Responsible Volunteering: Making Ethical Choices

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id="block-bcn-classy-breadcrumbs" class="block block-system block-system-breadcrumb-block"> <nav class="breadcrumb" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="system-breadcrumb"> <h2 id="system-breadcrumb" class="visually-hidden">Breadcrumb</h2> <ol> <li> <a href="/rethinkorphanages/about">About ReThink Orphanages</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </div> </div> </div> <div class="highlighted"> <div class="region region-highlighted"> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> </div> </div> <a id="main-content"></a> <div class="region region-content"> <div id="block-bcn-classy-page-title" class="block block-core block-page-title-block"> <h1 class="page-title"><span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Responsible Volunteering: Making Ethical Choices</span> </h1> </div> <div id="block-bcn-classy-bettercarenetwork-system-main" class="block block-system block-system-main-block"> <article about="/rethinkorphanages/responsiblevolunteering-making-ethical-choices" class="node node--type-resource node--view-mode-full"> <div class="node__content"> <div class="layout layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--75-25"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--first"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknoderesourcebody"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h2><span class="r_orange">Volunteer checklist for responsible volunteering abroad</span><br>  </h2> <p>When you’re looking for a volunteering placement abroad you can quickly feel completely overwhelmed by the thousands which are available to choose from! How are you supposed to tell which ones are responsible and ethical and which one’s aren’t? We’ve put together a handy checklist that will help you when deciding which overseas volunteering experience you wish to give your time and money.</p> <h2><span class="r_orange">Things to look for in a volunteer sending organisation</span></h2> <h3><span class="r_orange">Track record</span></h3> <p>The best way to understand how impactful an organisation is, is to check for evidence of past achievements. When checking out an organisation’s website, look for information on how they monitor and evaluate their work. How do they know what they’re doing is working and not causing more harm than good? What do the local community have to say about the project? How do their findings inform future projects? You want to look for an organisation that understands that making change is hard and takes time, and so takes monitoring and evaluation seriously!</p> <h3><span class="r_orange">Integrity</span></h3> <p>Unfortunately, lots of organisations use words like ‘ethical’ and ‘responsible’ on their websites when describing their work, but this doesn’t always mean the trips they run are actually either of these things. When looking at organisations to volunteer with, why not begin by seeing if they offer orphanage volunteering placements? If they do, you can quickly rule them out, as we know that <a href="https://bettercarenetwork.org/rethinkorphanages/problem-with-visiting-volunteering-in-orphanages" title="Orphanage Volunteering: Can I volunteer at an orphanage abroad?">volunteering in an orphanage</a> is extremely harmful and definitely not responsible! The good news is there are <a href="https://bettercarenetwork.org/rethinkorphanages/travel-companies-do-not-support-orphanage-tourism" title="Travel companies that do not support orphanage tourism">lots of organisations</a> who no longer offer orphanage volunteering projects altogether. </p> <h3><span class="r_orange">Accountability</span></h3> <p>A key question to ask yourself when searching for a responsible volunteering program abroad is who is accountable for the design, running and evaluation of the project, as well as volunteer and community member safety? Sometimes organisations recruit volunteers to take part in their own trips, but other times organisations act as a ‘broker’ and don’t actually have much to do with the program itself. Work out all the stakeholders involved in any program before agreeing to participate so you can feel confident that they are all acting responsibly.</p> <h3><span class="r_orange">Selectivity</span></h3> <p>Volunteering, by its very definition, is something you do for free, but this shouldn’t mean that you aren’t vetted in one way or another to ensure your suitability for the program. Any responsible volunteering initiative will include an application process where you might have to complete a form telling the organisation a bit more about you, or attend an in-person or Skype interview. You should also expect to receive what’s known as pre-departure training and support, where you will find out more about your program and the best ways to prepare.</p> <h3><span class="r_orange">Credibility</span></h3> <p>When looking at overseas volunteering opportunities you will probably come across lots of extremely emotive language, like ‘save the world’, ‘make a child smile’, or ‘help end suffering’. Although good at recruiting volunteers, this type of language does not indicate a responsible volunteering placement abroad. When looking at organisations one of the first things you can assess is how they are representing the individuals and communities they work with through images and written text. You want to avoid any organisation that oversimplifies poverty and inequality, or makes volunteering look too much like a vacation. Instead look for an emphasis on equal partnership with local people. </p> <h2><span class="r_orange">Things to look for in a volunteer program</span></h2> <h3><span class="r_orange">The ‘need'</span></h3> <p>Any ‘need’ that a project is intended to address should be identified by the local community before it is designed. When researching, feel free to reach out to organisations directly to ask them how the project you are interested in first came about. Also, remember that volunteers should never be taking the jobs of local, skilled people e.g. building projects. Look for opportunities that work with volunteers to help meet a short-term skills gap within a local community. Responsible initiatives should add to existing capacity within the community or enhance local projects already happening and not replace them.</p> <h3><span class="r_orange">Sustainability</span></h3> <p>A sustainable project doesn’t create a long-term dependency on volunteers, meaning that it doesn’t require volunteers forever in order to continue. For example, instead of teaching basketball to children directly, international volunteers could teach local volunteers how to play in order that they could carry on supporting the sport locally even when the volunteer project has officially finished. To check a project is responsible, ask to know when the expected end-date of the project is and what the organisation’s exit strategy is.</p> <h2><span class="r_orange">Things to look for in yourself</span></h2> <h3><span class="r_orange">Skills match</span></h3> <p>When considering the sort of volunteering project you might be best suited for, have a think about what skills you have that you could share. Are you any good at marketing or copywriting? How about data collection or computer programming? A dab hand with a camera? Can you speak a different language? These are all great skills and would be really useful to lots of different organisations around the world! When you have a list of your skills then google specifically, looking for a project where you’ll be able to really bring benefits.</p> <h3><span class="r_orange">Suitably qualified</span></h3> <p>To be a responsible volunteer one of the most important things to bear in mind is that you are qualified or skilled enough for the role that you will be taking on. A quick way to think about this is by asking yourself whether you would be allowed to participate in that type of volunteering project in your own country. If the answer is no then it’s unlikely to be a responsible project to do abroad. If you’re unsure what a project will require of you in terms of qualifications or skills, then ask to see a role description.</p> <h3><span class="r_orange">Learning opportunity</span></h3> <p>One of the biggest things you can bring as a responsible volunteer is an openness and willingness to learn. You are almost guaranteed to benefit more from your volunteering project than the community you are trying to help, so make sure you go with a humble attitude. You are not a ‘customer’, but a volunteer and so should approach the project with curiosity and respect. Look for a project which emphasises the opportunities for learning and think through how you can apply what you’ve learnt when you return home.</p> <h2><span class="r_orange">How much should I pay to volunteer abroad?</span></h2> <p>Volunteering overseas trips are rarely cheap or free to volunteers because they cost money to run. For example, organisations have to cover the cost of things like volunteer accommodation and food, any training and support offered, all the logistics of the project itself, as well as the salaries of any paid staff members. The more expensive the project is to run, the more expensive the program is likely to be.</p> <p>There is a common misconception that the more you pay to volunteer abroad the more ethical or responsible the project is. Unfortunately, this simply isn’t true. When assessing if the project you want to volunteer on is responsible, consider asking the organisation for a breakdown of how your program fee is spent. Ideally the majority of the placement cost should go towards the community or the direct running of the project.</p> <h2><span class="r_orange">How long should I spend volunteering abroad?</span></h2> <p>As the conversation around responsible volunteering abroad has become more mainstream, a commonly held belief has developed that if you volunteer for a long period of time there is less chance of you doing harm. Although it’s true that extremely short-term projects (2 weeks or less) are unlikely to make much - if any - real impact, volunteering for months or years on an unethical project is still going to result in you doing harm. For example, if you’re considering <a href="https://bettercarenetwork.org/rethinkorphanages/problem-with-visiting-volunteering-in-orphanages" title="Orphanage Volunteering: Can I volunteer at an orphanage abroad?">volunteering in an orphanage</a> it makes no difference if you are there 2 hours or 2 years it is still damaging to the children involved.</p> <h2><span class="r_orange">More information</span></h2> <p>If you’re keen to find out more information about responsible volunteering abroad, check out our volunteer testimonials and the below list of awesome sites:</p> <ul> <li><a data-extlink href="http://learningservice.info/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Learning Service</a></li> <li><a data-extlink href="https://compact.org/global-sl/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">GlobalSL</a></li> <li><a data-extlink href="https://www.wearelumos.org/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Lumos</a></li> </ul> <p>You might also like to take a look at the <a href="https://bettercarenetwork.org/rethinkorphanages/travel-companies-do-not-support-orphanage-tourism" title="Travel companies that do not support orphanage tourism">organisations that don't support orphanage tourism</a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region layout__region--second"> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknoderesourcefield-attachment-thumbnail"> <div class="field field--name-field-attachment-thumbnail field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-10/rologo-small.png?itok=B07Wjci8" width="300" height="71" alt="ReThink Orphanages" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-large" /> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </section> </main> <footer class="footer container" role="contentinfo"> <div class="top-footer-columns container"> <footer id="footer" class="region region-footer"> <div id="block-footerlogo" class="block block-block-content block-block-content71d7dc84-80c4-4cbe-a2ca-c75154c690e2"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="/" id="footer-logo">Home</a></p> </div> </div> </footer> <div class="region region-footer-2"> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-footer-menu" id="block-footer" class="block block-menu navigation menu--footer"> <h2 class="visually-hidden" id="block-footer-menu">Footer</h2> <ul class="menu"> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="/newsletter-sign" class="link-chevron-right" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2350">Subscribe to the Newsletter</a> </li> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="/contact-us" class="link-chevron-right" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/238">Contact Us</a> </li> <li class="inline menu-item"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bettercarenetwork/" class="icon facebook notext">BCN Facebook</a> </li> <li class="inline menu-item"> <a href="https://twitter.com/BetterCareNet" class="icon twitter notext">BCN Twitter</a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="bottom-footer-columns container"> <div class="region region-footer-bottom"> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-footermenu-menu" id="block-footermenu" class="block block-menu navigation menu--menu-footer-menu"> <h2 class="visually-hidden" id="block-footermenu-menu">Footer menu</h2> <ul class="menu"> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="/privacy" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/248">Privacy</a> </li> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="/terms-conditions" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/250">Terms & Conditions</a> </li> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="/acknowledgments-credits" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/3156">Credits</a> </li> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="https://bettercarenetwork.org/toolkit/glossary-of-key-terms">Glossary of Key Terms</a> </li> <li class="menu-item"> <a href="/user/login" data-drupal-link-system-path="user/login">Log in</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div id="block-footercopyright" class="block block-block-content block-block-content68d12e46-8551-469a-8bd8-3082706a172e"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p class="text-align-justify">Copyright ©2024 Better Care Network. 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data-drupal-link-system-path="node/356">Children with Disabilities</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_b3edec4-fad8-4723-be43-0e4c1b50bc34 menu-name--menu-landing-page-menu"> <a href="/library/particular-threats-to-childrens-care-and-protection/child-abuse-and-neglect" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/357">Child Abuse and Neglect</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--e519b5e3-de90-4915-9417-86bf797ad8ef menu-name--menu-landing-page-menu"> <a href="/library/particular-threats-to-childrens-care-and-protection/child-exploitation" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/358">Child Exploitation</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_c0742d1-ec3a-4955-a0fa-028cb504dc0d menu-name--menu-landing-page-menu"> <a href="/library/particular-threats-to-childrens-care-and-protection/children-affected-by-poverty-and-social-exclusion" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1761">Children Affected by Poverty and Social Exclusion</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--bf2dc074-ad0e-42ec-86be-b7f361ec55bc menu-name--menu-landing-page-menu"> <a href="/library/particular-threats-to-childrens-care-and-protection/children-and-migration" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1762">Children and Migration</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_ac14262-d382-4dbc-8884-bf56af159a3e menu-name--menu-landing-page-menu"> <a href="/library/particular-threats-to-childrens-care-and-protection/volunteering-and-tourism" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/10698">Volunteering and Tourism</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item--b7b26a1e-dd71-4c83-baf2-60fe28103131 menu-name--menu-landing-page-menu"> <a href="/library/separated-children-in-an-emergency/registration-documentation-and-tracing" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/360">Registration, Documentation and Tracing</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_41c0cb2-e788-4e41-8b42-f614895c3754 menu-name--menu-landing-page-menu"> <a href="/library/separated-children-in-an-emergency/emergency-care-arrangements" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/361">Emergency Care Arrangements</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item--_d4c2590-212b-485c-9f0a-a17a5057b329 menu-name--menu-landing-page-menu"> <a href="/practitioner-library" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/10504">Practitioner Hub</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_a76b936-85bc-4c23-b5e0-60ea760fee41 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/237">About BCN</a> <ul> <li class="menu-item--eb73068a-9992-456e-aab0-a06c1ee05d9a menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/history-and-mission" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/278">History and Mission</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--eb5c7e15-0fac-42af-9479-e5f518e03107 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/secretariat" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/279">Our Team</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_691f0e2-ff28-48b2-9b0d-17f780035218 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/advisory-board" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/280">Advisory Board</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_42dd730-e317-4449-b2e6-06518fc826ea menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/advisory-group" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/281">Advisory Group</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--b04b7789-4ad7-4699-976f-dcd25b3d7229 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/233">What We Do</a> <ul> <li class="menu-item--_cff22d9-c6b0-45ee-a352-ba00536929d0 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/technical-guidance" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/287">Technical Guidance</a> <ul> <li class="menu-item--_16639a7-fb9f-4333-813c-82c1059f7eb0 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/technical-guidance/thematic-working-paper-series" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2111">Thematic Working Paper Series</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_1a1d135-93b7-41cf-ba88-4db44e6a3fff menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/country-care-profiles" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/3159">Country Care Profiles</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--eb4b770e-f63f-4d3e-974b-bb6938f7966a menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/technical-guidance/formal-care-indicators" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/290">Formal Care Indicators</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_ebdd6a0-b648-42c7-b9ac-be19cfb12745 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/technical-guidance/practitioner-learning-video-series" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/13891">Practitioner Learning Video Series</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item--_df6d78c-be00-403a-8048-507b15150139 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/284">Key Initiatives</a> <ul> <li class="menu-item--_84902ee-27e1-4c7e-99c0-4204fa431201 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/un-advocacy" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/7027">UN Advocacy</a> <ul> <li class="menu-item--_7e24fcf-598b-44b9-8a29-8a64b0115c2d menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/un-advocacy/a-goal-and-targets-on-child-protection-for-the-post-2015-framework" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2105">Child Protection in Post-2015 Framework</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_cad3dce-a36f-4743-ba2f-95440c7a8c84 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/un-advocacy/new-york-working-group-on-children-without-parental-care" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2103">New York Working Group</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_519b00e-5faa-43cf-b64e-78a4e42205cb menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/un-advocacy/crc-day-of-general-discussion-dgd-2021" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/13170">CRC Day of General Discussion (DGD) 2021</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_a485dbd-0d5d-4146-9df6-b2f0941ffa13 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/un-advocacy/2019-unga-resolution-on-the-rights-of-the-child" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/10838">2019 UNGA Advocacy</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item--fbedf12c-604a-4159-8845-434808524aac menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/transforming-children%E2%80%99s-care-global-collaborative-platform" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/12811">Transforming Children’s Care Collaborative</a> <ul> <li class="menu-item--fa171e56-a1b7-4e34-81de-1e4e5a01afe4 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/care-leaders-council" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/16968">Care Leaders Council</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item--d3f2a1c5-16f4-41e8-a184-f66e74e88dfa menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/implementation-of-the-guidelines" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6864">Implementation of the Guidelines</a> <ul> <li class="menu-item--b847d368-3aac-462d-abb5-fb89df5c2116 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/bcn-in-action/key-initiatives/implementation-of-the-guidelines/moving-forward-handbook" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2106">Moving Forward Handbook</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_dbf6459-1634-4700-bf40-96aa09e0eef3 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/bcn-in-action/key-initiatives/implementation-of-the-guidelines/tracking-progress-initiative" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6230">Tracking Progress Initiative</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_07f7a8f-8dc2-4702-86c5-5931f377b5e5 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/bcn-in-action/key-initiatives/implementation-of-the-guidelines/getting-care-right-for-all-children-mooc" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6889">Getting Care Right for All Children MOOC</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item--_d5e7243-d0e7-4032-aeb3-fd3000a05fbf menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/rethink-orphanages" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2113">ReThink Orphanages</a> <ul> <li class="menu-item--_16146a9-7d85-46e6-abf6-ff5380a2df5f menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/bcn-in-action/key-initiatives/rethink-orphanages/structure" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2822">Structure</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--eb5e0c01-8081-4dfd-bb64-7a718681e924 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/bcn-in-action/key-initiatives/rethink-orphanages/history-and-rationale" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2820">History and Rationale</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_e1e8a54-733a-496e-b220-25e2ba339518 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/the-love-you-give-campaign" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6229">Reduce Orphanage Volunteering Campaign</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_09515a1-7ed3-4370-a1c5-e98ee9e01728 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/bcn-in-action/key-initiatives/rethink-orphanages/tourism-and-volunteering-sector-engagement" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/8927">Tourism and Volunteering Sector Engagement</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--ca47531c-c9bd-4985-b523-070b96ad2d45 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/bcn-in-action/key-initiatives/rethink-orphanages/advocacy-and-outputs" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2821">Advocacy and Outputs</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_3ce4820-3941-4e6d-89ef-347cee43edd5 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/bcn-in-action/key-initiatives/rethink-orphanages/latest-news" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2824">Latest News</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--de7b5753-c4d6-4b70-bee8-0f230a320055 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/bcn-in-action/key-initiatives/rethink-orphanages/resources" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2825">Resources</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--f635684b-0e90-4024-8032-9b2a7103dba6 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/bcn-in-action/key-initiatives/rethink-orphanages/videos-and-documentaries" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2823">Videos and Documentaries</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item--e908ded7-8204-4797-bbd4-c76b2c0ef4de menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/eastern-and-southern-africa-regional-initiative" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2355">Eastern and Southern Africa Initiative</a> <ul> <li class="menu-item--_2d10453-a6fd-4a64-b05a-166881fb61d7 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/bcn-in-action/key-initiatives/care-to-practice/interviews" data-drupal-link-system-path="bcn-in-action/key-initiatives/care-to-practice/interviews">Interviews</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item--_1e6002d-63ff-4f5b-b647-91f53393fa50 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/getting-the-evidence-to-support-better-care" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6945">Getting the Evidence to Support Better Care</a> <ul> <li class="menu-item--db7e2926-b180-4a3b-8b0e-adcaef6f1f1a menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/getting-the-evidence-to-support-better-care/all-children-count-but-not-all-children-are-counted" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6862">All Children Count But Not All Children Are Counted</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_3b0478b-b4bd-4d4b-8f84-b4cc0a382b57 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/getting-the-evidence-to-support-better-care/childrens-care-research-initiative" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/3157">Children's Care Research Initiative</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_6ce29d3-3f00-41c3-8f68-9169d577e45f menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/getting-the-evidence-to-support-better-care/symposium-on-the-state-of-the-evidence-on-children%E2%80%99s-care" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2224">The State of the Evidence Symposium</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_23d9383-833c-4ae8-98a6-32bfd0b1f096 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/getting-the-evidence-to-support-better-care/strengthening-global-data-on-childrens-care" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/7025">Strengthening Global Data</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_9ba84ee-401b-440a-b4db-e76da765ba2e menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/getting-the-evidence-to-support-better-care/country-care-snapshots" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/13746">Country Care Snapshots</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item--bc12cd5b-d7d4-4875-88b1-63205a306293 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/violence-against-children-and-care" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6865">Violence Against Children and Care</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_c1979f8-14fd-45a4-928b-9c87ca34b364 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/faith-to-action-initiative" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/6863">Faith to Action Initiative</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--c3e3a8a9-86c9-49bb-bba6-d56723824469 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/regional-international-conferences" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/7028">Regional & International Conferences</a> <ul> <li class="menu-item--_f335b94-b734-40b9-adbb-c9a0a71a73f1 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/regional-international-conferences/conference-on-family-strengthening" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2107">Conference on Family Strengthening</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_8605734-317d-45be-b718-7e399a55eb4c menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/bcn-in-action/key-initiatives/regional-international-conferences/african-conference-on-family-based-care-for-children" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2109">African Conference on Family-Based Care</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--ee238bdc-b84f-4f8b-a921-fa7e72986353 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/what-we-do/key-initiatives/regional-international-conferences/wilton-park-conference-the-neglected-agenda-protecting-children-without-adequate-parental-care" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2110">Wilton Park Conference</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item--a8beb981-77c0-432b-af50-d59b75a63bde menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/about-bcn/faqs" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/10324">FAQs</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--ab769a91-3989-46d2-936a-b0161b92e16d menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/contact-us" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/238">Contact</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item--_f44fdfa-13af-4506-b3d8-2910537fa410 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/news-updates" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1765">News & Updates</a> <ul> <li class="menu-item--_7ecfdd0-4828-4c1d-97db-9f3fd67a202f menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/news-updates/jobs-opportunities" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1768">Opportunities</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_cb72a1a-8b3e-48b5-81ec-cac2dd0b76bd menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/news-updates/news" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1773">News</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_2f763c7-447c-4392-8ec3-730f0313ac05 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/news-updates/events" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1775">Events</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_7ddc592-0825-448e-b92b-d63b509106d8 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="/news-updates/newsletter" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1784">Newsletter</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-item--c7972e26-dba2-4b44-83bb-afdf1508fbbb menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="https://twitter.com/BetterCareNet" class="twitter-icon social-link" target="_blank">BCN Twitter</a> </li> <li class="menu-item--_a462c69-adc1-4013-b906-277b50faf8b4 menu-name--menu-doormat-menu"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bettercarenetwork/" class="facebook-icon social-link" 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