Humanitarian Efforts

** AMERICANS FOR INTERNATIONAL AID AND ADOPTION

AID PROGRAM --- Aid work has always been a major focus in our mission to help children, one child at a time. Individual school scholarships enable children to help break the cycle of their family's poverty. Sponsorship help various facilities overseas provide care to children who are unable to live with their birth parents, feed and tutor poor children, provide daycare for migrant workers, and shelter battered and abused women and children in the United States. In addition, desperately needed supplies of medicine, health needs, clothing and school supplies are collected for numerous projects. Adoption only helps a small number of children. There are great needs for the world's most vulnerable, our children.

To learn more, write to: - AIAA, Attn: Jan Adler, 2151 Livernois, Troy, MI 48083
Call: (248) 362-1207
OR Email: info@aiaaadopt.org

**ORPHAN CARE & ADOPTION ADVOCATE PROGRAM

The Welcome Garden works hard throughout the year to find families for children. Each child that finds a great family, brings so much joy to a host of involved people and most importantly - the child. However, most children in orphanages will not be adopted. It's a harsh and cold reality. But we can all help. There are some good ongoing programs that can use our assistance. We have worked with programs who were aiding children in Guatemala after the earthquakes that struck that region, and for the last two years in Russia.

Our focus this year is again in Russia. There is an ongoing program of helping to feed and clothe children and help with their education. Donated funds used overseas can buy so much more for the children, who otherwise, often need to turn to a street-life modality in order to survive, especially during the harsh winter.

Your help is greatly needed and appreciated. If you should feel you could assist by donating new clothing, medicines, traveling overseas, or most urgently, donating any amount of money to this project please let us know - even a dollar is appreciated. Any questions or services to donate? Email Garden Keepers and mention Orphan Caring in your email.

This project will work with Maria's Children this winter, to help with this effort, in accordance with the funds we are able to raise.
Please keep these children in your prayers.

** MARIA'S CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL

Our Moscow-based organization provides arts therapy and training for Russian orphans. We also work to place these children in homes, not institutions. Please read our project overview.
Our pupils, most of whom have never even held a crayon, learn to tap into their own imaginations, and paint their dreams. The work they produce is in the form of colorful murals, each piece a joyful expression of folk art. See the murals here.

Read about our riverboat summer arts camp for Russian orphans. Meet "Maria's Babies" at our baby orphanage project. Visit our new transitional program for orphanage graduates. Much is happening and we would love to have you join our efforts.
Please help!

To learn more about this *501C(3):
Jan Adams, President
4321 West Highway 13
Savage, MN 55378
Website

** CATALYST FOUNDATION

Catalyst Foundation is a non-profit organization whose aim is to improve the lives of children from Vietnam through adoption advocacy, child sponsorship and direct relief efforts.
A Must Visit! Website

** BRIDGE OF HOPE

Cradle of Hope Adoption Center in Silver Spring, MD, created Bridge of Hope in 1997. The program is responsible for bringing older Russian children between the ages of 6 and 12 to the United States during the month of July to stay with host families in the Washington, DC or New York metropolitan areas and attend day camp. Though the primary purpose of the our program is to provide the children with a fun-filled, enriching summer experience, we ultimately hope to find these children permanent adoptive homes. The host family has first option to adopt the child they hosted.

Please let us know how you want to get involved in this exciting summer program! You can check us out on the web: Our Website and once there, click on "Bridge of Hope".
Call (301) 587-4400 or e-mail Pam Fleming

** JOURNEY TO ROMANIA - "DANIELA'S FUND"

I am the mother of a child named Daniela who was adopted from Romania in 1991. I am also the author of a book about Daniela called "Come to the Window". There are several organizations working in Romania's orphanages whom we have come to know and respect.

1.Ohio Romanian Children Association (ORCA) - a not for profit organization affiliated with the United Methodist Church in Bellfontaine, Ohio - their mission is to provide care and education to orphans via group homes that they plan to build and staff. More info at: ORCA

2.Romanian Children's Relief - a non- profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of institutionalized children by sponsoring thirteen staff working with 300 children in hospitals, an orphanage, and most recently a foster care program in Romania. More info at: R.C.A.

3.Bridges for Children in Romania- a non-profit organization working with orphaned and handicapped children, working on a one to one basis to improve their nutrition and development, to improve their chances of making it outside the institutional walls, and to simply brighten their otherwise dreary lives. More info at: BRIDGES

All checks or money orders written for donations should be made out to one of the groups listed above. At the bottom of the checks please indicate "Daniela's Fund". All donations can be sent to: P.O. Box 1132 - Gloucester, Va. 23061
OR The addresses given on each website.

Additionally, Bridges for Children in Romania has generously offered to make a separate fund designated to help the children institutionalized in Focsani. If you would like to make a donation, please write a separate check to Bridges for Children in Romania with the word "Focsani" at the bottom of the check next to the words 'Daniela's Fund".

** PROJECT SMILE

This is an orphan sponsorship program set up by a Peace Corp worker in the Ust-Kamenogorsk region of Kazakhstan. Individual and group sponsorships are available. Sponsors send packages of clothing, educational supplies and toys. The Peace Corp volunteers send a picture of the child opening his/her package and a letter or drawing from the child.

Please visit our website at PROJECT SMILE

** THE GEORGIAN CHILDREN'S PROJECT

This project was started after several women visited orphanages in the Republic of Georgia and felt a need to respond to the beautiful children living there in dire situations. Georgia is one of the former Soviet republics that has fallen upon extremely harsh economic times since the fall of communism a decade ago. Unfortunately, financial hardship and social stresses have taken their toll on many children of Georgia. Families who can't care for their children often must place them in institutions for food and shelter. There is also a growing population of homeless children in need of shelter and drop-in services. The people providing medical services to these children critically need equipment and current clinical information.

Georgia is a country that loves its children but needs help providing for them at this difficult time in their history. After visiting with these beautiful and spirited children, we found that we love them too. We hope you can help. Please visit our WEBSITE

** AID LINKS

ARNOVA CONFERENCE......International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid
Arnova Conference

PROJECT AID/SIBERIA
Project Aid/Siberia

CHILDREN'S HOPE
Children's Hope

COMMISSION A PORTRAIT BY A RUSSIAN ARTIST ~ (A disabled artist with a wonderful talent) Russian Artist

SHOES FOR SOULS
A humanitarian effort to supply warm shoes to orphans in several countries.
Shoes for Souls

View MAIN PAGE here.

The Welcome Garden, ©1999-2004. All Rights Reserved. All images, text, graphics, and designs are track-coded and protected by Copyright #169; and may not be copied, duplicated, modified, or redistributed.
Content Creation - Garden Associates