NON GOVERNMENTAL

This study examines the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in early childhood development, with a specific focus on literacy programs for orphaned children in Nigeria. The research explores how orphanages and NGO-led initiatives contribute to children's reading, writing, and spoken language comprehension. Using a survey research design approach, data were collected through a structured questionnaire from three selected orphanages in three local government areas in Benin City. The findings reveal that structured literacy programs within orphanages significantly enhance children's reading and writing abilities, while NGO interventions, including speech development programs and interactive storytelling, improve spoken language comprehension. Based on these findings, the recommendations made include increased funding for orphanages, expansion of NGO literacy programs, integration of these initiatives into national education policies, and enhanced community involvement. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing empirical evidence on the effectiveness of orphanage and NGO literacy programs in improving educational outcomes for vulnerable children in Nigeria.