Thank you Judy Perlstein for making birthdays special for the children at the Poludino Orphanage!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Friday's Footnotes
A Child's Shoe in Kazakhstan StoreThe First Glance
At first glance, we simply see a girl's red shoe for sale in a store in Kazakhstan.
The cost for this pair of shoes is 1800 Tenge, about $15.26 at the current exchange rate of 118 Tenge per USD.
At first glance, we simply see a girl's red shoe for sale in a store in Kazakhstan.
The cost for this pair of shoes is 1800 Tenge, about $15.26 at the current exchange rate of 118 Tenge per USD.
The Irony of This Photo
On a deeper level, this photo makes me so sad, due to the irony of it. This photo was taken by the sweetest little girl, an orphan named Vika, on an outing to buy shoes. The first thing that comes to mind when I see these shoes is the "ruby slippers" in the movie The Wizard of Oz and the phrase "There's no place like home!" In the movie, all Dorothy has to do is to click her heels together three times when she is wearing the ruby slippers and say the magic phrase, "There's no place like home...There's no place like home...." and she is transported to that special place called "home" where she is surrounded by "family", those who love and care for her. If that were only possible for the many children in the many orphanages in Kazakhstan and the rest of the world!
Is "The Wizard of Oz" a familiar story in Kazakhstan? Is that what Vika was thinking of when she saw this shoe, and is it why she took the photo? Was she dreaming of special shoes and being transported to a place called "home"? I don't know, but I have to wonder....
...and with the absence of "family" in their lives...I am thankful for the sponsors who help these children to know that they are special...and that someone does love and care about them! Thank you sponors for making a difference!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
"March Madness" a.k.a. Basketball
Children in Kazakhstan Like Basketball too!Gym at Shoptykol Orphanage
Notice the "NBA" on the Basketball PostChildren in Kazakhstan also Have Dreams of Being a Sports Star
Playground at the Children's Village
Kazakhstan also Participates in the Special OlympicsGym at Sokolovka Orphanage
These photos were taken September 2007.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Something to Smile About
Lyosha's New Smile
"Before"Lyosha had his chipped front tooth repaired. The dentist did a wonderful job! Sorry we don't have a better "before" photo. If you were able to zoom in on the one above you would see that his front tooth was chipped.
Orphanages do not have "extra" funds for dental repairs such as this. Contributions to the Dental Fund help to cover treatments like this.
Thanks to Catherine Nielsen and Renia Edwards, Lyosha's tooth was recently repaired.
Thanks to Catherine Nielsen and Renia Edwards, Lyosha's tooth was recently repaired.
Monday, March 24, 2008
March Artwork
Here is the artwork for March which reflects some of the Kazakh culture.
This artwork was done by eight year old Kolya.
Reminder: Antares Artwork Calendars are still available!
This artwork was done by eight year old Kolya.
Reminder: Antares Artwork Calendars are still available!
e-mail antares.foundation@yahoo.com to order.
Profits from calendar sales go to the "Regional Orphanage Windows Fund".
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Winter Outing for Children's Village Group
Article written by sponsor, Sarah Taylor
My husband and I adopted biological siblings, Paul and Rya from the Children’s Village in December, 2006. We adopted in 2003 from the shelter, and I thought I was familiar with all of the area orphanages, but it turned out I was wrong! When we were asked if we wanted to go and meet two children at what was called “The Children’s Village” we said yes, but had no idea what to expect! The name suits it well. The Children’s Village is a small orphanage consisting of 5 house-like buildings. The buildings are on a little street made of brick, and the property is gated.
The 5 buildings at the orphanage consist of one for administrators, and four for the children. The first home contains the director’s office, psychologist’s office, and the doctor’s office. There are four other houses that are home to four groups of children. Each building houses 9 children. There are three bedrooms in each house with three beds each. Each home has a bathroom, a living room, kitchen/dining area, a room for the caretakers and a large foyer. The home our children lived in had a piano and is subsequently where the children’s holiday programs are held. We were able to attend their New Year’s celebration and it was really wonderful.
The kids that live at the Children’s Village attend school at the Regional Boarding School/orphanage nearby. Our son was in 2nd grade there at the time of his adoption. We spent 5 weeks visiting our children and their group, and witnessed a lot of studying. They all seemed to work very hard on their schoolwork and their housemother was often very involved in homework support. The kids were all eager to try their English with us and didn’t laugh too hard at our Russian! They loved the game UNO! Because of the nature of the setup, we were able to spend a lot of time with all of the kids in our children’s group. Our son and daughter were the youngest of the group at 6 and 8, and the oldest were 15 years old. The groups truly live like families, each with responsibilities for cleaning and cooking, laundry, and looking after one another.
Since we left the Children’s Village in January 2007 to bring our two new additions home, we have been sponsoring outings for the children that we had to leave behind. The way the kids are split up at the Children’s Village makes it very easy to sponsor a group outing. We have a lot of love for our children’s group and are so happy to be able to sponsor their outings. The only hard thing is knowing that there are three other groups there that don’t get to go. Sponsoring a house at the Children’s Village would be a wonderful opportunity for a family, or a group such as a girl/boy scout troop, or a church youth group, or any other group that you might be a part of such as a Rotary club, or a sorority or fraternity. The possibilities are endless. It is such a joy to receive the photos of the children on their outing and see their smiling faces. It’s definitely my favorite part.
My husband and I adopted biological siblings, Paul and Rya from the Children’s Village in December, 2006. We adopted in 2003 from the shelter, and I thought I was familiar with all of the area orphanages, but it turned out I was wrong! When we were asked if we wanted to go and meet two children at what was called “The Children’s Village” we said yes, but had no idea what to expect! The name suits it well. The Children’s Village is a small orphanage consisting of 5 house-like buildings. The buildings are on a little street made of brick, and the property is gated.
The 5 buildings at the orphanage consist of one for administrators, and four for the children. The first home contains the director’s office, psychologist’s office, and the doctor’s office. There are four other houses that are home to four groups of children. Each building houses 9 children. There are three bedrooms in each house with three beds each. Each home has a bathroom, a living room, kitchen/dining area, a room for the caretakers and a large foyer. The home our children lived in had a piano and is subsequently where the children’s holiday programs are held. We were able to attend their New Year’s celebration and it was really wonderful.
The kids that live at the Children’s Village attend school at the Regional Boarding School/orphanage nearby. Our son was in 2nd grade there at the time of his adoption. We spent 5 weeks visiting our children and their group, and witnessed a lot of studying. They all seemed to work very hard on their schoolwork and their housemother was often very involved in homework support. The kids were all eager to try their English with us and didn’t laugh too hard at our Russian! They loved the game UNO! Because of the nature of the setup, we were able to spend a lot of time with all of the kids in our children’s group. Our son and daughter were the youngest of the group at 6 and 8, and the oldest were 15 years old. The groups truly live like families, each with responsibilities for cleaning and cooking, laundry, and looking after one another.
Since we left the Children’s Village in January 2007 to bring our two new additions home, we have been sponsoring outings for the children that we had to leave behind. The way the kids are split up at the Children’s Village makes it very easy to sponsor a group outing. We have a lot of love for our children’s group and are so happy to be able to sponsor their outings. The only hard thing is knowing that there are three other groups there that don’t get to go. Sponsoring a house at the Children’s Village would be a wonderful opportunity for a family, or a group such as a girl/boy scout troop, or a church youth group, or any other group that you might be a part of such as a Rotary club, or a sorority or fraternity. The possibilities are endless. It is such a joy to receive the photos of the children on their outing and see their smiling faces. It’s definitely my favorite part.
Thank you Sarah, for writing this article about the Children's Village and sponsorship!
To find out more about sponsoring an outing for one of the other three Children's Village Groups....please contact us at antares.foundation@yahoo.com OR contact Sarah at taylor.sp@gmail.com
Friday's Footnotes
Shoes by the Play Area at Doner Cafe
Here are a variety of Kazakhstan shoes. Shoes must be taken off before children are allowed to enter the carpeted play area at the Doner Cafe. The white tennis shoes were sent to a child by their sponsor.
For winter outings the children all went to the Doner Cafe and to the cinema.
Above is a photo of the sign above the entrance to the Doner Cafe.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Winter Birthday Outings
Happy Birthday Vasya!
Happy Birthday Tanya!
Thanks to Vasya and Tanya's sponsors, Renia Edwards and Melody Biddinger, who made their birthdays special with a birthday outing! It's a day they will always remember! It was also fun for their friends who were able to accompany them.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Winter Outings
January 5th Outing
I need a sponsor!
November Outings
HAVING FUN!
THANK YOU SPONSORS!
We are catching up on posting some of the winter outings.
These are a few. More will be posted soon.
THANK YOU SPONSORS!
Thank you sponsors for the wonderful smiles and memories you have created!
Sometimes sponsors send money to include children who do not have a sponsor. There is one boy (his photo is above) who needs a sponsor.
We are catching up on posting some of the winter outings.
These are a few. More will be posted soon.
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