Orphans International America - Social Workers for Orphans

Social Workers for Orphans and our our

Houseparent Development Committee

are forming and headed by

Jeff Tendean Retor, a pediatric social worker and director of

Yayasan Orphans Internationa Indonesia.

Jeff may be reached at either

[email protected] or

[email protected].

Houseparents Programs. The Houseparents Program will 1) provide foster parents for out orphans and 2) provide room, board and employment opportunities to those who are in danger of being ostracized by their communities � single mothers with children, unmarried men, etc. In rural Indonesia, is a social handicap for a woman not to be married after the age of 20; to be unwed with child is to be cut off from society. Unmarried men face the same scorn and ostracism. In Guyana, unwed men or widowed mothers are also treated less than equally, especially in the East Indian communities. Here, because of the traditional male role in economics and religion, and since the ethnic identify is expressed though religious identify, an absent father is extremely detrimental to the family.

The houseparents will serve as what the Japanese refer to as kyoiku-mamas, meaning houseparents who push their children to achieve academically. The houseparents are expected to work closely with the teachers, through the American-styled �Houseparents-Teachers Association� (H-PTA), that will meet each Sunday afternoon when the children are involved with extra-curricular activities outside of both the homes and schools.

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