The Granny Program

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.

$ Donation Amount:

$30- Provide a Child with a Granny for One Week
$50- Sponsor a piece of new playground equipment
$125- Provide a Child with a Granny for One Month
$1,500- Provide a Child with a Granny for One Year
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Donation Total: $125.00 One Time

WHY A GRANNY PROGRAM?

The initial relationship between a child and their primary caregiver strongly predicts a child’s emotional and physical health
Due to a lack of resources, children living in institutionalized settings are often deprived of individual care
This lack of human interaction is correlated to risks of lifelong developmental delays and challenges with healthy attachment
Grannies are trained in child development and trauma-based care
Within just six months of participating in the program, more than 90% of children experience marked improvements in their motor, social, and cognitive development

GRANNY PROGRAMs change lives

The Granny Program is a simple, direct, and cost-effective way to forever change the lives of children in institutions around the world with proven results
Over 500 children are currently paired with Grannies
Because the Granny Program has proven to be a scalable, replicable model, Spence-Chapin is working to bring the program to more countries around the world

WHO BENEFITs most?

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Little ones who were previously withdrawn emotionally now raise their arms to be picked up when their Grannies arrive for the day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

The Granny Program and Project Play in COlombia

The Granny Program and Project Play in South Africa

"The bonding and attachment that I have with my children motivates me to continue with the Granny program. They told me that I should not go on leave because they miss me - this touched my heart. It also gives me strength to wake up every morning and go to work. The therapy that we get as Grannies from Ububele also gives me the confidence to continue giving love to my children."

Granny Lizzy

“I could write pages and pages about the impact our Gogo Beryl had on our sweet Levi. She started seeing him when he was about seven months old and she began taking him to physical therapy. The therapists taught her what exercises to do with him and she did. I have a pediatric physical therapy background and I know that without her interventions and dedication to completing the exercises with him, he would not have been as strong when we went to adopt him. He formed a strong bond with his Gogo - she showed him what love is and that attachment has transferred beautifully to our family.”

Jen, Mother of Levi

When Jordan* first met his Granny, he was two years old and completely non-communicative. His Granny began by sitting next to him and engaging him in play time. Everyday for the first week, she would come in and they would silently play with toys - stack blocks, roll a ball, color with crayons. By the second week, Jordan began pointing to the games he wanted to play with his Granny, indicating which he liked and which he didn’t. Since then, Jordan has begun to improve other skills as well, such as writing and properly holding a crayon.

*Name and photo changed to protect privacy

"These kids need love. They don't have parents, so I'm here for them, to give them love, to show them how important they are. I've been a Granny since 2015, and I hope I'll be here until the last day of my life!"

Granny Sasa

When Nkuli* met her Granny, she was almost three years old and could only mumble in baby talk. She grew close to her Granny very quickly and began imitating what her Granny was saying to her. She attends physio and speech therapies, and her Granny follows the exercises prescribed by the specialists to help Nkuli walk and speak. Together, they have made great progress, and Nkuli lights up each day when she sees her Granny arrive.

*Name and photo changed to protect privacy

Step Up

The Step Up initiative empowers children in institutionalized care by allowing them to choose their own new pair of back-to-school shoes and bookbags each year.

Project Play

Project Play is a program dedicated to building new structured outdoor playgrounds and providing birthday and holiday gifts for children in institutionalized care.

Our Global impact

Learn about Spence-Chapin’s domestic and international initiatives aimed at providing targeted humanitarian aid and sustainable solutions to address community needs worldwide.

The Granny Program

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WHY A GRANNY PROGRAM?

GRANNY PROGRAMs change lives

WHO BENEFITs most?

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GET TO KNOW OUR GRANNY PROGRAMS

The Granny Program and Project Play in COlombia

The Granny Program and Project Play in South Africa

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RELATED PROGRAMS

Step Up

Project Play

Our Global impact