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Baby Elephant Orphanage Institution, Kenya
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An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them. Parents, and sometimes grandparents, are legally responsible for supporting children, but in the absence of these or other relatives willing to care for the children, they become a ward of the state, and orphanages are one way of providing for their care and housing.
In some places, orphanages are slowly being phased out in many countries in favour of direct support to vulnerable children, foster care or adoption. Few large international charities continue to fund them, however they are still commonly founded by smaller charities and religious groups.
Other residential institutions for children can be called group home, children's home, rehabilitation center or youth treatment center.
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