In a move widely described as a milestone in advancing orphan sponsorship systems, Qatar Charity has announced the extension of orphan sponsorship to age 23. This decision goes beyond a purely administrative measure, opening a deeper conversation about the concept and limits of care, and the true meaning of empowerment in the post-legal adulthood stage.
The decision has shed light once again on a phase often considered the most sensitive in an orphan’s life. This is the period between the age of 18 and the beginning of educational and professional stability. During this period, challenges intersect across education, identity formation, economic independence, and psychological and social well-being. This has raised critical questions about the adequacy of traditional sponsorship models and their ability to ensure a safe transition for orphans from care to self-reliance.
To explore the practical and conceptual implications of this decision, Ghiras convened this symposium, bringing together institutional insight, advisory expertise, and a sectoral perspective. The discussion featured:
- Dr. Hayatullah Atid, Vice Chairman of Orphans Care Federation
- Dr. Youssef Saadeh, Consultant in Child Welfare and Social Protection
- Ms. Fatima Jumah AlMohannadi, Assistant Director of Social Welfare at Qatar Charity
Below are the key highlights of the discussion:
The True Measure of Sponsorship
How do you assess the decision to extend orphan sponsorship to age 23? Was there a genuine need for it—and why?
The participants’ interventions stemmed from a shared conviction: although the age of 18 marks the legal threshold of adulthood in many legislations, it does not necessarily represent actual readiness to face life’s demands. The realities of modern education, the nature of the labor market, and rapid social shifts render the post-18 phase one of the most fragile and sensitive periods for youth in general, and for orphans in particular.
From a coordination and federation perspective, Dr. Hayatullah Atid explained that extending the sponsorship age to 23 carries deep conceptual significance. It reflects a shift in how orphans are perceived—from a “case file” closed at a legal threshold to a human being on a continuous developmental journey, requiring sustained, thoughtful support until achieving reasonable psychological, social, and economic stability.
Atid noted that field experience across several countries showed that abruptly stopping support at age the of 18 creates a critical gap. This gap can lead to educational failure, economic vulnerability, or psychological and social disorientation, especially in the absence of family support networks capable of compensating for the loss.
He stressed that the importance of this step lies not only in extending the age from 18 to 23, but in the institutional and intellectual message it sends: sponsorship is not temporary charity, but an extended responsibility aimed at building an individual capable of self-reliance and active community participation. He described this approach as a model worthy of study and adaptation across orphan care systems, provided it is implemented within context-sensitive frameworks.
This view aligns with that of Dr. Youssef Saadeh, who emphasized that the decision is fully consistent with both humanitarian and Sharia-based principles of sponsorship. He highlighted that need—not age—is the real criterion for sponsorship. He explained that the objectives of Sharia in this domain center on fulfilling needs and preventing harm. These goals do not cease upon reaching adulthood but continue until individuals achieve self-sufficiency or family stability.
He also noted that the need for extended care is particularly acute for orphans living in shelters, especially those of unknown parentage, as well as for orphaned girls who often require longer periods of stability and support to complete education and prepare for family or professional life.
For her part, Ms. Fatima Jumah AlMohannadi presented a practical reading reflecting the perspective of the organization behind the decision. She emphasized that Qatar Charity’s vision is rooted in viewing sponsorship as an integrated developmental path, rather than merely phase-based financial aid. She explained that years of field work and monitoring revealed that the period from age 15 to 23 is the most critical and influential in shaping an orphan’s future, as challenges of education, identity formation, economic independence, and psychological and social stability intersect.
Ending support at the age of 18, she noted, often placed young people under obligations beyond their realistic capacity, especially while still pursuing education or just beginning their professional paths. In some cases, this led to academic dropouts or acute psychological and social pressure.
Re-Engineering the Care System
Can extending the sponsorship age be considered a complete shift from a welfare-based model to an empowerment model? Or does it require complementary policies and programs—and if so, what are the most important?
When discussing whether this decision constitutes a full transition from care to empowerment, participants agreed that extending sponsorship alone is not sufficient—it must be accompanied by a comprehensive re-engineering of care systems.
Dr. Hayatullah Atid described the extension as a major step in the right direction, but not a complete transformation. Empowerment, he stressed, is not about duration—it is about restructuring the care journey to gradually move the orphan from dependency to capability, from need to competence, and from vulnerability to stability.
He emphasized that true success is measured by the ability of young men and women, upon the conclusion of their sponsorship, to make independent decisions, integrate positively into society, and build a life based on self-reliance.
Similarly, Dr. Saadeh emphasized that this shift requires charities to review their operational models and develop targeted programs such as:
- Higher education and vocational support
- Preparation for the labor market and entrepreneurship
- Psychosocial counseling
- Preparation for marriage
He also highlighted the need to invest in skilled human resources capable of managing this transition effectively.
Ms. Fatima Jumah AlMohannadi echoed this, noting that raising the age limit provides the protective framework for empowerment but must be complemented by integrated policies and programs, including:
- Life skills development
- Academic and career guidance
- Psychosocial support.
She asserted that true empowerment is realized when an orphan can complete their education without interruption, acquire qualifications that allow them to enter the labor market with dignity, and transition gradually from the circle of need to the circle of production and contribution.
A Reference Model in Practice
How do you assess the institutional and practical dimensions of the decision to extend the sponsorship age?
Further deepening the discussion, Ms. Fatima Jumah AlMohannadi offered a distinctive perspective by highlighting the institutional and practical dimensions of the decision. She explained that extending the sponsorship age was neither an isolated measure nor a circumstantial response, but rather the outcome of accumulated field experience and a careful analysis of orphans’ trajectories beyond the age of 18.
She noted that Qatar Charity has observed this stage to be a decisive turning point—particularly in relation to pursuing higher or vocational education. Any interruption in support during this period, she emphasized, risks undermining years of educational and social investment.
AlMohannadi further explained that extending the sponsorship age has enabled the organization to shift from a “needs-based approach” to a “journey-based approach,” by ensuring continuity of support until the orphan’s educational, professional, and social identity is fully formed. She also noted that this decision has positively impacted foster families, significantly easing the economic and psychological burden they often face once the sponsored child reaches the age of legal adulthood.
For his part, Dr. Youssef Saadeh noted that this practical dimension reflects what sponsorship systems need today, cautioning against merely prolonging the duration of care without meaningful empowerment components.
Meanwhile, Dr. Hayatullah Atid emphasized that Qatar Charity’s integrated approach—linking policy with practice—positions it as a reference model for others, provided it is viewed as a holistic system rather than a standalone measure.
Closing the Gaps
What gaps exist in current orphan sponsorship systems, and what reforms are needed to enable orphans and their families to transition from care to sustainable empowerment?
In diagnosing existing gaps, Dr. Hayatullah Atid offered a comprehensive sector-based perspective. He noted that many orphan sponsorship systems still operate within a partial care model centered primarily on financial assistance, with limited investment in psychological, skills-based, and social development. He also pointed to the absence of well- studied transitional phases beyond adolescence, insufficient individualized support when dealing with orphans, and notable shortcomings in follow-up systems and impact measurement.
Dr. Youssef Saadeh added that, despite relative progress in governance and spending efficiency, fundamental gaps remain. The most prominent of these are the weakness of economic empowerment programs, limited psychosocial support, and the underutilization of modern development tools such as social innovation, results-based management, and impact measurement frameworks. He further highlighted the limited institutional readiness to transition toward a truly sustainable empowerment model.
From an institutional perspective, Ms. Fatima Jumah AlMohannadi emphasized the importance of rethinking sponsorship systems as flexible and integrated developmental pathways that consider the diverse educational and social contexts of orphans and their families. She highlighted the need to strengthen the linkage between sponsorship, education, and employment opportunities, while placing particular focus on empowering the family as the primary support system, essential to ensuring the orphan’s stability.
Conclusion: A Pioneering Step, A Continuing Responsibility
Participants in the Symposium of Ghiras—Issue 34—agreed that extending the orphan sponsorship age to 23 represents a pioneering initiative with deep ethical and institutional significance. It invites a broader rethinking of sponsorship philosophy itself.
Yet its true value lies in serving as a gateway to a more comprehensive transformation—grounded in clear policies, quality programs, and professional standards—so that sponsorship evolves into a system of empowerment and human development, rather than temporary support that ends at a specific age limit.
In a world of growing social and economic challenges, the ultimate goal is clear: to move from sponsorship that sustains need, to sponsorship that enables individuals to leave that need behind—with dignity, confidence, and capability.
This step reflects a direction that Qatar Charity places at the core of its work, while also calling on other actors in the sector to adopt a more mature, integrated, and responsible approach.
Moderated by: Ali AlRachied
