Oxford, UK: Alex Sam brought his research on orphan care and family-based care to an international audience at the 7th Global Conference on Children and Youth, held in Oxford from 20 to 22 August 2026.
The social work professional and researcher presented his study titled “Orphan Care Versus Family Care: An Ideological Study on Children in Orphanages and Foster Care vs Families.”
The research focuses on the experiences of children living in different care environments and examines the relationship between orphanhood, family life, foster care and institutional care.
Alex Sam, associated with the International Leadership Development Centre, India, presented the study alongside international discussions concerning children, youth and social welfare.
A distinctive feature of the research is its use of literary examples to understand the concept of orphanhood. Characters such as Oliver Twist, Jane Eyre, Huckleberry Finn and Harry Potter are considered in relation to childhood, family separation and alternative care.
The study examines how classical, Victorian and contemporary literature has portrayed children who grow up without traditional family structures. It also considers how these narratives may influence wider social attitudes toward orphanhood.
Another important area of the research is the comparison between family environments and alternative caregiving systems. Questions of emotional security, belonging, stability and developmental support form part of the discussion.
During his presentation, Alex Sam emphasised the importance of developing approaches that place children’s overall well-being at the centre of care systems.
He also discussed the role of research in developing sustainable solutions for vulnerable children, including stronger family support structures, community engagement and evidence-based child welfare practices.
Alex Sam has an academic background in business administration and social work and has research interests connected with social work, family-based care and child welfare.
The Oxford conference offered an opportunity to exchange ideas with researchers and practitioners from different backgrounds and countries.
His presentation marked an important stage in his professional journey and contributed to the broader international conversation about how societies can better support orphaned and vulnerable children.
Keywords: Alex Sam, Child Welfare Research, Orphan Care, Family Care, Foster Care, Social Work, Children and Youth, Orphanhood, Family-Based Care, Oxford Conference.
Photo Credit: Tanvi Kapoor