Education United States Project #27434

Find Families for Older Colombian Orphan Children

by Kidsave International

Find Families for Older Colombian Orphan Children

Project Report | Jun 12, 2020
A home that "no one will ever take away"

By Naomi Ward | Intern

When Colombian twins Alex and Hazel landed in New York City for a 5-week adventure, they weren’t sure what to expect. It was 3:00 a.m. and the pilot gave them a special welcome by name over the plane’s loudspeaker. Their host parents for the summer, Jacqueline and Dennis (both air traffic controllers) had arranged it, a clue that this was a going to be a fun family!

The 14-year-old twins had been in foster care since they were seven years old and had never even been on a plane before. This summer was a chance to see if they might meet their permanent family, and Jacqueline and Dennis wondered if these two would become part of their family, too.

Kidsave’s Summer Miracles Program helps families – whether they’re interested in adopting, mentoring, or advocating – connect with older orphans who want a family. Older kids are often unlikely to be adopted simply because of their age. However, the Summer Miracles program shines a light on them and gives them a chance to meet and bond with people. Families, couples, or individuals can host children for five weeks and get to know them. Each weekend, they also attend fun, interactive advocacy events, where the children can meet new people as part of a large and supportive community.

When Alex and Hazel first arrived, Jacqueline could tell the girls were a little nervous, but they would soon become more comfortable in this new family. Over the course of the summer, they went swimming and sailing, visited Central Park and Coney Island, and attended Kidsave events.

Jacqueline and Dennis knew they wanted to adopt them, but couldn’t tell Alex and Hazel about it, one of the rules of the program. When the girls returned to Colombia at the end of the five weeks, Jacqueline and Dennis sent their letter of intent to adopt early, hoping to bring Alex and Hazel home soon.

A few months later, Jacqueline and Dennis surprised the girls with a special announcement over Skype: “We’re coming to Colombia tomorrow! We love you so much. We are so happy. This is one of the happiest days of our life!”

The next time Alex and Hazel arrived in New York, it was with their forever family.

“This is your new home, and no one will ever take it away from you or tell you to leave,” Jacqueline and Dennis told them as they drove home.

Alex and Hazel are now 15 and adjusting to life with their family in the U.S. Alex joined a soccer team, where she’s become one of the strongest players, and Hazel has taken up photography. Both are doing well in school.

“It offers a different perspective on life,” Dennis said of adopting two teenage daughters after having a biological daughter only a few years ago. “It’s just as gratifying.”

You can watch Alex and Hazel's reactions to learning they were being adopted here.

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Feb 14, 2020
The Joy of a Normal Childhood!

By Lauren Davis | Staff Member

Nine-year-old Colombian Heidy had been in a foster home for two years and wanted to meet an adoptive family that would love her. Social workers noticed this and got Heidy into Kidsave’s “Summer Miracles” program. This program brings Colombian orphans who have virtually no chance of being adopted in their own country to the US for a 5-week stay with a host family. Unlike outright adoption, this program gives families and children the chance to get to know one another over the course of a summer. The kids are part of a bigger community and get to meet many people during their stay.

A Cleveland, Ohio, family decided to host Heidy for the 5-week stay. “From the moment we met Heidy she looked like she belonged in our family,” said her host mother LeeAnn. “Her personality just fit.”

During her visit the family bonded and made sure Heidy had lots of new experiences. They went to beach, ate a lot of Colombian food, and spent their first Independence Day together. Heidy learned to ride a bike and lived out a lifelong dream of riding a horse. She asked to spend her 10th birthday at Chuck E. Cheese and wore a big princess dress for the occasion. Her host family was thrilled to provide her with these experiences, so common for kids growing up in families but unheard of in Heidy life.

The family decided to adopt Heidy and four months later went to Bogota to bring her home. The reunion overflowed with love and emotion as they hugged each other once again. Heidysaid in Spanish,“I can’t believe I get to be with you again, I’m so thankful! Thank God for this blessing.”

Now home only a short while, Heidy is getting integrated into her new life in Cleveland. “She is very smart. She’sworking hardon her English and becoming more confident by the day.” said LeeAnn. “It’s a new beginning for everyone — not with a newborn, but a 10-year-old who is now learning about boys! Everyone is impacted by the growth of our family. It will be an adventure.”

People have asked, “why didn’t you adopt from America?” LeeAnn’s response is, “Kidsave’s motto is ‘Every child deserves a family’… even those that are abroad. My advice is to talk to someone at Kidsave, and you’ll be hosting in no time!”

Kidsave also has a domestic program -- called Weekend Miracles -- to find and make permanent connections for foster youth in the US with caring stable adults, as adoptive parents, guardians, mentors or lifelong friends.

Links:

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Nov 19, 2019
Katya's Summer Miracle Story

By Bonnie Williams | Kidsave DC, Acting Director

Katya and her sister, arriving in US for 5-weeks

We're taking a step back in history with this report, to feature a "graduate" of Kidsave's Summer Miracles Program, who participated when the program was working with Russia. This is to show our dear readers how one life was changed so dramatically.. Today, this program helps older Colombian orphans, but the program started by helping older Russian orphans.

Ekaterina (Katya) was born in the city of Tver, Russia. Her birth family struggled financially and worked multiple low-income jobs to raise their four kids. But when their father became abusive due to alcoholism, food became scarce. She remembers eating raw flour out of the bag just to fill her stomach and going to neighbors’ homes begging for food.

Katya became malnourished and was hospitalized. After multiple complaints, she and her three siblings were moved into two orphanages. Kayta endured many hardships, but in 2001 at age 6, had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. with her sister to participate in Kidsave’s Summer Miracles program, which at that time was working in Russia (today the program works with Colombia). The girls were matched for hosting with a couple that decided to adopt them.

“Flying on a plane for the first time was scary and exciting,” she said of that trip in 2001. “I carried the little that I owned in a white plastic bag and held on tight to my sister’s hand. I didn’t fully understand what was happening, but with my sister by my side, and the volunteers and translators from Kidsave nearby, I felt safe and taken care of.” Katya has many stories of adapting to new foods, having her own toys, having enough food, going to camp and playing without worrying about anything.

After the Kidsave program, the girls returned to Russia and things seemed worse now that they had something to compare it to. to our experience in the U.S. The adoption process was stalled due to the events of 9/11, but eventually they came back to the US. The girls grew up on the Eastern short of Maryland. “I had the opportunity to have a very normal and stable childhood.” After high school Katya attended College, studied anthropology and studied abroad.

Katya’s mom passed on in 2018. Today, Katya does communications work for Kidsave. “I work for Kidsave every day in her honor and her commitment to raising me. My parents gave me an opportunity to learn how to be in a loving family, and they gave me a great education. I will forever be grateful to them. I hope to give back to Kidsave and help the kids still out there in the same position I once was, looking for a forever family.

Without the guidance of the Kidsave organization, it’s events, camps, and team, I would not have known the life I’m proud to live today. My Kidsave trip opened up many opportunities for me – it truly changed my life.”

Katya, her sister, and their new parents in the US

Links:

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