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Fostering: being a ‘bonus parent’

Two women from the US and Moldova speak to Ella Al-Shamahi about the joy and responsibility of being a foster carer.

Millions of children globally are separated from their birth families. For many, foster care is the best option. Foster carers from Moldova and the US speak to Ella Al-Shamahi about the realities of caring for vulnerable children and why they’re pushing for change in the system.

Alina Druță is the President of Moldova Without Orphans, the Christian Alliance for Orphans Moldova and the national coordinator for child welfare at Open Gate International Moldova. She has been instrumental in introducing trust-based relational intervention to Moldova, an evidence-based approach that helps caregivers create safe and nurturing environments for children who have experienced trauma. Alina has worked with more than 70 young people over the past 12 years and is currently caring for six girls alongside her two biological children.

Whitney Jackson from the US decided to document her family's journey into fostering on YouTube with her channel Be The Village. It has grown into a community of over 100,000 subscribers. Whitney is passionate about changing the way the world sees the foster system as well as the children who are in care.

Produced by Emily Naylor and Hannah Dean

Release date:

27 minutes

On radio

Mon 3 Mar 2025 04:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Mon 3 Mar 2025 04:32GMT
  • Mon 3 Mar 2025 13:32GMT
  • Mon 3 Mar 2025 18:32GMT
  • Mon 3 Mar 2025 23:32GMT
  • Sun 9 Mar 2025 01:32GMT

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