Rod Jao Helps Children in Orphanages of South East Asia

Asia has the most orphaned children anywhere in the world. In Thailand, there are 1.2 million orphans. In the Philippines, there are around 1.8 million orphans. The majority of Asian children waiting for adoption live in orphanages.

Rod Jao is a highly successful entrepreneur. He was born and raised in a small village in the Philippines. He’s never lost sight of where he came from and the needs of those around him. He spent quality time at an orphanage in Thailand, which led him to find the World organization’s Parentless Children.

This article is about the challenges orphanages face in parts of SouthEast Asia. We’ll also look at how Rod Jao is making a difference for orphans in that region and other parts of the world. Keep reading to find out more about Jao’s generosity and the problematic situations that exist in orphanages.

Asian Orphanage Challenges

Funding is always a challenge faced by orphanages all over the globe. The money needed to operate their facilities and care for orphaned children typically comes from outside donations. There’s also a growing phenomenon, referred to as voluntourism, that’s also helping to fund orphanages. We’ll get to that further down.

Other challenges include behavioral issues, psychological problems of children, orphan illness, and safety concerns for highly vulnerable children.

Why Are There So Many Orphans in Asian Countries?

On a typical day, the biggest driver of the number of orphans in Asia is poverty. The reality is, the great majority of children in Asian orphanages have at least one parent still living. While the parent may be desperate and living in severe poverty, an orphanage isn’t always the best option.

The Voluntourism Industry

So, what is voluntourism? In brief, it’s an industry born out of Westerners’ desires to volunteer in orphanages on the other side of the world. Some people plan a specific trip to stay in the orphanage and help care for children while they’re there. Others simply decide to volunteer time when they’re already on a trip.

So far, that doesn’t look like a problem, does it? The problem is that some orphanage owners are taking advantage of this. They’re encouraging desperate parents to separate from their children to allow them to live in the orphanage. More children means more money coming in.

The orphanage charges volunteers fees for staying on-site. Most of these trips result in large on-site donations, as well. There may also be application fees, transportation fees, and others.

Rod Jao Helps Children in Orphanages

While the well-meaning volunteers help in some ways, they also may be feeding into an industry that takes advantage of vulnerable children and even puts them at risk. Rod Jao has taken several steps to ensure children in Asian countries get the things they need.

Rod Jao went to Thailand in 2014. While there, he visited an orphanage and was heartbroken by what he saw. The orphanage was overrun with too many children, and they didn’t have the financial means to provide everything the children needed.

Jao went straight to work to purchase food, supplies, clothing, and more to donate to the orphanage. He made sure they had more than enough to care for those kids the way they should be at such a young age. He also purchased a toy for every child residing in that orphanage and presented the toys personally.

The Parentless Children of the World Organization

Jao didn’t stop at just providing for one orphanage in Thailand. He took his mission further than that. He was already active within his church doing charity work. Jao went to his church, and with their help, established a non-profit organization called Parentless Children of the World.

The goal of Parentless Children of the World is to make sure all orphaned children have their basic needs met. It’s to ensure they are cared for and supported, emphasizing helping them thrive and live healthily.

What Can You Do to Help?

Good people all over the world want to help but may not know-how. You can donate to Rod Jao’s foundation or any other non-profit organization raising money for orphanages.

You can also send food and needed items directly to orphanages. Sending things rather than money may be a better idea in cases where voluntourism is driving undesired practices.

If you are a professional in social work or child psychology, look for programs that allow you to help orphan children through an established system. If you specialize in this area, you have a lot to offer through a reputable program.

Are Things Changing in Orphanages Now?

As more people find out about what’s going on in orphanages, there is a trend toward a change. Some countries, including the U.S., are taking steps to put an end to voluntourism. Countries are looking more closely at orphanages within their borders. They’re also looking further into volunteer trips people take to spend time in orphanages, even banning the practice altogether in some cases.

Conclusion

Rod Jao has a deep commitment to bettering the support that reputable orphanages get. Through his foundation and others like it, the world works toward a better system for all orphaned children. You can help too. Give what orphanages genuinely need to help parentless kids everywhere.