Sadly, according to the orphanage directors I’ve met, until ten years ago, many young adults who grew up in orphanages found it difficult to cope with the challenges of living independently. Stories of alcoholism, poor employment opportunities, and lives of crime were too common.
Since then, the government has worked to implement programs, curricula, and standards that require each orphanage to help the children prepare for life as adults. When a child reaches the age of 19 and “ages out” of the social welfare system, he/she is given $2000 and sent to make a way for themselves. A few may be allowed to live at the orphanage while completing higher education, but this is the exception rather than the rule.
The orphanage directors stand in for parents who are not part of their childen’s lives. When it is time for marriage, it is the orphanage director who is in the wedding photo of the happy couple and their parents.
When touring these homes, I’ve seen children run up to the director, hug their legs and call them “abba” or “omma”, the words for “daddy” and “mama” in English. The houseparents work 24 hour shifts, one day on, one day off, but the director usually lives on the property and is there 24/7. In most of the homes I visited, the director is the son or daughter of the founder of the home. When asked about this, one comment I heard back was “no one else wants to do this job; it’s too demanding, but we know it’s needed and want to carry on our parents’ work.”
Thanks to these dedicated individuals, these Korean children hope to be prepared for life as independent adults. Children, Incorporated works to support them in this endeavor and we can do that because of the dedication of sponsors. If you are interested in sponsoring a child in Korea, click here.