Kids First Foundation and Half the Sky

Russia...

I think it is important to understand what life must be like for the children. In many cases, there are several babies assigned to one caregiver. One can imagine what that might be like, six or seven crying infants at one time...the caregivers do the best they can. In better orphanages, the children are well cared for, receive at least some stimulation, are kept clean and are fairly well nourished. There are three to four swaddled infants to one crib. They share everything. No child has his or her own clothes, teddy bear, toys, etc. In fact, the only stuffed animals are kept in the Doctor's office who puts them high on a shelf where no little germs can infect them. When there is a breakout of chicken pox or whatever other infection gets in, it spreads like wildfire in the close quarters; everyone is infected. There are no pacifiers. For the most part, cloth diapers are the only kind that are affordable to the orphanages. Disposable diapers are available in Russia but are too expensive.

I will never forget the smell of the orphanage, not necessarily a bad smell, it was much like the smell of boiled cabbage. It's very likely that the children ate boiled cabbage as we had a lot of it while in Russia.

Children are potty-trained on the orphanage's schedule. Seeing the walls of a room lined with potty chairs is interesting. They all march to do their business at the same time everyday.

We traveled part of the way home from Russia with a family from Wisconsin. They had adopted a three year old, he was their third. I remember his mom telling me about the day she got to go to lunch with him in the orphanage. They were having some sort of soup that day--typical Russian fare and as she watched her new son and the other children, she was amazed that this group of three year olds could eat their soup and not spill a drop. She wondered how in the world they learned to be so neat. Somehow I imagine it was a necessity.

On warmer days, the children were taken outside to get some fresh air. The temperature could easily be in the 70's yet one wouldn't know that from the way the children were dressed...from head to toe in snowsuits! We were in short-sleeved shirts but this was customary and one wouldn't dare try to free these little bundles from their fabric furnaces!

The orphans in Russia, Kazakhstan, Guatemala and China are blessed that there are people out there who care about them even half way around the world. Kids First Foundation was organized through the adoption agency that we used to find Sam. They do several fund-raising activities each year to support the orphans in these countries. Building playgrounds, repairing orphanages and providing other types of support are their missions. A couple of years ago, they purchased a washer and dryer for the Baby House where Sam lived.

http://kidsfirst-foundation.org/about.php

China...

Having not been in a SWI (Social Welfare Institutes) in China, I would imagine that life is much the same as in the Baby Houses of Russia. Though the children share the SWI's with elderly people as well. There are also children living in foster families.

A program called Half the Sky is in some fortunate Chinese orphanages. Named for the Chinese adage "Women hold up half the sky," it was started by a group of adoptive parents who wished to help those children left behind; that one day they too may find their forever families.

Half the Sky has trained "nannies" who care for the infants, giving them love in a stimulating environment. For the toddlers, there are preschools where they learn as our children here do and develop a positive self-esteem.

http://www.halfthesky.org/

Of course there are other missions out there that support orphanages all over the world but these two happen to be may favorites!