The deepest need of any human being is the need to be loved. As Mother Teresa said, "Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is truly the most terrible poverty." In the Non-Western world there are millions of vulnerable and marginalized children. Their deepest, most heartfelt need is to be loved, welcomed into family and community, and encouraged to be all that God made them to be. Yet this is perhaps the hardest need of all to meet. For love cannot be bought or traded, pressured or forced. It can only be offered freely. Today, the populations of developing countries are disproportionately young (under 30 years old) - up to 70% in some nations. What others see as a problem, we see as an opportunity. Throughout history, young people have been at the forefront of every movement for change. We equip compassionate young Christians in 21 countries to walk alongside those who walk alone: to love, welcome and encourage the most vulnerable children and orphans, in their own communities. Alongsiders International catalyzes these transformational movements through partnerships with whole denominations or church networks in each country. In this way, thousands of children throughout Asia and Africa have discovered their value through the love of their Alongsider and the local church. There is an ancient Khmer proverb, "Only a spider can repair his own web." We believe the answers to each nation's brokenness particularly lie within that nation, with the people themselves. We are seeing a movement of one generation transforming the next. Many of the first children have now grown up and become Alongsiders as well as leaders in their churches and communities. Join us in walking alongside those who walk alone.