Why your help is needed

The well-being of children, especially those who are exploited, orphaned, homeless or disabled, has always been and remains the focus of Birfano.

Children are precious, entrusted to us to care for and nurture. Yet sadly, many children live in extreme hardship with little food to eat, no access to health services, clean water or even a roof over their head.

It is not hard to see why your help is so important:
Every year, nearly 11 million children die from preventable causes before reaching their fifth birthday. Millions more survive only to face diminished futures, unable to develop to their full potential.

150 million children in developing countries are malnourished. Malnourished children have lowered resistance to infection; they are more likely to die from common childhood ailments like diarrhea diseases and respiratory infections, and for those who survive, frequent illness saps their nutritional status, locking them into a vicious cycle of recurring sickness and faltering growth. Poverty, low levels of education, and poor access to health services are major contributors to childhood malnutrition

Almost a third of people in developing countries have no access to safe water. Drinking contaminated water is the major cause of diarrhea with about 4 billion cases per year causing 2.2 million deaths, mostly among children under five.

One in five of all children in developing countries are not able to go to school. Illiteracy and poverty go hand in hand.

Child labor: millions of children work to help their families in ways that are neither harmful nor exploitative. But millions more are put to work in ways that drain childhood of all joy - and crush the right to normal physical and educational development. Estimates are that in more than 30 countries covering 35 percent of the developing world population, 19 percent of 5 to 14 year olds are working.
Figures from UNICEF

Birfano exists to end this suffering. Through our programs, Birfano seeks to implement long term change not only in the lives of the children we serve, but in their entire community. We are committed to making sure your support helps those who need it most.