For some children living in residential care, or children’s homes, everyday experiences other youth experience aren’t as common. Things like field trips, sleepovers with friends, and family outings aren’t a normal piece of their childhoods. Back2Back staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure the vulnerable children in their care experience as close to a “normal” childhood as they can, ensuring their experiences allow them to see and better understand the world around them, the cities they call home, and their place within it.

Recently, staff organized a field trip for the boys of a Back2Back partnering children’s home. The younger boys went to a local mall and enjoyed an indoor play area that included zip lines, a large slide, and a go kart track. The older boys went to an arcade nearby and enjoyed various games together.

After they all played and enjoyed the afternoon, they had lunch in the food court. A simple but effective way the staff helped lead the older boys was by giving each of them money for their lunches, asking them to choose what they wanted, order it, and pick it up themselves. This is just one way safe adults help youth navigate new experiences and grow socially and emotionally.

Experiences like this are only possible thanks to faithful prayer, advocacy, and sponsorship from people all around the world. Together, staff, volunteers, and sponsors step forward to unanimously communicate, you are seen, you are loved, you are known.