Family Reconciliation Program
We firmly believe children should abandon street life and return home when possible. Through patient trust-building and careful family work, we've successfully reunited 50+ children with their families, with 85% remaining stable after 12 months of follow-up support.
Understanding Why Children Leave
From our experience, most children run away from home due to specific, addressable issues. Understanding these root causes is essential to successful reconciliation.
Broken Marriages
Family instability due to parental conflicts, divorce, or separation leaves children feeling insecure and unwanted.
Feeling Unwanted
Children who feel uncared for or unloved at home may seek belonging and acceptance elsewhere.
Financial Hardship
Economic struggles at home create stress and may lead children to seek independence prematurely.
Peer Pressure
Influence from friends or other street children can make street life seem appealing or necessary.
Misconceived Freedom
Young people may believe street life offers independence and freedom from rules and responsibilities.
Specific Incidents
Sometimes children run away after specific events like stealing from home or employers, creating shame and fear.
The Reality of Street Life
Street life is never the solution. It exposes children to tremendous dangers including violence, exploitation, substance abuse, criminal activities, and severe health risks. What appears as 'freedom' is actually a dangerous trap that robs children of their childhood, education, and future opportunities.
Our Patient, Trust-Building Approach
Our goal aligns with transforming minds. We take time to gain trust and help children realize the need for home, the fleeting nature of street 'freedom', and the importance of education.
Building Trust First
We are not in a hurry to zoom them off the streets. Instead, we invest time to make them know they are seen, loved, and capable of much more than they might believe about themselves.
Patient Listening
When children finally open up and tell us about their homes, we proceed only with their permission. We respect their pace and readiness to share their stories and consider reconciliation.
Mind Transformation
We help children understand the reality of street life versus the security of home, the value of education, and the opportunities that come with learning a trade.
Careful Family Contact
With the child's permission, we contact their parents and take time to relate with them, ensuring it's safe to proceed and that parents understand what may need to change.
Safety Assessment
We thoroughly assess family situations to ensure child safety. In cases where it's not safe to return home, we follow due diligence in getting appropriate authorities involved.
Ongoing Support
Some children who reconcile with parents may still need shelter homes temporarily. We provide continued support to ensure successful long-term reunification.
Our Core Philosophy
"We firmly desire that children and teenagers on the street should abandon street life and be reconciled to their families when possible. Our goal with reconciliation aligns with our broader goal of transforming the minds of these children."
Real Reconciliation Stories
Every family's journey is different. Here are examples of the various situations we encounter and how our approach adapts to each unique circumstance.
Family A: Forgotten Love
Situation: Child felt unloved after parents became busy with work and new baby.
Reality: Parents were overwhelmed but still loved their child deeply.
Our Approach: Facilitated honest conversations about feelings and needs.
Outcome: Quick reconciliation with family implementing better communication patterns.
This case shows how misunderstandings can be resolved when both sides are willing to listen and change.
Family B: Theft and Fear
Situation: Child stole from employer and ran away out of shame and fear.
Challenge: Child afraid to face consequences, parents disappointed but worried.
Our Approach: Helped child understand forgiveness, mediated with family and employer.
Outcome: Gradual reconciliation with restitution plan and family counseling support.
Shame and guilt can be overcome when families work together toward healing and making things right.
Family C: Onitsha to Lagos
Situation: Child left Onitsha and came to Lagos, father searching for months.
Challenge: Coordinating across states, understanding why child traveled so far.
Our Approach: Careful verification, gradual trust-building, coordinated travel arrangements.
Outcome: Successful reunification with father, ongoing follow-up support across distance.
Distance is no barrier to love. We coordinate across states to reunite families when it's safe and appropriate.
Family D: When Home Isn't Safe
Situation: Child fled home due to abuse, family denying allegations.
Our Response: Thorough safety assessment, police involvement, protective services contacted.
Current Status: Child in protective care, family receiving counseling, situation being monitored.
Priority: Child safety above all else, with professional intervention and legal support.
Safety always comes first. When reconciliation isn't safe, we ensure proper authorities are involved.
Family E: Reconciled but Supported
Situation: Child reconciled with parents but needs continued stability.
Solution: Child remains in shelter home while maintaining family relationships.
Benefits: Stable environment for education while family bonds strengthen.
Progress: Regular family visits, gradual transition planning, ongoing counseling support.
Reconciliation doesn't always mean immediate return. Sometimes gradual transition with support works best.
Family F: Changing Dynamics
Situation: Broken marriage left child feeling caught in the middle.
Challenge: Both parents wanted child back but continued fighting.
Our Approach: Extensive counseling with all parties, setting ground rules for child's wellbeing.
Outcome: Child placed with more stable parent, structured visitation with other parent established.
Sometimes families need restructuring. We help find the arrangement that serves the child's best interests.
Our Commitment to Every Family
Whether it's a simple misunderstanding, a complex family crisis, or a safety concern requiring legal intervention, we approach each situation with patience, wisdom, and the child's best interests at heart. Our 85% success rate reflects not rushing the process, but taking the time needed to build lasting family stability.
Safety Protocols & Legal Framework
Child safety is our highest priority. We work within proper legal frameworks and follow strict protocols to protect every child in our care.
When Home Isn't Safe
In some very few cases, it is not safe for a child to return home. When we encounter situations involving abuse, neglect, or other safety concerns, we take immediate action.
- Thorough safety assessments are conducted
- Police are notified following due diligence
- Child protective services are engaged
- Legal advocacy and support are provided
Reconciled but Still Supported
We have some students in shelter homes who have reconciled with their parents but still need continued support for their education and stability.
- Ongoing family relationship building
- Educational continuity in stable environment
- Gradual transition planning
- Regular family counseling sessions
Our Assessment Process
Every potential reconciliation goes through a careful assessment to ensure the child's safety and the family's readiness for reunion.
Success Story: Destiny Ocheli
"You helped me when I needed it most... made sure I was reunited with my family, bringing closure and joy to both me and my parents."
Reunited after 18 months on streets • 12-month follow-up completed • Now thriving in stable family environment
What Makes Reconciliation Possible
Family reconciliation isn't about costs—it's about investing time, building trust, and providing the human support that makes healing possible. Here's what goes into every successful reunion.
Time & Patience
Months or sometimes years of building trust with children who have lost faith in family bonds. No rushing, no pressure—just consistent presence and care.
Emotional Support
Helping children process trauma, shame, fear, and complex emotions while showing them they are loved and capable of much more than they believe.
Family Counseling
Working with parents to understand what needs to change, addressing underlying issues, and preparing families for successful reunion.
Communication & Travel
Phone calls to locate families, sometimes across states. Transportation for family visits, reunions, and ongoing follow-up support.
Safety Assessment
Thorough investigation to ensure child safety, involving authorities when necessary, and ongoing monitoring for 12 months post-reunion.
Long-term Commitment
Twelve months of follow-up visits, ongoing counseling support, and sometimes continued shelter care while family relationships strengthen.
The True Investment
Family reconciliation isn't measured in costs—it's measured in transformed lives, healed relationships, and children who rediscover the security of home. Your support enables our team to invest the time, care, and resources needed for each unique family's journey toward reunion and stability.
Help Heal a Family Today
Every child deserves the love and security of family. Your support makes reunification possible and helps families stay together for the long term.
Questions? Contact us to learn more about our family reconciliation program.