situation occurred recently, in May this year (2024) in the State of Niger, when the state parliament announced that it would marry off around 100 female orphans on 24 May 2024 (you can find out more here).
Caring for orphans - challenges for the Foundation
On 19 February 2020, a committee convened by the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF and The Lancet released a landmark report, with Nigeria ranked in the last 10 in terms of child wellbeing outcomes. The ranking is based on a variety of factors, including measures of child survival and well-being such as health, education, nutrition, equity and income disparity. The report, ‘A Future for the World's Children?’, includes a new global index of 180 countries comparing child wellbeing outcomes. Nigeria ranked 174th out of 180 countries, below Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and South Sudan ( read more here).
What does this mean for our Foundation?
It is no more, no less, that our Foundation faces enormous challenges as we are one of the few humanitarian organisations operating within Nigeria and our Foundation is one of the few effective ones in the North that directly reach out to those in need.
Starting in 2019, we did not expect to help as many as 50,000 children, and we certainly did not expect so many orphans to be reached.
In 2020, A & A Rainbow Hearts Around The World Foundation began providing assistance to IDPs in Borno State. At that time, our IDP camp housed the first 50 orphans. At that time, we started planning to build an orphanage. However, the Foundation did not have the financial resources for such a large undertaking.
In the following years, the number of orphaned children who come to us increases drastically from year to year, and as of today there are already more than 840, and by the end of this year this number is likely to increase further.
Initially, the children in the camp were placed in grass and leaf houses built by our volunteers. In 2021-2022, with private funds from funders and coordinators, we designed, and erected brick buildings to house the children. However, as orphans come into our care, only girls and the youngest toddlers sleep in these buildings. Boys from the age of thirteen sleep outside, which is quite a problem during the rainy season.
That is why, as a Foundation, we are preparing an extension project so that no child ever has to sleep outside.
Opieka nad sierotami - lista problemów jest długa
Another problem is feeding the ever-increasing number of orphans and treating children with very deep malnutrition. Many of them come to us in a state close to starvation, and some of them die despite the efforts of our volunteers.
Another problem is feeding the ever-increasing number of orphans and treating children with very deep malnutrition. Many of them come to us in a state close to starvation, and some of them die despite the efforts of our volunteers.
Therefore, we will continuously ask you to support our orphans so that they do not go hungry. We will be running various fundraising campaigns so that the orphans in our care can eat at least two full meals a day and a light supper before going to bed.
Do something amazing today.
What does Islam say about orphans?
Caring for orphans is an essential part of Islam. Orphans are mentioned 22 times in the Qur'an; their mistreatment is a serious sin, while caring for and sponsoring them is an extremely valuable good deed.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that the guardians and sponsors of orphans would be rewarded with paradise - ‘I and he who cares for the orphan will be in paradise like these two’ and linked his index finger with his middle finger. [Sahih Al-Tirmidhi - 1918].
Islam gives ‘orphans’ a high status, honouring them and enjoining kindness towards them, and Allah Almighty promises a great reward in this life and the life to come for their guardians. This is one of the gates of kindness through which the servant attains happiness in this world and honour in the Hereafter.
And they ask you about orphans. Say: ‘Improvement for them is best. And if you mix your affairs with their affairs, they are your brothers’ [Al-Baqarah: 220].
The term ‘orphan care’ refers to all activities related to being kind to orphans, protecting their rights and wealth and educating them.
In this context, it is important to note that this care is not limited to the provision of food and drink. The term benevolence encompasses a broader indication both at the level of action and speech. Islam forbids oppressing orphans, humiliating or violating their rights in any form. It encourages raising them on the basis of values and good morals, adequately compensating them for the love and affection lost due to the death of their father, properly guiding them, correcting their behaviour towards righteousness and deterring them from mistakes and deviations.
Don't be indifferent to the fate of an orphaned child!
The value of caring for orphans in Islam
Allah Almighty has honoured the guardians of the orphans by promising them provision and forgiveness. This is confirmed by the words of our noble Prophet (peace be upon him), who promised their guardians, numerous virtues and high status, including ‘the companionship of the Prophet in Paradise, great reward in this world, purifying and sanctifying wealth and a growing source of livelihood’.
Just as Islam encourages zakat, prayer and Islamic rituals that lead to goodness and Paradise, it also specifically honours ‘orphans’, their guardians and carers.
Islam prescribes benevolence towards them, forbids taking away their inheritance and warns against it. Receiving and spending from an orphan's property is one of the seven deadly sins that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ advised to avoid, ‘Take care of orphans until they reach the age of marriage; if you see sound judgement in them, release their property.’ (Bukhari)
What does the Qur'an say about caring for and sponsoring orphans?
In as many as thirteen places in the Qur'an, Allah Almighty conveys promises of great rewards in this world and in eternal life for those who care for orphans. Sponsoring orphans is one of the characteristics of righteous and God-fearing people.
‘It is not piety that ye turn your faces to the east and to the west. But the truly pious is: he who believes in God and the Last Day; in the angels, the Book and the prophets; and he who distributes wealth - despite loving it - to close relatives, orphans and the poor (...)’ [Al-Baqarah 177].
Hadiths on the virtue of caring for orphans
There are many authentic hadis handed down by the Prophet Muhammad in which he explicitly mentions ‘orphans’ and their guardians. One of the most famous is the one in which he says: ‘I and he who cares for the orphan will be like these two, and he joined his two fingers, middle and index finger." [Sahih Al-Tirmidhi - 1918].
Hafiz Ibn Hajar explained this hadith as follows:
‘There is no better status for a Muslim than that of a person who can be a companion of the Prophet (peace with him) in Paradise. This hadis indicates that a person caring for an orphan will have a similar status to that of the Prophet.’ (own translation from ‘Fath Al-Bari’)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also warned of the consequences of consuming the wealth of orphans, saying: ‘Avoid the seven grave sins.’ They asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what are they?’ He replied: ‘Adding companions to Allah, magic, killing, using usury, consuming the property of an orphan, fleeing from the battlefield and slandering chaste, unsuspecting believing women.’ ( Reported in Bukhari)
Among the hadis of Prophet Muhammad concerning orphans, Abu Huraira relayed that the Prophet said: ‘One who takes care of a widow or a poor person is like a mujtahid (warrior) who fights for the cause of Allah, or like one who performs prayers all night and fasts all day.’ ( Reported in Bukhari and Muslim)
Abu Darda reported: A man came to the Prophet complaining about the hardness of his heart, so the Prophet said: ‘Do you want to soften your heart and have enough to meet your needs? Be merciful to an orphan, stroke its head and feed it with your food. Your heart will become soft and your needs will be met.’. (Sahih)
Islam always encourages the building of a strong, cohesive society, of which orphans are a vital part. Caring for and sponsoring orphans brings many benefits to both the orphans themselves and society, which we summarise in the following paragraphs:
- Building the individual correctly is fundamental to building a healthy society.
- Proper upbringing based on the essence of the Islamic religion, values and correct customs.
- Building a cohesive society based on compassion and solidarity between its members.
The need to raise awareness of the importance of orphan care
Orphans are part of the world around us, an integral part of society. They must therefore be cared for, treated well, cared for and loved, and given a proper education so that they have the chance to use their abilities. Every orphaned child has potential, and raising them properly will result in them serving society in the future.
Islam pays special attention to the plight of orphans. It urges and encourages Muslims to care for orphans, emphasising both in the Qur'an and in the hadis that this is an obligation that brings many benefits to both children and their caregivers. This is particularly important mainly because, in the sight of God, we are all equal, so this obligation is intended to restore a kind of social justice.
Forms and ways of caring for orphans in Islam
In Islam, there are various ways of discharging one's duty of care towards orphans. The highest and best form is to recognise them as part of one's family and treat them as equal to one's own children. This form of care was very common at the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
The second form is to support an orphaned child by materially paying for their needs. One can become a parent of the heart in a long-distance adoption and cover all the child's needs (food, clothing and education). This form is very popular and available from many charities. The A & A Rainbow Hearts Foundation also runs an Adopt-a-Heart programme.
Another form of orphan care is a financial contribution, such as making a regular and small donation to orphanages or to an organisation that cares for orphans. The orphanage or foundation will use it to improve the living conditions of their charges - our Foundation will certainly purchase food, as we have many orphans who need meals just as much as children in Europe.
Do something incredible and feed an orphan!
Can sponsoring orphans be considered as giving zakat?
Every Muslim knows that it is his or her obligation to pay zakat of 2.5% of his or her income if he or she exceeds the exemption threshold. Can supporting an orphan be considered as donating zakat? Admittedly, the Qur'an does not explicitly mention orphans as being entitled to zakat, but it is undeniable that orphans are among the groups mentioned in the Qur'an:
‘Alms are only for the poor and the needy, and for those who work at them, and for those whose hearts have been won, and for the redemption of slaves, and for debtors, and for the way of God, and for the traveller. This is a duty imposed by God! God is the All-Knowing, the Wise.’ (Qur'an 9:60)
Although not explicitly mentioned in the Qur'anic verse, they may fall under the category of poor or needy, so giving them zakat is permissible. However, it is important to note that an orphan who has inherited property from their parents is not eligible to receive zakat. Orphans under the care of our Foundation are poor, so your donation may qualify as zakat.
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