IT TAKES A VILLAGE Care Day is a global celebration (and the world’s largest celebration) of the successes and achievements of children and young people with experience of care. It takes place on Friday 18 February this year and it will be the 7th annual Care Day! We want a world where children and young people who … Continue reading Care Day, February 18th!
Taiza: Formalising foster care system in Madagascar is a bit like digging out an abandoned gold mine.
We currently have possibly over 10,000 children living in institutional care in the capital city, with all centres full, or over-crowded. Tradition of informal kinship care For years, before large orphanages were created by religious or western organisations, and before the crisis of urbanisation caused the break up of smaller rural communities, children who … Continue reading Taiza: Formalising foster care system in Madagascar is a bit like digging out an abandoned gold mine.
Equitable supports for foster/kinship carers and adoptive parents
Becoming a parent is an exciting and challenging period of time that requires the development of a particular set of skills. Things like; bathing, feeding, and settling of infants can be difficult for new parents. However, most are able to access training during pregnancy and are supported by services after birth. A recent Australian research … Continue reading Equitable supports for foster/kinship carers and adoptive parents
Why hold events for foster carers and children
The National Foster Care Association Malta NFCAM hosted several activities for foster carers and children during the summer period. Some activities were also related to the European project called PICK (Pride in Care-Levers Konnected Europe) of which IFCO is a partner. Others were for its local members. Benefiting foster carers and children Having fun during … Continue reading Why hold events for foster carers and children
Names are important
What a name means to me A name connects me to people. My first name was given to me in honour of a family friend. I find it interesting how we even use the words “given to me” when we talk about names. It is a connection, a thread, a link. My middle names are … Continue reading Names are important
To be a social worker and to devote himself entirely to vulnerable children and families.
Originally written in French by Ny Hasina Ramahenina on UNICEF website Lanto Robivelo specializes in Social Work. Lanto Robivelo specializes in Social Work. He is currently the National Director of the NGO “Famille d’Accueil de Madagascar” which aims to professionalize the concept of foster families in Madagascar. He is also the President of the Groupement des Travailleurs … Continue reading To be a social worker and to devote himself entirely to vulnerable children and families.
Preventing Child Abandonment in Madagascar during Cononavirus
Governments around the world are taking different approaches to how to manage child protection, family support, and foster care systems in response to COVID-19. IFCO Board member Lanto Robivelo, Operational Director of Famadagascar outlines the work that he and Famadagascar have been completing in Madagascar. On Saturday March 21st, the president of Madagascar announced that the country would commence … Continue reading Preventing Child Abandonment in Madagascar during Cononavirus
IFCO COFFEE CONVERSATIONS
On the 8th and 9th of April 2020, IFCO hosted two ‘Coffee Conversations’ Webinars in partnership with The Care Leavers Association (CLA) and the Institute of Recovery from Childhood Trauma (IRCT) to talk about the issues raised by Covid-19 in the social care sectors across the globe. We had representation from 13 different countries and … Continue reading IFCO COFFEE CONVERSATIONS
My contribution in establishing a new foster care system in Malta
It all started in 1998. Dr. Laurence Gonzi – then Minister for Social Policy (he was later appointed Prime Minister of Malta) invited me to share my thoughts about setting up a fostering service for children in Malta. Back then, the majority of children needing out of home care were placed in large residential Homes. … Continue reading My contribution in establishing a new foster care system in Malta
Happy World Children’s Day!
On behalf of IFCO, I join with everyone around the world to wish all children a happy World Children’s Day. Today is especially significant as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This momentous Convention has contributed enormously to the wellbeing of children across … Continue reading Happy World Children’s Day!