Ideas worth spreading

Why we need to end the era of orphanages

1,221,363 views | Tara Winkler • TEDxSydney

Could it be wrong to help children in need by starting an orphanage? In this eye-opening talk about the bad consequences of good intentions, Tara Winkler speaks out against the spread of orphanages in developing countries, caused in part by foreign donors, and details the harm done to children when they are separated from their families and left to grow up in institutions.

Could it be wrong to help children in need by starting an orphanage? In this eye-opening talk about the bad consequences of good intentions, Tara Winkler speaks out against the spread of orphanages in developing countries, caused in part by foreign donors, and details the harm done to children when they are separated from their families and left to grow up in institutions.

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxSydney, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Be a part of the solution. Donate to the Cambodian Children's Trust to help ensure that children can escape poverty while growing up safe and healthy in families, where they belong.

Instead of orphanage tourism, participate in advocacy tourism. Visit the Cambodian Children's Trust, participate in a workshop, learn how to be an advocate and raise much-needed awareness about the global orphanage crisis.

About the speaker

Tara Winkler

Child protection leader, activist, author

See speaker profile

Tara Winkler helps vulnerable children escape poverty and be cared for within their families.

Tara Winkler | Allen & Unwin, 2016 | Book

How (Not) to Start an Orphanage: By a Woman Who Did

Cambodian Children's Trust | SoundCloud | Listen

Cambodian Children's Trust and Forget Me Not give evidence to Australia's modern slavery Inquiry

Listen to the audio from the Australian Parliamentary Inquiry into Modern Slavery, with Tara Winkler, Sinet Chan (Ambassador of Cambodian Children's Trust) and Andrea Nave (CEO of Forget Me Not Australia) urging the Australian government to introduce a total ban on orphanage tourism in Australia.

| Explore

ReThink Orphanages Network

ReThink Orphanages Network offers fact sheets, research papers, media articles and other informative resources.

Learn more

About TEDx

TEDx was created in the spirit of TED's mission, "ideas worth spreading." It supports independent organizers who want to create a TED-like event in their own community.

Find a TEDx event near you

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxSydney, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Be a part of the solution. Donate to the Cambodian Children's Trust to help ensure that children can escape poverty while growing up safe and healthy in families, where they belong.

Instead of orphanage tourism, participate in advocacy tourism. Visit the Cambodian Children's Trust, participate in a workshop, learn how to be an advocate and raise much-needed awareness about the global orphanage crisis.