Yesterday we got the chance to visit another orphanage, Nepal Child Conservation Home, which is sponsored by our agency. All I can say is what a wonderful job the director and Holt is doing. The children were laughing, the walls had murals painted on them, there were photos of the kids on the walls throughout the house. It seemed to be a genuinely loving environment. It was children’s day and so the children each had a special box of sweets and fruit to eat. They passed them out youngest to oldest. The children sang songs and danced. There were about 5 caretakers for the 23 children. The director said that they have special celebrations with the children, including celebrating each child’s birthday.
In the directors office was a binder with each child’s picture in the spine – binders with all the information for each child. This orphanage was not included in the sending orphanages because it lacked a playground, but that has been fixed (the lot next to it was bought and is being made into a playground), so hopefully soon the children there will also be able to find loving homes. (The director said she had now submitted all 23 children’s files)
Because we were visiting with the Holt program director, we were treated royally. We were met at the gate by the children and the director placed a garland of marigolds around each of us and our children as she greeted us with a Namaste. After the children’s day celebration with the kids, we all sat down to a lovely meal and at the end of that the director placed a mark of red mixed with rice on our foreheads and placed a scarf on each woman and a nepali hat for each of the men. It was such an honor for us.
I know I’m biased because it is my agency, but the difference between orphanages that I’ve seen is night and day.
4 comments:
When you have time, maybe you could explain this a bit more. Do you mean the agency through which you adopted or a charitable group? I'd be interested in knowing more about how that all works (how come these children were not up for adoption earlier, for example), if you have time. Love reading the blog!
Each agency that does adoption in Nepal has to sponsor an orphanage ($10,000/yr). Nepal Children's Conservation home is the orphanage that Holt International sponsors (this is the agency that we are using to adopt our daughter Shanti). It appears that Holt plays some role in the organization of the orphanage and sends extra money for special celebrations for the children as well as buying the lot for the playground. The children were not up for adoption earlier because only those orphanages approved by the Ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare are allowed to register children for international adoption, and unfortunately because Nepal Children's Conservation home did not have a playground, it was not approved to register children with the ministry for international adoption. This has now been fixed, so when new matches are made, hopefully some of the children from this particular orphanage will be matched with families. ....hope that makes more sense
HI Teryl,
I am wondering if you have any contact information for the Nepal Children's Conservation Home? Or the orphanage from which you adopted from? Thanks,
lisa
I am very surprised to can see this photos, because one child that see in the second photo is now my nephew since last september. I went with my sister, her new mom,to Nepal, now she live in Spain.
At this orphanage three more child went out to Spain and live in cities very near each others. In my family all we are very happy with girl, she is on the second photo in the right, she is wearing a pink tshirt and white ballon in her hand. She loves her new cousins, her mom, grandpas uncles and of course her favourite uncle, me! She go to the school and in three months learned spanish very easy and fast!!!.
The more big change that we can see in her is her face, she is very happy now her eyes shine and she have a big smile in her face, because in Nepal she was very sad. This is the big change that I can see, in the moments I see her. The same change I could see in her daughter.
I was surprised find the photo, and remember the trip to Nepal with my sister and remember the first days whith my nephew, Without a doubt the most positive experience of my life.
Sorry for my english, and see you soon.
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