#11. Families, Not Orphanages: How This Changemaker Creates Nurturing Environments That Empower Children to Thrive

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In this episode, we meet Praveen Gomez, a Sri Lankan community-builder and global advocate working with World Without Orphans (WWO), a movement active in 99 countries to ensure that children grow up in families rather than institutions.

From his childhood during Sri Lanka’s 30-year civil war to his current role connecting churches, NGOs, governments, and communities, Praveen shares how resilience, compassion, and collaboration can keep families together—and why even the smallest interventions can change a child’s future.

He explains why most children in orphanages still have a living parent or relative, how economic hardship—not lack of love—is often the cause of separation, and why mobilising communities is the key to long-term change. We also discuss practical safeguarding, the importance of parenting support, and the unique human warmth and natural beauty of Sri Lanka.

We explore:

• Why most children in orphanages still have parents or relatives—and how poverty drives separation
• How community action (meals, transport, small grants) can prevent family breakdown
• Building learning communities: how WWO connects national teams across 90+ countries
• Safeguarding and accountability—equipping caregivers and working alongside governments
• Parenting as a shared journey: why training and peer support matter at every stage
• Stories of hope: from refugee parenting camps in Ukraine to local solutions in Colombo
• Sri Lanka’s unique resilience and kindness, shaped by war, crisis, and recovery
• Travel insights: beaches, hill country, tea plantations, and the everyday generosity of Sri Lankans
• Why starting small—one step at a time—creates lasting impact

About our guest

Praveen Gomez is the Implementation Lead at World Without Orphans, helping national leaders collaborate on solutions to keep children in safe, nurturing families. Based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Praveen brings personal resilience from growing up during the civil war and professional expertise in building partnerships across borders.

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