Journey of Hope: Host an Orphan from Ukraine

There are many orphans and homeless children in Russia and Ukraine. Unless they're adopted and given the support they need to thrive, statistics show that only one out of ten of these children will become a functional member of society. The others are lost to drugs, crime and suicide. Children over 5 are statistically much less likely to be adopted than babies and toddlers.

European Children Adoption Services (ECAS) is a Minnesota licensed international adoption agency that is sponsoring a Journey of Hope (JOH) program during the winter of 2009/2010. This program offers a window of opportunity for orphans to meet with a prospective adoptive family in Minnesota. This could be the childrens' one -- and only -- chance at finding a loving family to call their own. Since 2003, this program has joined 120 children with their forever families in the US.

Orphans who participate in the Journey of Hope will travel to Minnesota for about 3 weeks in December/January and live with a local host family. Most children will be between the ages of 7 -11 years old, some will have siblings. Host families, sponsors and financial contributors are needed to make this program a success. The cost to bring each orphan child to the USA is $2,300.

European Children Adoption Services is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and any donation to the JOH hosting program is tax deductible and will offset the cost of the children’s travel. Donations can be made payable to ECAS Foundation and sent to the address below. If you are interested in hosting an orphan child we invite you to contact us as soon as possible. We need to find host families and finalize our list of families by October 28th.

We have until late next week to find host families for these kids.

Oksana - 12 years old and Vladislav (Vlad) - 8 years old (sister/brother)

Oksana (May 30, 1997) Oksana’s caregivers describe her simply as "wonderful in everything." She has almost straight A's in every subject and enjoys academics. She is a very hard worker, kind and compassionate. She enjoys music and reading. She is happy, calm, self-aware, kind, grounded, modest and intelligent. She has many interests at school. She likes to be in the school productions (plays, singing, etc.) She is close to her brother.

Vlad (Feb 28, 2001) is in third grade and is said to have average achievements in school. He can read, but doesn't like it. He loves math, plays chess well, likes to do crafts and handiwork. He is friendly with children and adults, and is said to have a “good heart.” He is active and inquiring, but can be calm. He enjoys helping others, and is close to his sister.

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Maxim (June 13, 2000) and Yuri (April 24, 2002) brothers

Maxim is 9 years old. He is shy, calm and a hard worker. He is trying to be a good student, but this is the first year that he has been able to attend school regularly, so he is behind where he should be at for his age. He loves his brother and protects him. These children are very attached to each other.

Yuriy is 7 and in first grade. He is behind in educational development for his age, but seems to have good abilities. He loves the stage and is a wonderful performer. He has a good memory and is trying hard to catch up in school. Yuri likes attention and interacting with people. He is friendly and likes to make people laugh.

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Dmitriy (Dima) - 12 years old

Dima is 12 years old and an average student. He loves soccer. He is a very kind and compassionate child. In school he enjoys math, computer, and gym. (pictures will be available soon)

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Mikhail (Misha) - 11 years old

Misha is a very nice boy. He is calm, a hard worker, loves to read, and is a very good student. His caregivers say that he would do really well in a family.

Pictures of these children and more information about them are available by contacting Petra at the email address and phone number below. If you know anyone who is interested in or considering international adoption please feel free to pass this information on!

Petra Wonders, Journey of Hope Hosting Coordinator
612-799-7534
wonpet@gmail.com
ECAS • 6050 Cheshire Lane North • Plymouth, Minnesota 55446 • www.ecasus.org