For Saint Louise de Marillac, our Foundress, caring for children was one of the most important services of the Daughters of Charity.

Her personal experience had taught her the importance of the presence of loving, caring people in the lives of children, especially those who are orphaned, abandoned or victims of parental separation. Children need attention, care and guidance to grow up healthy and to develop. Indeed, emotional deficiencies in childhood have lifelong consequences.

In many places, children no longer have the right to a childhood. Because they have no parents or live in poverty, they have to work and are often exploited by those who should respect and help them. Children, sometimes very young ones, become violent and take drugs because they often do not have access to other opportunities. For this reason, and because they are the weakest in society, they must be our priority.

We contribute to children’s well-being in a number of ways:

• Nursery and elementary schools
• Child-minding, adoption assistance and the search for foster families
• Programs to combat malnutrition
• Parenting and family support programs