By Rachel Cvitanovich | Development Coordinator
At Kidsave, we are getting ready for Colombian orphans to arrive for five intense and exciting weeks full of new experiences with their U.S.host families. They’ll get an idea of what life with a family is like, have a camp experience, enjoy an adventure in another country, have a vacation and -- most importantly -- meet people who might become their permanent family. They will be in the U.S. from June to August 5.
Kidsave is proud of the work we have accomplished changing attitudes about older orphans in Colombia. Since 2004, Kidsave has promoted the adoption of children in their tweens and, and we have been successful! Since 1999, Kidsave has found families for 2,108 older children through our Summer Miracles Program.
Hosting is a gift to both the child and the host family. Take Janel and Mike and their two kids, for example. For the past seven years, they have welcomed children from Colombia into their home to help them find their forever family. As a social worker and a school counselor Janel developed a deep compassion for foster youth and orphans. She and Mike knew they wanted to make a difference in children’s lives but did not know how until they met someone going through the hosting process. After a few years of deliberating, they decided to become hosts, and since then, they have enjoyed years of rewarding experiences helping the kids in our Summer Miracles program find their “forever” family.
“Our kids were always excited about it. They were three and seven when we first hosted, and now they’re nine and thirteen” said Mike.
Today, nothing has changed. Both kids are now thoroughly familiar with the hosting process, and they have grown in their ability to notice, listen to, and care about others.
We are so grateful for people like Janel and Mike. They offer children growing up alone the time and opportunities to meet and get to know people who could become their permanent family.
Kidsave is nearly 80% successful in finding permanent families for the children in this program. We look forward to the new connections that will be formed,bthe lives that will be uplifted and the joy of giving a child the hope of a better future.
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