Common Practices in Orphanages: A Case Study of Bauchi Nigeria

ABSTRACT


Introduction
Worldwide, children's homes are striving to meet the needs of orphans who are vulnerable and struggle to care for themselves independently.Structures of orphanages vary from institutional care, to homes with a more family-based style of care.Without the nurturing, guidance and resources that parents provide, orphan children have significant needs and are faced with the number of challenges in providing necessary items for themselves.There is a need for government, organizations and individuals to support these vulnerable children in order to prepare them for a better and successful adult life.Orphans and other vulnerable children and adolescents (OVCA) living in institutional homes are more prone to behavioral and emotional problems than others as they are deprived of a family's love and care.Orphans in most of the areas have faced many crises over the past times that have led them to be in need of support.For example in Nigeria, civil war, violence caused by religious, ethical or political crisis and floods are the main causes of poverty, loss of lives and difficult living conditions that many societies still facing in the country more especially in Northern Nigeria.Over 2,000,000 children were raised without one or both of their parents.These issues have led to a great need for orphan support throughout Nigeria and particularly the study area which is part of North-eastern Nigeria.

Literature Review
American Sociologist Erving Goffman described the orphanage as 'Total Institutions', an institution that works for rendering care to the destitute or incapable people.These total institutions are devoted to the re-socialization of the inmates through intentionally managing their surroundings in a controlled manner.(Boundless Sociology, 2014) Oxford Advance Learner's Dictionary, (2000) defines an orphanage as 'a home for children whose parents are dead'.According to American Heritage Dictionary, (2014) an orphanage can be defined as 'a community organization which strives for providing protection and care to the children without parents '. Collins English Dictionary, (2007) defines an orphanage as 'a society for parentless and deserted children.' Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, (2003) defined an orphanage as 'an institution for providing care and shelter to the orphans.'Whereas, Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia (2014) defines an orphanage as 'a residential institution committed to the care and welfare of orphans; children whose natural parents have died or otherwise not capable of or reluctant to take care of the children'.
Thus, an orphanage can be defined as a place which looks after the well-being of a child, when no one else is there to take care of him/her.Again, it is a home away from home where society as a whole takes care of him/her.Natural parents, and sometimes natural grandparents, are lawfully accountable for taking care of the children, but in the absence of these or other relations who are not prepared to care for the children, they turn out to be a responsibility of the state, and here, the orphanages plays a major role in providing them housing, education and care.It is a general perception among the people that all children residing in orphanages are complete orphans, which is not the case all the times, as has been observed that almost eighty percent of the inmates in the world orphanages have at least one surviving parent and majority of them have extended families (www.savethechildren.org).
A few large international charities usually fund orphanages; however, most of them are still funded by smaller charities and religious groups.Besides, orphanages there are many other institutions which provide residential facility to the children and are known as refuges, IDPs children's home, group homes, night shelters, rehabilitation centers or youth treatment centers (www.wikipedia.org).
The issue of orphans become a global issue where 132 million orphans lived worldwide and as in 2008, the number of those who lost all their parents reached 13 million and Asia has the largest number of orphans followed by Africa.In many communities a child who was orphaned by only one parent can continue living with other parents but he may need additional support and resources (UNICEF, 2008).Orphan children are desperate to survive and as a result sometimes live dangerouslifestyles as street children, beggars, delinquents or child prostitutes.Common problems faced by orphans include extreme hunger, infectious diseases, emotional problems and disability among other things.These problems can be social, psychological, economic or developmental.In addition to the trauma of losing their parents, orphans are faced with a lack of basic needs, schooling, personal care and attention (Reddy, 2003).A study done by Rahman et al (2012) found a high prevalence of 40.35% of behavioral and emotional disorders among orphan children and adolescents in institutional care.
In another study by El Koumi et al. (2012) in Cairo, the prevalence of Behaviouraldisturbances was 64.53% among those in institutional homes.In India, along with the growing total population of the country, the number of orphan and abandoned children is also increasing.According to the UNICEF 2012,there are more than 25 million orphan or abandoned and about 44 million destitute children in India.Among this number of orphan and destitute children, very few studies have been done on the psychological health of these children and adolescents leaving a yawning gap for further research in this regard in India.In Mangalore, a study done by Sujatha and Jacob (2014) found that among orphan adolescents, 7.5% were at risk for hyperactivity disorder, 37.5% were at risk for peer problems, and 12.5% had severe peer problems.Abnormal pro-social behavior was found in 5%, while 22.5% were at risk for pro social behavior.
In Africa, the AIDS epidemic has led to a large number of orphaned children.It was estimated that by 2010, in 11 African countries, the number of AIDS orphans would make up 20-37% of the population of children under the age of 15.Clearly measures must be taken to provide resources and care to the orphans who have not been taken in by extended family.AIDS has also Contributed significantly to the number of orphans in other parts of the world and in the Asian countries of Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam and India.The AIDS pandemic can infect children and lead to common problems among orphans previously mentioned.In adulthood, these issues do not cease to exist and can cause illiteracy, poverty, exploitation and homelessness (Annan, 2002).
If orphan children are not living on the streets, then they are either with a family member who has the means to support them, or in an institution operated by a community based organization, local government or a charitable institution.It is important that this institutions and organizations meet a number of needs for the children in order to support a holistic approach to development.The US government supports programmers that cover the areas of healthcare, food security and nutrition, psychosocial support, shelter, economic strengthening and education (Senefeld, 2011).
Children who are deprived of the parental care and a secure family environment often become vulnerable to a host of psychological problems and psychiatric disorders.These children are then usually reared in institutional homes set up by the government or private agencies which provide some semblance of order into their lives.In these homes, problems of overcrowding, inadequate personal attention, poor academic environment, and frequent moves may affect the psychological health of these children.This programme structure not only cares for the children's basic needs but also helps to prepare them to be independent when the time comes.Children's homes opened to provide care and support to orphans but often times run into issues ranging from lack of finances to inadequate staffing.A case study of a Zimbabwe orphanage revealed many of these problems.A partnership was established with a university with the goals of protecting children's rights, increasing sustainability of basic necessities, better education, youth participation in orphanage governance, preparing children for their futures, and educating staff members about child development policies and practices.Based on these goals, recommendations were made and action taken to improve the current status of the orphanage (Dee, 2004).
A study conducted on NGOs in Kenya expanded on these issues in looking at the strengths and weaknesses of NGOs created to care for at risk children and orphans.The purpose of the study was to improve the design, implementation, and evaluation of programmes working with youth.The strengths reported were staff commitment, the surrogate family structure of many children's homes, staff members being attentive to the needs of children and staff acting as role models.
NGOs meet the basic needs of children and additionally provide education, health services, vocational training, counseling, and social skills training.The outcomes that were discovered as a result of these resources are an increase in academic achievement and self-confidence in the children (Ferguson & Heidemann, 2009).
Challenges of NGOs in Kenya remain a key issue to consider.Lack of staff, lack of staff services for children with special or extreme needs, and lack of female sexual education trained staff are some issues faced by the staff members of NGOs.
Problem of ethnic differences exists when Western staff members are trying to connect with Kenyan children.This can also lead to a loss of traditional values in local children if the programme is run entirely by foreigners.Funds typically come from church support, private donors, and merchandise programs, but NGOs constantly are facing a rising budget and lack of funds to cover the expenses of children.Children with medical conditions such as HIV/AIDS especially present a tough expense to NGOs.Land and building structures are another high cost that NGOs struggle with.As a result of this, children's homes often take-in too many children for the amount of space that they can afford leading to cramped living conditions.Community support can be difficult due to a lack of collaboration between organizations, poor infrastructure in rural areas, and absence of awareness regarding street children (Ferguson & Heidemann, 2009).
Emotional and Behavioural problems influence the child's overall development, specifically academic and social outcome as adults.Hence, there is a need to assess and identify mental health problems in these institutionalized children so that suitable intervention measures can be designed for them at the right time.

The emphasis in Islam on caring for orphans
In Islamic terminology, the term Yatīm is often translated as 'orphan' and is traditionally used to denote a child who is without the care of his/her father.More recent applications of the term orphan, by Islamic scholars, have included children who are without appropriate care or supervision.Therefore, where the term 'orphan' is used in this document, it applies to children who are without appropriate parental supervision: This includes children who are placed in care, for example, if they are removed from abusive and neglectful biological parents; and children whose parents are absent (such as unaccompanied asylum seeking children).
Islamic tradition and history is replete with teachings and narrations that strongly encourage the care of vulnerable children and orphans.Allah says: 'They ask you about the orphans: say, 'It is good to set things right for them.If you combine their affairs with yours, remember they are your brothers and sisters: God knows those who spoil things and those who improve them.Had He so willed, He could have made you vulnerable too: He is Almighty and Wise.' (Qur'an 2:220) Furthermore, the Qur'an rebukes those who treat orphans unfairly and without kindness and compassion.Allah say: "Therefore, as for the orphan, do not oppress them."(Qur'an 93:9) .

Orphans in the Quran:
Taking care of orphans is an act of piety in Islamic thought.The Qur'an, as a primary source of guidance for Muslims worldwide, repeatedly emphasizes the importance of taking care of orphans and those in need.Allah says: And worship Allah and do not associate anything with him.And (show) fairest (companionship) to parents, and to the near kinsman, and the orphans and the indigent, and the neighbor who is near kinsman, and the neighbor who is a stranger, and the companion at your side, and the wayfarer, and what your right hands possess.Surely Allah does not love whoever has been conceited and constantly boastful.(Qur'an 4:36).
The Qur'an tells believers that it is a duty to treat orphans with equity.Allah says: …….Allah directs you to treat the orphans with justice.Allah is well aware of whatever good you do.(Qur'an 4:127) Qur'an tells believers that it is a great sin to wrong them.Allah says: "Therefore, as for the orphan, do not oppress them."(Qur'an 93:9) Qur'an tells believers about Honouring the ties of kinship by protecting the rights of the orphans.Allah says: "And give to the orphans their properties and do not substitute the defective (of your own) for the good (of theirs).And do not consume their properties in to your own.Indeed, that is ever a great sin.(Qur'an 4:2) The rejection of orphans is considered a sign of rejection of all moral law, as expressed by Surah Al-Ma'un; Allah says: Did see him who gives the lie to the reward and punishment of the Hereafter?Such is the one who repulses the orphans away.
(Qur'an 107:1-2) In fact, God is depicted as the ultimate caretaker of orphans in the Qur'an.The Prophet asked believers to provide for orphans, regardless of the child's circumstances, lineage, and heritage.The Prophetic tradition asserts: "I and the person who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in Paradise like this," (putting his index and middle fingers together).(Sahih al-Bukhari, 6005) Thus, as an orphan himself, the Prophet described taking care of orphans as an important act of piety that would reap heavenly reward.Indeed, the Prophets Muhammad and Moses (peace and blessings be upon them) were orphans.
Islam is filled with teachings and direction to treat orphans well; for example, the Qur'an offers specific advice on how one should interact and live with orphan.Care of vulnerable children can thus be considered, according to Islamic Law, a 'communal obligation'.The underrepresentation of Muslims as foster cares and adopters makes it evident that, as a community, Muslims are failing in their obligation to take care of vulnerable children.

Reward of taking care of orphans in Islam:
The believers are protectors of one and other.So when we find those in need, such as the orphans, widows, old people, the needy, sick persons and vulnerable children, we strive to help them.Below are some reminders of the rewards for doing so.In the Qur'an Allah says: "And they feed, for the love of Allah, the poor, the orphan and the captive…."(Qur'an 76: 8) "They ask you as to how they will spend.Say whatever you spend of wealth, let it be for parents and kindred and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, and whatever good you do, surely Allah is the knower thereof."(Qur'an 2:215) And Prophet Muhammad (SAW) says: "I and the guardian of an orphan will be in the garden like these two" His two fingers However, almost all the existing orphanages in the zone are founded and run by individuals, NGOs' and religious organizations, both of them currently running their activities in either temporary sites or only running office activities without having contact with the orphans on daily basis nor regular occasions.

Objectives of the above listed local Orphanages:
The available foundations and local orphanages in Northern Bauchi are functioning with the following objectives: 1.To endow such children with the basic amenities of the life such as food, shelter, clothing, health and educational facilities.2. To work for the rehabilitation and recovery of the children affected by militancy, destitute children and those deserted by their parents.3. To assist the children in their overall growth and development including psycho-social and physical improvement.4. To inculcate the feeling of oneness, discipline, patriotism, and dignity among the children. 5. To encourage the inherent talent of the children and to assist them in attaining their goals.

Criteria for Admission in to the Above Listed Local Orphanages
All the orphanages have laid down certain norms and criterion for giving admission to children in the programmes of the foundations and local orphanages with minute variations.In KAPAF and Aytam foundations, age forms a major criterion for giving admission to a child which should not be less than 4 years and not more than 12 years in case of girls, besides the social and economic background of the children.Priority is given to children who have lost both parents and have nobody to look after them.
Other deserving cases are considered on merits.
The activities of these foundations and local orphanages are planned and organized according to an annual calendar framed by their managements.Every foundation has outlined various regulations regarding the visits and activities by officials and parent(s) or relatives of the children.Family members or relatives can visit institution but only after getting prior permission from the management, Miss Gadi and Malam Muhammad Nuhu lamented.

Education
Education provides an opportunity for development and growth in children that prepares them for their futures and can help them to support themselves independently.A quality education is crucial for orphan children who receive limited support in their lives and need the resources and services that school can provide to them.Education in the developing world has greatly improved since or even before the Nigeria's independence in 1960s but still has a lot of progress that must be made.Enrollment rates have increased over time through policy implementation, but the quality of education and learning that occurs in school has not advanced as quickly (Glewwe & Kremer, 2006).
Social welfare literature has provided substantial evidence that education is an important tool to combat risks associated with poverty, and has a positive impact on the life course of an individual (Awan, et al, 2011;Chaudhari & Roy, 2006;Echavarri & Ezcurra, 2010;Emerson & Sauza, 2011;Jha & Kelleher, 2006;Kishor, 1993;Tsujita, 2013) The state coordinator of the project disclosed that, the 1,320 recipient schools were spread across Zaki, Shira and Katagum LGAs from the study area of northern Bauchi and Ganjuwa and Toro LGAs from other parts of the state where each school among the beneficiaries received a cheque of 500,000 naira.
(Balarabe Alkasim Bauchi, Daily trust, Sept. 12, 2019, 6:13 am) Orphaned children have unique needs in order to have a healthy development and learning experience in school.A child without parents loses their support structure which can hinder their learning.Teachers are in the position to be a strong supporter for orphans and can help them to overcome their emotional struggles due to the traumas they have been going through (Ogina, 2010).
In Bauchi state, female children continue to be one of the most disadvantaged groups that are systematically left out of school due to fiscal constraints, safety, perceived economic returns, lack of parental supports and care amongst other reasons (UNICEF, 2009;Plan, 2013;2012).
A study by Nkamleu & Keilland (2006) suggests that male children in low-income families, as compared to male children in higher income families, are more likely to be involved in work as compared to being enrolled in school.
Orphan children achieve a much lower level of education than other children and feel a need to focus more on day to day survival than education.The need to work, lack of financial resources, need to care for younger siblings, and stigmatization from teachers and students are all reasons that orphans do not attend school (Heard, Kelly & Smart, n.d.).
In an interview with the Director of Katagum Poverty Alleviation Foundation (KAPAF) Hajiya Fatima Muhammad Gadi claims that "Schools have the opportunity to improve the lives of orphans and can provide a number of resources to these underprivileged children.Schools also helps vulnerable children to avoid the risky situations that they put themselves in to seek resources necessary for survival.Once we engaged these vulnerable children in school care and training, our society and its members will be in better life tomorrow she added.
Mustapha Muhammad, one of the key members of JIBWIS NHQ JOS Azare Orphanage Committee, claims that education prepares students to get a good job and eventually provide for themselves.The feeling of being a member of a community is good for orphan children who are otherwise alone, and School can be a normalizing factor and social opportunity that orphan children do not have elsewhere.
The Director of Aytaam Foundation Zaki, Malam Muhammad Nuhu assent that School is the ideal way for orphans to stay connected to the community, but the interaction between orphans and the community should not be limited to this.Many children's homes in this area are to be religiously based and use the morals and values of their religion to develop the character traits and emotional health of the children.
Here in Northern Bauchi, those foundations do not have a school of their own; therefore, all the children are admitted to various private and government schools.

Health
The health needs of orphans are a crucial aspect of care in children's homes due to the trauma that the children have lived through that has strongly impacted on them.
Health needs of children include physical, mental, and emotional concerns.These needs present large expenses which must be met in order to maintain the health of the children.Children's homes use a variety of strategies and methods to care for health needs of children .
Also, caregivers that have access to proper shelter, health care, food and other basic assets have greater ability to provide good quality care to their children, thereby improving the child's education and health outcomes (Foster, 2000;Foster & Williamson, 2000;Whetten et al, 2009).Hajiya Fatima Muhammad Gadi claims that issues with mental health can stem not just from the children's trauma of losing their parents and living a difficult life, but also from orphanage conditions.Children living in orphanages or foster care have more mental and developmental problems than children raised in a home with parents or adoptive parents.For example, crises in low resource communities causes even further emotional damage, children can be going through feelings of rejection, guilt, shame, anger, and abandonment through their emotional distress, she added.Instigators of many of these disabilities can be family instability, substance, sexual, and physical abuse, neglect, or high-crime neighborhoods.These disabilities can be treated through medication, group therapy, psycho-educational approaches, and morals counseling, Gadi added.Minimum standard of care was defined as providing for the realization of survival rights; some of the models examined did not meet or barely met this low benchmark.

Finances
Here in Bauchi North, the most Practiced model among orphanages is "home based care and support" where the individuals, NGOs and religious organizations used to assist and support orphans in their living environment due to lack of standard structured buildings and other deficits.
The major problem that the orphanages and care foundations in Northern Bauchi is regarding the funding.It has been noticed that the local orphanages and foundations are receiving funds from governmental organizations and local residents, the aid is both in the form of cash and kind.This aid is also not a regular feature; therefore, these institutions are completely dependent on the public donations which form major part of the total expenditure.

Staffing Structure
The staff of a children's home can be crucial to the development of orphans.These children are vulnerable and need the supportive care of a dependable adult in their life.The staff to child ratio, reliability and consistency of staff, and support that staff provides are all important considerations to be made in a children's home, but in our case in this foundation, for now we have only officials and volunteer members who agree to sacrifice their time and resources in order to help these vulnerable children wherever they are, Miss Gadi assent.
There is need for regular training, staff structure, awareness and orientation as well as child-caregiver relationship in order to meet the best needs of orphan children in our societies, Malam Muhammad Nuhu observes.

Conclusion:
The present study shows that the orphans and vulnerable children in institutional homes are vulnerable to behavioral and emotional problems.
The screening for conduct problems, emotional problems, hyperactivity, and peer problems needs to be done at a regular basis for these children.Given the scarcity of data in this regard, several multicenter studies also need to be done to get an overall comprehensive view of these problems.Among the children too, some groups are more at risk of developing these psychological problems than the others.Children and adolescents who are orphans, runaways, or abandoned by families and brought to and raised in institutional homes.This study also shows that the prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems among children brought up in institutional homes is higher as compared with similarly age group brought up by their own families.
Emotional and behavioral problems are more among orphans and other vulnerable children because they are exposed to abuse, exploitation, neglect, lack of love and care of parents.They are also more likely to be emotionally needy, insecure, and poor.In addition to these factors, most of them are brought up in institutional homes where individual care is inadequate.All these factors can socially and emotionally impair these children.It can be stated that the local orphanages in the state are working hard for the welfare and rehabilitation of the militancy affected children with their meager resources and ephemeral government assistance; they are mainly dependent on the local donations.Developmental plans have been hampered due to lack of resources.Most of these local orphanages and foundations have no schools or built premises for serving both the affected children and the surrounding population.A noticeable shortcoming is the absence of any trained staff to deal specifically with trauma affected children.Efficient management is required in the locally managed orphanages, which had been the worst sufferers of the irregular government funding and severely lacking in staff strength to look after their affairs.

Recommendations
Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are made.
1.There is need for public -private partnership for improved facilities and best practices in local orphanages in Northern Bauchi.

2 .
Orphanage directors have a difficult task of meeting the physical, emotional, and mental needs of children.Therefore, regular training and dedication are needed to fulfill their duties.3. Public and Private schools, field trips, and tutoring services are need to regularly provided to orphans to meet their educational needs.4. For physical and psychological healthcare needs, annual orphanage budget money should be allocated to either visiting a local doctor or bring the services to the home.5. Independent donors, primarily international supporters, are the main funding source for orphanages.Therefore, there is need for finding another source of funding such local orphanages.6. Staff structures should be developed, because most of staff members are usually recruited by word of mouth and receive on the job training.7. Government should open more local and standard orphanages across the state in order to stem the tide of overcrowding and congestions in the present local orphanages within the study area.
Bauchi State as one of the most affected states by the activities of Boko Haram insurgents and natural disasters like flooding as well as low patronage of enrolment of pupils in to schools, practicing orphanages in some areas of the state become a matter of necessity in order to reduce the problems faced by number of today's children.
worst home of Muslims is one wherein there is an orphan who is treated badly."(al-Adab al-Mufrad: Book 7, Hadith 137) Common practices in orphanages within Northern-Bauchi State: . Educational systems in developing countries as well as Nigeria struggle with many issues like grade repetition, leaving school early, teacher absenteeism, and less learning than the curriculum standards suggest.Schools have improved over time but as recently serious issues in the education system in Bauchi state still existed.
Caregivers are the direct source of social and financial capital that ensures proper development of a child .They are also means to transmit policies and programmes in the larger ecosystem, in order to support children attain their rights.An important part of a child's wellbeing is determined by the socioeconomic conditions in which they are born, grow and live (UNICEF, 2012).