1. Spread the word in class! Let teachers and students know about our cause and the possibility of assigning a portrait that we can use.
2. Letting those who are interested in our cause get information from our website, including our personal contact information, and our Guatemala contact for further information if needed.
3. Receiving other peoples artwork via email (if digitally created) or mailed to our personal address.
4. Every so often when enough artwork is collected, I will send bigger packages of artwork to Ashley in Guatemala.
5. Ashley will use the artwork in her marketing activities and sell the artwork to her contacts in the states, most of which are in the adoption process.
6. The donation from the money collected for the artwork will then be collected by Ashley and the Hannah’s Hope organization to be distributed in the right places for the orphanage.
7. Artists feel great. Children smile. Everyone rejoices.
About Ashley Williams
This is my life’s passion. I am so thankful for Hannah’s Hope and its amazing ministry to the children. There is such a remarkable difference between the children who live at Hannah’s Hope and those who live on the streets and in impoverished orphanages. Hannah’s Hope gives so many of Guatemala’s forgotten children a chance to learn what it means to be loved and cared for. Outside of the walls of Hannah’s Hope one can hear the children’s laughs and happy voices. There is a sense of joy and tranquility, a peace that can be seen in depths of the children’s eyes at Hannah’s Hope.
But I cannot even begin to put into words what it is like to have to see the suffering of many of the children of Guatemala day in and day out in the surrounding city.
Children should not have to question where their next meal is coming from or if they will have a bed to sleep in for the night.
Hannah’s Hope Guatemala City assures the children who call this place home not only all of their meals and a warm bed but also love, spiritual guidance, and education. It is a place that has been made up of children who once had to dig through the trash for their next meal. They are children who slept on cardboard mats on the sidewalks of the city at night. They are children who have suffered abuse beyond belief.
I am writing to you today to explain the current situation in Guatemala and Hannah’s Hope. If you desire to see orphaned and abandoned children continue to be given a home of safety and love at Hannah’s Hope please read the note below and consider home sponsorship through All God’s Children International.
Adoptions have come to a stop in Guatemala. Most agencies are closing and leaving the country until they begin again.
The mission of All God’s Children International is to passionately serve the world’s forgotten children by creating hope through life-changing ministries.
But I cannot even begin to put into words what it is like to have to see the suffering of many of the children of Guatemala day in and day out in the surrounding city.
Children should not have to question where their next meal is coming from or if they will have a bed to sleep in for the night.
Hannah’s Hope Guatemala City assures the children who call this place home not only all of their meals and a warm bed but also love, spiritual guidance, and education. It is a place that has been made up of children who once had to dig through the trash for their next meal. They are children who slept on cardboard mats on the sidewalks of the city at night. They are children who have suffered abuse beyond belief.
I am writing to you today to explain the current situation in Guatemala and Hannah’s Hope. If you desire to see orphaned and abandoned children continue to be given a home of safety and love at Hannah’s Hope please read the note below and consider home sponsorship through All God’s Children International.
Adoptions have come to a stop in Guatemala. Most agencies are closing and leaving the country until they begin again.
The mission of All God’s Children International is to passionately serve the world’s forgotten children by creating hope through life-changing ministries.
Children living in Guatemala City Dump
Covered in filth. Many of them have severe skin diseases. (Photos courtesy of Ashley Williams).
About: Portraits for Prosperity
As creators of Portraits for Prosperity, Carla Wyzgala and Danielle Trejo, we invite fellow artists to join in a simple cause that will bring joy effortlessly to children in need in the Guatemala area.
So why Guatemala?
Currently in contact with Ashley Williams, a representative of Hannah's Hope Orphanage, I was moved by her photos and stories of the abandoned children in Guatemala City. To see for yourself, I encourage you to check out her xanga site linked on the right, or even friend her on facebook.
So how did this all start?
Having known Ashley for years now, she approached me as an artist to create a drawing of the irresistible children she was working with in a way that no one did. She wanted a portrait of a Guatemalan child exposing the truth of their situation in an equally irresistible way. Basically she had yet to see any art of children that screamed, "Adopt Me!"
As an art student, I found an opportunity to include this cause into a school project. I created a marker rendering of a Guatemalan girl from the photos Ashley had shown me as a class assignment.
I then mailed the piece to Ashley and she was EXTATIC. She framed it, hung it on her wall and the piece got much praise.
This sparked an idea.
What if other art students did portraits of these children for assignments while in school, then get sent through me to Ashley in Guatemala to be sold to profit the Orphanage and the exact children the artwork is of. How effortless on the artist's behalf, since Ashley will do the marketing. And how easy to feel good about a small and simple school assignment.
So why Guatemala?
Currently in contact with Ashley Williams, a representative of Hannah's Hope Orphanage, I was moved by her photos and stories of the abandoned children in Guatemala City. To see for yourself, I encourage you to check out her xanga site linked on the right, or even friend her on facebook.
So how did this all start?
Having known Ashley for years now, she approached me as an artist to create a drawing of the irresistible children she was working with in a way that no one did. She wanted a portrait of a Guatemalan child exposing the truth of their situation in an equally irresistible way. Basically she had yet to see any art of children that screamed, "Adopt Me!"
As an art student, I found an opportunity to include this cause into a school project. I created a marker rendering of a Guatemalan girl from the photos Ashley had shown me as a class assignment.
I then mailed the piece to Ashley and she was EXTATIC. She framed it, hung it on her wall and the piece got much praise.
This sparked an idea.
What if other art students did portraits of these children for assignments while in school, then get sent through me to Ashley in Guatemala to be sold to profit the Orphanage and the exact children the artwork is of. How effortless on the artist's behalf, since Ashley will do the marketing. And how easy to feel good about a small and simple school assignment.
Interview with Ashley Williams, Guatemala City
1. Where, geographically, are you located?
We are located in Guatemala City, Guatemala in Central America.
2. How long have you been at this location?
We opened the doors of Hannah’s Hope in Guatemala City in 2001
3. What made you decide to go where you are?
As an adoption and orphan care agency, we saw a great need to have a presence in Guatemala since there where so many children on the streets living in poverty. Once we had decided to begin adoptions in Guatemala we wanted to work with an orphanage in the country that we could trust and one that had no corruption involved like many of the other orphanages we saw. Since Guatemala didn’t have many governmental restrictions on how to run an orphanage, we knew we could go in and make our vision of a Hannah’s Hope come true.
4. What is your current living situation?
The capacity of Hannah's Hope Guatemala is 75 children with the present staff, space, and beds. You can imagine the large amount of resources it would take to care for so many children. With the present financial situation, Hannah's Hope Guatemala has what it needs to house 29 children - but that's less than half of its full potential.
Children at Hannah's Hope receive:
Healthy food, water, clothing and shelter
Individualized medical attention
Age-appropriate-education and stimulus
A structured, nurturing environment with supervision and discipline
Trusting, loving relationships
Biblical and moral instruction and training
Special outings and parties
Right now we have these children living in two spacious two story homes. These homes are located in a safe gated community in Guatemala City.
5-6.What is the community that you are working with living situaion?
What are specific living conditions for the children in the community? (i.e. food, clothing, education, shelter).
Guatemala city has an upper class, a large lower class and a very small middle class. The city has a few nice neighborhoods and parts of town with very modern buildings. It also has many slums with people living in homes made of tin and cardboard as well a dump that many people search thtough for food. In Guatemala many poor children do not go to school, instead they work or beg. In the part if Guatemala, Izabal, many children are lacking the basic needs for survival like food.
As one of the ten poorest countries in Latin America, Guatemala is home to nearly 7.1 million people living below the poverty line. Many of these are children. With an amazingly indomitable spirit, these children struggle daily for survival in unspeakable conditions.
7. How do the children get there?
An estimated 370,000 children are orphaned in Guatemala. Source: UNICEF, 2005
The children are sent to Hannah's Hope by the government after being abandoned, mistreated or ophaned.
8. How are these necessities funded?
Through advertising, fundraising, our home sponsorship program, missions, and also through orphan care fee’s in adoption.
9. Is the education, if provided, more textbook based or basics-of-living based? Please give an example.
The children go to a near by school. This is a way for the children to connect with other kids their age outside the home and receive a good education. This education is more text book based.
10. Approximately, how many of the children have a living parent/guardian?
A majority have a living parent but have been abandoned, taken by the govt because of abuse in the home or given up for adoption. Only a few or 100% orphaned.
11. Of the children that have a living parent/guardian, what are the reasons that they abandon them?
Some reasons, but not limited to, are poverty, rape and insanity of the mother.
12. Approximately, how many of the children have never had any contact with their parent?
I would say one fourth. Some spent their first years of life with their biological family. Also, some were often visited during their adoption process.
13. Out of all of the children abandoned, what are the main factors for their parents leaving them, i.e. death, drugs, violence/gang relation, work migration, unknown, etc.
Poverty, violence and death.
14. Are all of the children up for adoption?
No, on December 31, 2007 Guatemala suspended all inter-country adoptions. Currently, the country is in the process of implementing a new Hague compliant adoption law.
When adoptions were open an abandoned child could not be up for adoption until his abandonment was confirmed by the courts. This process is very long. Normally it takes at least two years for a child to be declared abandoned by the goverment. After this declaration, being that adoptions are open, the child may go in adoption.
15. Who (demographics) are adopting the children?
A majority are U.S. citizens and few are Guatemalan citizens through All God's Children International.
16. Where are the children being adopted to, geographically?
USA or Guatemala
17. What does the adoption process consist of?
When the Guatemala program was open for adoption this is what the adoption process looked like. It may be different once it reopens depending on new laws that are being put into place.
Completion of dossier: 3 to 4 months: Once contracted with AGCI, the next step is to complete a dossier and home study.
Waiting List: 6-9 months: Adoptive families may wait six to nine months to receive the referral of an infant boy or girl. While families are waiting for their referral, AGCI will process the dossier through the Guatemalan Consulate and have all documentation translated.
First Trip: 3-4 days: Once an adoptive family accepts the referral of a child, both parents will travel to Guatemala for three days to meet their child and child’s birth mother, and sign the power of attorney which officially begins the adoption process.
Adoption Process: 6-8 months: During this time, AGCI will process all required documents through the US Embassy, Family Court and Procuduria de General (PGN). Once the PGN offers a favorable opinion on the adoption, the child’s birth mother signs the final deed of adoption. Once signed, AGCI will gather all final documents and submit documentation to the US Embassy. The Embassy will then issue a date and time for the child’s immigrant visa appointment and the adoptive family can travel.
Second Trip: 3-5 days: One or two parents can travel to complete the US immigrant visa appointment and bring the adoptive child back to the United States.Post-Placement: Once the child is home, AGCI requires post-placement visits and reports at three, six, and 12 months. Children adopted from Guatemala are considered automatic US citizens if both parents travel on the first trip.
Adoption Timeframe: From application through the finalization of the adoption is 18-21 months.
18. What happens to those who do not get adopted?
They stay at Hannah's Hope till their abandonment is complete and they can be adopted.
19.How are people, in general, being informed of the current situations of the orphaned children, their community, and their issues?
We periodically send out mailings with information on what’s going on in Guatemala. Also we send out E-journals monthly with this information also. For our monthly sponsors we send out quarterly updates with children’s stories, prayer requests, what the missions teams have been working on, and other Hannah’s Hope updates.
20. Who is supporting them, be it money, food, education?
A large majority of our supporters are families who have adopted from Hannah’s Hopes or people who have visited on a missions trip. They’ve been our strongest supporters since they’ve been in Guatemala and have seen all that we do for the children.
22. What can help spread the word?
I think that the best way to let people know about what Hannah’s Hope does in the Guatemala is by letting those who know what we do tell their stories. There’s only so much we can do without having the personal touch of knowing someone that’s been there, or even knowing a child who’s life has been touched by Hannah’s Hope. We’ve had adopted children from Hannah’s Hope Guatemala host benefit dinners, make videos, and even have garage sales where all the proceeds go to Hannah’s Hope. We feel extremely blessed to have such amazing supporters who take the time to be our voice in places we could’ve never gotten a chance to spread the word about Hannah’s Hope.
21. What is working on spreading the word?
Grass Root Marketing.
We are located in Guatemala City, Guatemala in Central America.
2. How long have you been at this location?
We opened the doors of Hannah’s Hope in Guatemala City in 2001
3. What made you decide to go where you are?
As an adoption and orphan care agency, we saw a great need to have a presence in Guatemala since there where so many children on the streets living in poverty. Once we had decided to begin adoptions in Guatemala we wanted to work with an orphanage in the country that we could trust and one that had no corruption involved like many of the other orphanages we saw. Since Guatemala didn’t have many governmental restrictions on how to run an orphanage, we knew we could go in and make our vision of a Hannah’s Hope come true.
4. What is your current living situation?
The capacity of Hannah's Hope Guatemala is 75 children with the present staff, space, and beds. You can imagine the large amount of resources it would take to care for so many children. With the present financial situation, Hannah's Hope Guatemala has what it needs to house 29 children - but that's less than half of its full potential.
Children at Hannah's Hope receive:
Healthy food, water, clothing and shelter
Individualized medical attention
Age-appropriate-education and stimulus
A structured, nurturing environment with supervision and discipline
Trusting, loving relationships
Biblical and moral instruction and training
Special outings and parties
Right now we have these children living in two spacious two story homes. These homes are located in a safe gated community in Guatemala City.
5-6.What is the community that you are working with living situaion?
What are specific living conditions for the children in the community? (i.e. food, clothing, education, shelter).
Guatemala city has an upper class, a large lower class and a very small middle class. The city has a few nice neighborhoods and parts of town with very modern buildings. It also has many slums with people living in homes made of tin and cardboard as well a dump that many people search thtough for food. In Guatemala many poor children do not go to school, instead they work or beg. In the part if Guatemala, Izabal, many children are lacking the basic needs for survival like food.
As one of the ten poorest countries in Latin America, Guatemala is home to nearly 7.1 million people living below the poverty line. Many of these are children. With an amazingly indomitable spirit, these children struggle daily for survival in unspeakable conditions.
7. How do the children get there?
An estimated 370,000 children are orphaned in Guatemala. Source: UNICEF, 2005
The children are sent to Hannah's Hope by the government after being abandoned, mistreated or ophaned.
8. How are these necessities funded?
Through advertising, fundraising, our home sponsorship program, missions, and also through orphan care fee’s in adoption.
9. Is the education, if provided, more textbook based or basics-of-living based? Please give an example.
The children go to a near by school. This is a way for the children to connect with other kids their age outside the home and receive a good education. This education is more text book based.
10. Approximately, how many of the children have a living parent/guardian?
A majority have a living parent but have been abandoned, taken by the govt because of abuse in the home or given up for adoption. Only a few or 100% orphaned.
11. Of the children that have a living parent/guardian, what are the reasons that they abandon them?
Some reasons, but not limited to, are poverty, rape and insanity of the mother.
12. Approximately, how many of the children have never had any contact with their parent?
I would say one fourth. Some spent their first years of life with their biological family. Also, some were often visited during their adoption process.
13. Out of all of the children abandoned, what are the main factors for their parents leaving them, i.e. death, drugs, violence/gang relation, work migration, unknown, etc.
Poverty, violence and death.
14. Are all of the children up for adoption?
No, on December 31, 2007 Guatemala suspended all inter-country adoptions. Currently, the country is in the process of implementing a new Hague compliant adoption law.
When adoptions were open an abandoned child could not be up for adoption until his abandonment was confirmed by the courts. This process is very long. Normally it takes at least two years for a child to be declared abandoned by the goverment. After this declaration, being that adoptions are open, the child may go in adoption.
15. Who (demographics) are adopting the children?
A majority are U.S. citizens and few are Guatemalan citizens through All God's Children International.
16. Where are the children being adopted to, geographically?
USA or Guatemala
17. What does the adoption process consist of?
When the Guatemala program was open for adoption this is what the adoption process looked like. It may be different once it reopens depending on new laws that are being put into place.
Completion of dossier: 3 to 4 months: Once contracted with AGCI, the next step is to complete a dossier and home study.
Waiting List: 6-9 months: Adoptive families may wait six to nine months to receive the referral of an infant boy or girl. While families are waiting for their referral, AGCI will process the dossier through the Guatemalan Consulate and have all documentation translated.
First Trip: 3-4 days: Once an adoptive family accepts the referral of a child, both parents will travel to Guatemala for three days to meet their child and child’s birth mother, and sign the power of attorney which officially begins the adoption process.
Adoption Process: 6-8 months: During this time, AGCI will process all required documents through the US Embassy, Family Court and Procuduria de General (PGN). Once the PGN offers a favorable opinion on the adoption, the child’s birth mother signs the final deed of adoption. Once signed, AGCI will gather all final documents and submit documentation to the US Embassy. The Embassy will then issue a date and time for the child’s immigrant visa appointment and the adoptive family can travel.
Second Trip: 3-5 days: One or two parents can travel to complete the US immigrant visa appointment and bring the adoptive child back to the United States.Post-Placement: Once the child is home, AGCI requires post-placement visits and reports at three, six, and 12 months. Children adopted from Guatemala are considered automatic US citizens if both parents travel on the first trip.
Adoption Timeframe: From application through the finalization of the adoption is 18-21 months.
18. What happens to those who do not get adopted?
They stay at Hannah's Hope till their abandonment is complete and they can be adopted.
19.How are people, in general, being informed of the current situations of the orphaned children, their community, and their issues?
We periodically send out mailings with information on what’s going on in Guatemala. Also we send out E-journals monthly with this information also. For our monthly sponsors we send out quarterly updates with children’s stories, prayer requests, what the missions teams have been working on, and other Hannah’s Hope updates.
20. Who is supporting them, be it money, food, education?
A large majority of our supporters are families who have adopted from Hannah’s Hopes or people who have visited on a missions trip. They’ve been our strongest supporters since they’ve been in Guatemala and have seen all that we do for the children.
22. What can help spread the word?
I think that the best way to let people know about what Hannah’s Hope does in the Guatemala is by letting those who know what we do tell their stories. There’s only so much we can do without having the personal touch of knowing someone that’s been there, or even knowing a child who’s life has been touched by Hannah’s Hope. We’ve had adopted children from Hannah’s Hope Guatemala host benefit dinners, make videos, and even have garage sales where all the proceeds go to Hannah’s Hope. We feel extremely blessed to have such amazing supporters who take the time to be our voice in places we could’ve never gotten a chance to spread the word about Hannah’s Hope.
21. What is working on spreading the word?
Grass Root Marketing.
Interview with Shari Tvrdik, Mongolia representative
1. Where, geographically, are you located?
Mongolia, city of Ulaan Baatar
2. How long have you been at this location?
4 months
3. What made you decide to go where you are?
We truly beleive it is the call of God on our lives to serve the poor in Mongolia at this time.
4. What is your current living situation?
We are living in the poorest district of Ulaan Baatar. We live in what is called a "ger district" the name is because most of the houses are gers (yurts). We chose to live here among the people we are working with because we feel it would be the most effective way to become familiar with their struggles. We live in a brick house. No running water, but we do have electricity. We have an out door "pit" toilet.
5. What is the community that you are working with living situaion?
The families live in gers. They are circle homes that can be moved in about an hour. They are very small...appx 15 feet across. I have seen as many as 10 people sharing these tight quarters to sleep and live. Many have no electricity and of course there is no running water. They have fences built around thier gers which creates a bit of a yard called a "hasha". If you do not have your hasha built you have no privacy and no formal property so it can be taken from you at any time. Some families are fourtunate to have mud or brick homes. Usually one room. Toilets are outside and called "pit toilets". The streets are very uneaven and dangerous. Sometimes impossible to drive a car on the steets. Extreme temperatures here offten reach -40 below zero. I have yet to see a garabage can outside of my yard. The filth is tremendous. people defecating on the fenceline and in the streets. Garbage in layers everywhere.
6. What are specific living conditions for the children in the community? (i.e. food, clothing, education, shelter).
Food consists of flour and water bread, that is fried. Very little meat and even less vegetables. The water here is not drinkable unless boiled first. Most children are extremely malnourished and vitamin defficient which causes an unbelievable numer of rickets in this area. Most of the children in our area have bowed legs. Children offten do not have enough clothing. One family takes turns playing outside because they only have one pair of shoes for two kids. Many children with shoes too big or too small. Coats with pink and fluff on little boys (handed down from big sister). Shelter is tragically insufficient for many. The gers are small and need to be heated with coal. However coal is expensive for the poor here andmany children sleep in the cold all night long. Education, although valued to the extreme here, for many is unattainable. It becomes too important to make even a dollar to contribute to the families survivial. children offten are removed from school by 3rd or 4th grade. Alos text books must be bought for each student. The poor can not afford these items. Even pencils, pens and erasers become too great of a burden.
7. How do the children get there?
Those that go to school get there by walking a mile to the bus stop and taking a city bus to school. For most this bus ride would be traded for food, so the walk to school is extended. Our program includes a head start program for 6 year olds. 38 students arrive each morning, most have walked.
8. How are these necessities funded?
At the moment there are several humanitarian efforts going in this area. Through the work of many dedicated people these children are being provided with food, coal, clothing, textbooks, and education. Each organization is in charge of raising its own funds. Funding for our organinzation, Flourishing Future, is coming from individuals world wide who give financial donations to our team memebers.
9. Is the education, if provided, more textbook based or basics-of-living based? Please give an example.
This depends on the school. Mongolian public school is very textbook based. The education is much of what is left over from the recent communist regime in this country. Children learn math, science, and language very well. Math skills are amazing even at early levels. They lack completely in basics of living. There is a form of denial in the education system that does not address the poverty that is in epic proportions here. For instance you must have all your books, and educational supplies to attend. Most children in this district can not afford this. However, in many of the NGO (non governmetn organization) schools, there is more of a balanced education. Teaching even the basics of hygein, disease prevention and vocational training.
10. Approximately, how many of the children have a living parent/guardian?
In our class room of 38 6 yea olds all of them have at least one living partent
11. Of the children that have a living parent/guardian, what are the reasons that they abandon them?
Alcohol addiction accounts for most of the cases of abuse, neglect and abandonment. There is a staggering statistic here that 72% of males are alcoholics. Poverty accounts for the rest. It becomes impossible to feed the children. Many children are first neglected, abused and then end up as run aways, into the city and living in the man-holes underground.
12. Approximately, how many of the children have never had any contact with their parent?
This is not common. Most of the children have contact with at least one parent. Contacct occurs from time to time. Offten children will return home for brief periods of time before they return back to the streets. parents mostly do not search for their children.
13. Out of all of the children abandoned, what are the main factors for their parents leaving them, i.e. death, drugs, violence/gang relation, work migration, unknown, etc.
violence, alcohol, poverty
14. Are all of the children up for adoption?
No most of these children are running wild alone. Some however do get detained and taken to a government run orphanage. Many of the NGO foster homes have come under extreme scruitany byt he Mongolain governmetn. However there are several homes running in the Ulaan Bataar area that are very successful at providing a loving home, enviroment to these children.
15. Who (demographics) are adopting the children?
Very rarely, a foreigner can adopt a mongolian child. The children are being adopted out to Monoglian families...but due to poverty, it is not common for monoglians to be looking for another child.
16. Where are the children being adopted to, geographically?
Some have been adopted out to the USA, Germany, or Korea but most are adopted in country or not adopted at all.
17. What does the adoption process consist of?
Extreme Government scrutiny. If you are a USA citizen you must first go throught the process that you would have to in your own country. After you are apporved by your country then you go throught the approval process here. You will hear that it is basically impossible to be approved by the mongolian government for adoptions. However, it does happen. I know of one woman who has adopted three chirldren. However, she is living in country. I also know of a familiy who has adopted one boy...however, it was nearly ten years ago. Things have gotten much tougher since then.
18. What happens to those who do not get adopted?
They grow up in the government run orphanages if they make it there. Others, just survive on the streeet, underground in the man holes.
19. How are people, in general, being informed of the current situations of the orphaned children, their community, and their issues?
Mongolia is a forgotten country in many ways. The world has not yet taken notice of what Mongolia's poor are suffering with. We hope to bring awarness to individuals who will help support the foreign organizations that are trying to bring some relief here.
20. Who is supporting them, be it money, food, education?
Mongolias children are self supporting. However, there are some organizations here that are doing a great job working to provide safe homes, food, and education for these children. Thre are schools running, food sponsorship programs, community centers that provide vocational training for teens, vitamins, medicine, health training....and so much more. It is not hopeless and we have seen great change happen with just a little effort. Sometimes, just rice,bread and some coal for the stove can change a childs life.
Our organization is called Flourishing Future. We live next to the little community centr that is in the heart of the poor. Here we provide school, extra curricular activities and further education such as English teaching, algebra, chemistry and d Biology classess. Vitamin distributioin. We have 32 families that we worlk closely with providing food, clothing, and shelter because they are on the brink of disater and having to turn their children out to the streets beause they can not provide. The aid they receive from the community center is a life raft they can hold onto and keep the family together.
21. What is working on spreading the word?
Individual contact one one one works the best.
22. What can help spread the word?
When you think of Mongoia think of the children. Educate yourslef on the needs of the world. Its so important. The most amazing way to help spread the word is to get people over here for even a few weeks. Once you see it, you can not help but spread the word about the condition of the poor...no matter where you go. Poverty is wolrd wide.
23. What are the childrens’ demographics?
I dont know these for certain
I wanted to add as my final thoughts that every little bit helps. However more then anything, these children need love and attention put into their lives. Even a visit to the orphanges to play games and just spend tieme with them is vital. Education is not the most important thing, food is not the most important thing, love is not the mostimportant thing, shelter is not the most important thing. I have discovered that the most imoportant thing, the greatest need is whatever the little child infront of you is desperate for at the moment. That may be bread, a hug, a math class or a blanket...but you have to pay attention and ministetr one at a time.
Mongolia, city of Ulaan Baatar
2. How long have you been at this location?
4 months
3. What made you decide to go where you are?
We truly beleive it is the call of God on our lives to serve the poor in Mongolia at this time.
4. What is your current living situation?
We are living in the poorest district of Ulaan Baatar. We live in what is called a "ger district" the name is because most of the houses are gers (yurts). We chose to live here among the people we are working with because we feel it would be the most effective way to become familiar with their struggles. We live in a brick house. No running water, but we do have electricity. We have an out door "pit" toilet.
5. What is the community that you are working with living situaion?
The families live in gers. They are circle homes that can be moved in about an hour. They are very small...appx 15 feet across. I have seen as many as 10 people sharing these tight quarters to sleep and live. Many have no electricity and of course there is no running water. They have fences built around thier gers which creates a bit of a yard called a "hasha". If you do not have your hasha built you have no privacy and no formal property so it can be taken from you at any time. Some families are fourtunate to have mud or brick homes. Usually one room. Toilets are outside and called "pit toilets". The streets are very uneaven and dangerous. Sometimes impossible to drive a car on the steets. Extreme temperatures here offten reach -40 below zero. I have yet to see a garabage can outside of my yard. The filth is tremendous. people defecating on the fenceline and in the streets. Garbage in layers everywhere.
6. What are specific living conditions for the children in the community? (i.e. food, clothing, education, shelter).
Food consists of flour and water bread, that is fried. Very little meat and even less vegetables. The water here is not drinkable unless boiled first. Most children are extremely malnourished and vitamin defficient which causes an unbelievable numer of rickets in this area. Most of the children in our area have bowed legs. Children offten do not have enough clothing. One family takes turns playing outside because they only have one pair of shoes for two kids. Many children with shoes too big or too small. Coats with pink and fluff on little boys (handed down from big sister). Shelter is tragically insufficient for many. The gers are small and need to be heated with coal. However coal is expensive for the poor here andmany children sleep in the cold all night long. Education, although valued to the extreme here, for many is unattainable. It becomes too important to make even a dollar to contribute to the families survivial. children offten are removed from school by 3rd or 4th grade. Alos text books must be bought for each student. The poor can not afford these items. Even pencils, pens and erasers become too great of a burden.
7. How do the children get there?
Those that go to school get there by walking a mile to the bus stop and taking a city bus to school. For most this bus ride would be traded for food, so the walk to school is extended. Our program includes a head start program for 6 year olds. 38 students arrive each morning, most have walked.
8. How are these necessities funded?
At the moment there are several humanitarian efforts going in this area. Through the work of many dedicated people these children are being provided with food, coal, clothing, textbooks, and education. Each organization is in charge of raising its own funds. Funding for our organinzation, Flourishing Future, is coming from individuals world wide who give financial donations to our team memebers.
9. Is the education, if provided, more textbook based or basics-of-living based? Please give an example.
This depends on the school. Mongolian public school is very textbook based. The education is much of what is left over from the recent communist regime in this country. Children learn math, science, and language very well. Math skills are amazing even at early levels. They lack completely in basics of living. There is a form of denial in the education system that does not address the poverty that is in epic proportions here. For instance you must have all your books, and educational supplies to attend. Most children in this district can not afford this. However, in many of the NGO (non governmetn organization) schools, there is more of a balanced education. Teaching even the basics of hygein, disease prevention and vocational training.
10. Approximately, how many of the children have a living parent/guardian?
In our class room of 38 6 yea olds all of them have at least one living partent
11. Of the children that have a living parent/guardian, what are the reasons that they abandon them?
Alcohol addiction accounts for most of the cases of abuse, neglect and abandonment. There is a staggering statistic here that 72% of males are alcoholics. Poverty accounts for the rest. It becomes impossible to feed the children. Many children are first neglected, abused and then end up as run aways, into the city and living in the man-holes underground.
12. Approximately, how many of the children have never had any contact with their parent?
This is not common. Most of the children have contact with at least one parent. Contacct occurs from time to time. Offten children will return home for brief periods of time before they return back to the streets. parents mostly do not search for their children.
13. Out of all of the children abandoned, what are the main factors for their parents leaving them, i.e. death, drugs, violence/gang relation, work migration, unknown, etc.
violence, alcohol, poverty
14. Are all of the children up for adoption?
No most of these children are running wild alone. Some however do get detained and taken to a government run orphanage. Many of the NGO foster homes have come under extreme scruitany byt he Mongolain governmetn. However there are several homes running in the Ulaan Bataar area that are very successful at providing a loving home, enviroment to these children.
15. Who (demographics) are adopting the children?
Very rarely, a foreigner can adopt a mongolian child. The children are being adopted out to Monoglian families...but due to poverty, it is not common for monoglians to be looking for another child.
16. Where are the children being adopted to, geographically?
Some have been adopted out to the USA, Germany, or Korea but most are adopted in country or not adopted at all.
17. What does the adoption process consist of?
Extreme Government scrutiny. If you are a USA citizen you must first go throught the process that you would have to in your own country. After you are apporved by your country then you go throught the approval process here. You will hear that it is basically impossible to be approved by the mongolian government for adoptions. However, it does happen. I know of one woman who has adopted three chirldren. However, she is living in country. I also know of a familiy who has adopted one boy...however, it was nearly ten years ago. Things have gotten much tougher since then.
18. What happens to those who do not get adopted?
They grow up in the government run orphanages if they make it there. Others, just survive on the streeet, underground in the man holes.
19. How are people, in general, being informed of the current situations of the orphaned children, their community, and their issues?
Mongolia is a forgotten country in many ways. The world has not yet taken notice of what Mongolia's poor are suffering with. We hope to bring awarness to individuals who will help support the foreign organizations that are trying to bring some relief here.
20. Who is supporting them, be it money, food, education?
Mongolias children are self supporting. However, there are some organizations here that are doing a great job working to provide safe homes, food, and education for these children. Thre are schools running, food sponsorship programs, community centers that provide vocational training for teens, vitamins, medicine, health training....and so much more. It is not hopeless and we have seen great change happen with just a little effort. Sometimes, just rice,bread and some coal for the stove can change a childs life.
Our organization is called Flourishing Future. We live next to the little community centr that is in the heart of the poor. Here we provide school, extra curricular activities and further education such as English teaching, algebra, chemistry and d Biology classess. Vitamin distributioin. We have 32 families that we worlk closely with providing food, clothing, and shelter because they are on the brink of disater and having to turn their children out to the streets beause they can not provide. The aid they receive from the community center is a life raft they can hold onto and keep the family together.
21. What is working on spreading the word?
Individual contact one one one works the best.
22. What can help spread the word?
When you think of Mongoia think of the children. Educate yourslef on the needs of the world. Its so important. The most amazing way to help spread the word is to get people over here for even a few weeks. Once you see it, you can not help but spread the word about the condition of the poor...no matter where you go. Poverty is wolrd wide.
23. What are the childrens’ demographics?
I dont know these for certain
I wanted to add as my final thoughts that every little bit helps. However more then anything, these children need love and attention put into their lives. Even a visit to the orphanges to play games and just spend tieme with them is vital. Education is not the most important thing, food is not the most important thing, love is not the mostimportant thing, shelter is not the most important thing. I have discovered that the most imoportant thing, the greatest need is whatever the little child infront of you is desperate for at the moment. That may be bread, a hug, a math class or a blanket...but you have to pay attention and ministetr one at a time.
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