There are over 143 million orphans living on our planet today. This number is estimated to rise to 700 million within the next 50 years. In Iraq alone, 4.5 million children have been left without parents as a result of war. Many are hungry, living without sufficient clothing, much less educational materials and familial support.

“Drug-taking, unemployment, and suicide bombers were all a consequence of war, and the orphans it leaves behind are ‘easy prey’ for terrorists and criminals,” according to Iraqi sociologist Fawziya al-Attiya.

Orphans typically do not attend public school, often not leaving their living quarters at all, rarely seeing people outside of their enclave. They have no access to electronic equipment much less the Internet and have never been given musical instruments.

The average orphan will spend ten years in an orphanage if they are lucky enough to live in one. One out of four homeless adults in Los Angeles is an orphan. The homelessness created by lack of opportunity for these children is epidemic worldwide. This lack of opportunity creates a drain on society; if they cannot care for themselves, others must care for them.