The day before moving into Christian Life Centre children’s home in South Africa, 13-year-old Grace* was forced to trade herself for food.
At a young age, Grace and her siblings were orphaned, leaving her in charge of their care. But Grace had no way to provide for them and resorted to prostitution as a way to meet their basic needs.
Maria, 16, was raised by her three older siblings after their mother abandoned them at an early age. Unfortunately, the family could only stay together for a short time before financial difficulties forced them apart.
Maria was then sent to live in a government orphanage. Before she graduated at age 16, Maria attended a summer camp at a World Orphans partner home.
Sarah grew up in a rural area of China. Both of her parents were farmers, but 10 years go, they fell into debt. Sarah’s father abandoned the family shortly after.
Sarah’s mother divorced her husband, but died in a car accident when Sarah was only 5 years old.
Before his birth, Moses was already an outcast to his family in Nairobi, Kenya. Because he was conceived by an incestuous relationship between siblings, Moses’ mother was faced with a difficult decision.
If she agreed to abort her child, she could remain with her family, but if not, she and her child would be disowned.
Svetlana, 19, suffered a continuous string of disappointments during her young life in Moldova. When she was 9 years old, her mother died, her father was incarcerated and she and her younger siblings were left in the care of their aging grandparents.
