Muslim foster parents: ‘It’s been such a blessing’

News that a Christian child was ‘forced’ into Muslim foster care caused a furore earlier this year. But, despite the challenges, these families play a vital role in bringing up vulnerable children

About 100,000 young people go through the fostering system every year. In recent years an increasing number of these have been child refugees from Muslim-majority countries such as Syria and Afghanistan, many arriving here traumatised and in need of care.

“We estimate there is a shortage of 8,000 foster carers,” says Kevin Williams, chief executive of the Fostering Network, “and there is a particular shortage of Muslim foster carers.”

I couldn’t believe there were children so deprived of love. I was exposed to so much pain

I know what it’s like to live in a country without freedom or human rights

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from Children | The Guardian http://ift.tt/2jcM6LA