Providing one-on-one attention, care, and play to the world’s most vulnerable of children.
Without loving human interaction, children living in orphanages can lose one month of linear growth for every three months they spend in institutionalized care.
Spence-Chapin created the Granny Program in 1998 to address this problem and improve the lives of vulnerable children around the world. The Program brings loving caregivers, or “Grannies,” to help the children they work with overcome significant developmental delays, learn what it is to trust and love, and receive the attention and care they deserve.
Spence-Chapin is currently running Granny Programs in South Africa, Colombia and now Ghana.
The Granny Program is only able to operate and expand through the generosity of our supporters.
Giving a child a trusted adult and attachment figure leads to startling improvements in development and attachment
Children who could not sit on their own are soon rolling over and crawling
Little ones who were previously withdrawn emotionally now raise their arms to be picked up when their Grannies arrive for the day
The Grannies also benefit! They receive additional financial support to help their families and a renewed sense of purpose bonding with the children they serve and giving back to their communities
Spence-Chapin has created three branch initiatives through the Granny Program. These ethical programs work to enrich the journeys of children who are often missing personal identity, valuable resources, and opportunities for the future.
In 2019, Spence-Chapin launched Project Play as a complement to the Granny Program to address the critical role of play in children’s lives.
Project Play allows Spence-Chapin to build playgrounds at children’s orphanages with state-of-the-art equipment and stations with much-needed play space to engage in sensory, creative, active, and group play.
It also supplies birthday and holiday gifts and celebrations for children who so often never receive recognition on these special days.
Because of Project Play, brand new playgrounds have finished being built at half of the orphanages where The Granny Program currently operates.
The Step Up initiative within the Granny Program allocates funding for each child to go shopping and select their own new pair of shoes.
By giving children in institutionalized care the precious gift of choice and allowing them to hand-pick their own shoes, Step Up increases the children’s confidence and sense of self.
In 2022, we created THRIVE, a program designed to equip young adults in the program with
Mentors offer one-on-one guidance in academic, educational, and leadership pursuits, preparing mentees not just practically but also mentally and emotionally for their transition to adulthood.
THRIVE leaders also provide connections to universities, internships, and future jobs, and offer stipends for youth actively participating in the program so they can learn the critical skills of independent living and budgeting with their mentors.
Be a hero to a child by giving them a Granny Program. Spence-Chapin needs your help to expand this life-changing program. You can help!
Licensed and authorized in New York, New Jersey & Arizona
©2024 SPENCE-CHAPIN SERVICES TO FAMILIES AND CHILDREN A REGISTERED 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH EIN 13-1834590