South Wiltshire charity continuing to shut down commercial orphanages
Research suggests 80% of the worlds estimated 5.4 million child orphans aren't orphans at all
A South Wiltshire charity is continuing it's work to put an end to exploitation of children in poorer countries through commercial orphanages.
Wilton based charity Hope and Homes for Children aims to reunite children with extended family - after the so-called orphanages bought them from their parents.
Research suggests 80% of the worlds estimated 5.4 million child orphans have been purchased from their parents.
The charity works across nine countries to get children out of orphanages where they're at risk of violence, neglect, trafficking.
Ambassador for the charity, and former Apprentice judge, Nick Hewer, said recounted how he was conned by such an organisation 25 years ago in India.
He said: "All the children were blind and I was with a group of Brits were on a cricket tour and we were mesmerised by the fact that these blind children could identify bits of wood which had been carved into various vegetables and fruit, which that's marvellous, how clever!
"And on the way out, of course, we all donate, but it's commercial."
The former Countdown host said it's happening in Europe and Africa, where the children are 'purchased' from their parents.
"The Orphanages say we'll look after them, bring them, we'll feed them and educate them and all the rest of it. And when the orphanage is full, they then turn to the American churches and say 'Look, these children to feed and clothe, send us your money', I've seen it in Rwanda and I've seen it in, in Eastern Europe, and I've seen it down in South Africa," he said.
Mr Hewer added that the charity has been working with the Rwandan Government to close down these Orphanages, saying: "they've declared there will be no more orphanages in Rwanda, which is a bit of a hotspot."
He continued: "We're closing them down very, very fast indeed, not least because the governments in each country recognises that it's cheaper actually to put the children back into families rather than keep them in orphanages."