Alex Sam, a social work professional, researcher, trainer
and humanitarian, has presented his research paper, “Orphan Care Versus
Family Care: An Ideological Study on Children in Orphanages and Foster Care vs
Children in Families,” at the 7th Global Conference on Children and
Youth, held from August 20 to 22, 2026, in Oxford, United Kingdom. The
research presentation places a strong emphasis on the importance of
family-based care and the need to create societies where every child can
experience the security, belonging and emotional support associated with family
life.
The presentation explores a fundamental question surrounding
child welfare: Where do children truly belong and thrive? Through
literary, historical, sociological and ideological analysis, Alex Sam examines
different models of care for children, including traditional family care,
foster care, orphanages and institutional care.
Rather than viewing orphanages and institutions as the
natural long-term solution for children without parental care, the research
encourages a broader discussion about the importance of family environments. It
argues for a child welfare approach in which society works toward ensuring that
children grow up in safe, nurturing and supportive families wherever possible.
The research draws on representations of orphanhood and
childhood in classical, Victorian and contemporary literature. Characters such
as Oliver Twist, Jane Eyre, Huckleberry Finn and Harry Potter provide important
literary examples through which the study examines how society understands
children who grow up without stable family environments. These narratives have
historically influenced public perceptions of orphanhood, institutional care,
vulnerability and resilience.
A central theme of Alex Sam’s research is that children
need more than physical care. They also need emotional security, stable
relationships, belonging, identity and a sense of permanence. While
institutional settings may provide shelter, education and basic necessities,
the research highlights the significance of relational and family-based
environments in a child’s overall development.
The presentation therefore calls for a shift in the way
society approaches children who cannot remain with their biological parents.
Instead of making institutional care the default response, child welfare
systems can explore family-based alternatives such as safe reunification,
kinship care, foster care and adoption, wherever appropriate and in accordance
with child protection principles.
The broader message of the research is not simply a
comparison between orphanages and families. It is a call to rethink the systems
and ideologies surrounding vulnerable children. Alex Sam emphasizes the
importance of building communities in which every child has the opportunity to
experience family, belonging and long-term care.
His own professional experience has given him a particularly
strong connection to the subject. Having experienced institutional care during
his childhood and later facing homelessness and extreme adversity, Alex Sam has
witnessed firsthand the challenges that vulnerable children can encounter. His
personal journey eventually led him toward education, social work, research and
child welfare.
He completed a Bachelor of Business Administration and a
Master of Social Work and is currently pursuing a PhD in Social Work. His
professional experience includes child welfare, education, leadership
development, community empowerment and organizational development. He has also
worked for years in areas connected with ethical adoption and child protection.
His research at the Oxford conference represents an
important extension of this professional journey. By bringing together personal
experience, academic study and field-level understanding, Alex Sam is
contributing to a wider conversation about how societies can create better
environments for children.
The research also emphasizes that changing the child welfare
system requires collective responsibility. Families, communities, governments,
social workers, educators and child protection organizations all have a role to
play in creating systems that prioritize children's long-term wellbeing rather
than simply addressing immediate needs.
For Alex Sam, the objective is clear: society should
aspire to build a future where children do not merely receive care, but
experience family. Every child deserves an environment where they can
develop meaningful relationships, feel secure and grow with dignity and hope.
Presenting this research at the 7th Global Conference on
Children and Youth in Oxford marks another significant step in Alex Sam’s
continuing work as a researcher and social development professional. His
presentation brings attention to an important global child welfare discussion
and reinforces the idea that the future of child protection should be centered
on belonging, family and the best interests of every child.
Through research, advocacy and professional engagement, Alex
Sam continues to contribute to the vision of a society where institutional care
is not seen as the only answer for vulnerable children, and where every
possible effort is made to help children experience the stability, love and
belonging of a family.
Visit:
Website: https://tpmap.org/submission/index.php/tpm/article/view/3256
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