To continue…..In 2004 our family began sponsoring the girls closest to our son. They lived in the same group as our son and had been in the same class and grade. These were the children we had spent the most time with while we were in Kazakhstan.
2003 Our Son and His Two Close Friends
The Girls We Now Sponsor
2006 The Same Girls
2008It has been such a joy to watch these girls grow up, to be a part of their life, to get to know them. We have sent the girls letters and encouragement. We have tried to provide for their needs, such as sending money for glasses and a winter coat. We have mailed clothing, shoes, school supplies, toys and more. We have sent packages or money for outings for their birthdays, for Christmas/New Years, at the beginning of the school year, and in the spring or at the end of the school year. Most of all we have showed them that we care; which is the main purpose of sponsorship. Often when sending packages, we would try to include items for some of the other children too.
The wonderful thing about the Antares Sponsorship Program is that it allows sponsors to sponsor in a way that works best for them. For some people, it is sending letters and money for outings or so that needed items can be purchased. They may have busy schedules and no time to shop. Other sponsors enjoy the process of shopping and choosing special items for their child, packing it up and sending it to them.
I became so involved helping that I was asked if I would like to officially be a part of the Antares Foundation. I was given the title of “US Program Coordinator” and helped by letting others know about Antares and how they could become involved. Later I was given the title of “Vice President” after Jamie, the former president and co-founder of Antares Foundation left and Laura took her place as “President”. For both of us it is a labor of love. We receive no salary. We donate our time and money.
Through the Antares Foundation we have met (some in person and some over the phone and internet) many other kind, caring, compassionate people who also desire to help the children of Kazakhstan. Some, like Mary Ann F., Kathy, Nancy, Jeff, Judy, Bill (and several others) have adopted children from this region. They too, saw and spent time with the many children there and want to make a difference and help their children’s friends---children that they too got to know. Others, like Michele W and Jeanne J adopted children from other parts of Kazakhstan and wanted a way to help other orphans in Kazakhstan and a connection to KZ for their children. Some people, like Todd, Laurie, and Barb, had friends or relatives who adopted from KZ and became involved for that reason. Catherine, Candy, and others simply found the website and became involved.
Some more history
We looked into the possibility of sponsoring a summer hosting program, to bring some of the children over to the US to experience a new culture the summer of 2006. Approval was received at every level, until it reached the final level and was denied. We were told that Kazakhstan was no longer allowing summer hosting programs. (Only some of the scholarship recipients over 18 were allowed to come that summer.) We also discovered that the younger children we hoped to bring here had been told of the trip. We knew how disappointed they must be, as we were too! One of the sponsors suggested that we go visit them. We started planning for this. She was not able to go, but with the money my husband and I had set aside to bring the girls here, I was able to go to KZ June 2006 to visit them, and visited several of the orphanages while there. It was good to see familiar faces and spend more time with the children, especially the girls we sponsored. I also met many more children on this trip, and met another girl our family began sponsoring too. I returned home with an even greater desire to help the children.
September 2007, I was able to return to Petropavlovsk, with Laura who had never been to Kazakhstan. She was able to meet with the orphanage administrations, and to see for the first time the many children she had been helping for years! It was during this trip that the possibility of a Medical Program evolved and took off! There are so many things we would like to do---so many more things that could be done— such as to further develop the medical program, and look into more ways of helping the children who “graduate” from the orphanage either at the end of 9th grade or 11th. However, more time, talent, and resources are required for these to be possible. If you would like to become more involved in any of these ways, please let us know! As you know, Antares has been experiencing some growing pains, and we are making some progress as far as restructuring. Though we had planned to take a break this summer…because of our love for the children…we keep going...spending hours each day on e-mails and or phone calls, plans, researching, etc….. (We hope to have a detailed update on that by September.)
Thanks for letting me reminisce on the five year anniversary of my first trip to Kazakhstan…about the adoption of our son…and how and why I became involved with the Antares Foundation! It’s all about the children! I also want to say “THANK YOU” to those of you who send donations or who personally sponsor children! I’ve seen first hand how much it means to the children to know that someone cares! I have seen packages delivered, and yes, the children were excited about the contents. They were also just as excited, to show us photos of their sponsors, the people who care about them. They knew their sponsors by name. One day in a group, they started telling us their sponsor’s name; trying to do so in English: “I’m Lisa Walker”….”I’m Susan”…and we could see in their eyes and smiles how much that meant!
The wonderful thing about the Antares Sponsorship Program is that it allows sponsors to sponsor in a way that works best for them. For some people, it is sending letters and money for outings or so that needed items can be purchased. They may have busy schedules and no time to shop. Other sponsors enjoy the process of shopping and choosing special items for their child, packing it up and sending it to them.
I became so involved helping that I was asked if I would like to officially be a part of the Antares Foundation. I was given the title of “US Program Coordinator” and helped by letting others know about Antares and how they could become involved. Later I was given the title of “Vice President” after Jamie, the former president and co-founder of Antares Foundation left and Laura took her place as “President”. For both of us it is a labor of love. We receive no salary. We donate our time and money.
Through the Antares Foundation we have met (some in person and some over the phone and internet) many other kind, caring, compassionate people who also desire to help the children of Kazakhstan. Some, like Mary Ann F., Kathy, Nancy, Jeff, Judy, Bill (and several others) have adopted children from this region. They too, saw and spent time with the many children there and want to make a difference and help their children’s friends---children that they too got to know. Others, like Michele W and Jeanne J adopted children from other parts of Kazakhstan and wanted a way to help other orphans in Kazakhstan and a connection to KZ for their children. Some people, like Todd, Laurie, and Barb, had friends or relatives who adopted from KZ and became involved for that reason. Catherine, Candy, and others simply found the website and became involved.
Some more history
We looked into the possibility of sponsoring a summer hosting program, to bring some of the children over to the US to experience a new culture the summer of 2006. Approval was received at every level, until it reached the final level and was denied. We were told that Kazakhstan was no longer allowing summer hosting programs. (Only some of the scholarship recipients over 18 were allowed to come that summer.) We also discovered that the younger children we hoped to bring here had been told of the trip. We knew how disappointed they must be, as we were too! One of the sponsors suggested that we go visit them. We started planning for this. She was not able to go, but with the money my husband and I had set aside to bring the girls here, I was able to go to KZ June 2006 to visit them, and visited several of the orphanages while there. It was good to see familiar faces and spend more time with the children, especially the girls we sponsored. I also met many more children on this trip, and met another girl our family began sponsoring too. I returned home with an even greater desire to help the children.
September 2007, I was able to return to Petropavlovsk, with Laura who had never been to Kazakhstan. She was able to meet with the orphanage administrations, and to see for the first time the many children she had been helping for years! It was during this trip that the possibility of a Medical Program evolved and took off! There are so many things we would like to do---so many more things that could be done— such as to further develop the medical program, and look into more ways of helping the children who “graduate” from the orphanage either at the end of 9th grade or 11th. However, more time, talent, and resources are required for these to be possible. If you would like to become more involved in any of these ways, please let us know! As you know, Antares has been experiencing some growing pains, and we are making some progress as far as restructuring. Though we had planned to take a break this summer…because of our love for the children…we keep going...spending hours each day on e-mails and or phone calls, plans, researching, etc….. (We hope to have a detailed update on that by September.)
Thanks for letting me reminisce on the five year anniversary of my first trip to Kazakhstan…about the adoption of our son…and how and why I became involved with the Antares Foundation! It’s all about the children! I also want to say “THANK YOU” to those of you who send donations or who personally sponsor children! I’ve seen first hand how much it means to the children to know that someone cares! I have seen packages delivered, and yes, the children were excited about the contents. They were also just as excited, to show us photos of their sponsors, the people who care about them. They knew their sponsors by name. One day in a group, they started telling us their sponsor’s name; trying to do so in English: “I’m Lisa Walker”….”I’m Susan”…and we could see in their eyes and smiles how much that meant!
More Photos
June 2006 Visit
2006 I Met This Girl andWe Began Sponsoring Her Too
2006
2008******************************************************************
(Left) My son and a friend at camp in KZ in 2003.(Right) A photo of me with my son's same friend at the orphanage in 2007.
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(Left) A 2002 photo of my son and his very best friend in Kazakhstan.
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(Left) A 2002 photo of my son and his very best friend in Kazakhstan.
Recently, through Antares, my son was thrilled to re-connect with this friend.
They have sent letters back and forth, and we have sent packages. My son is now personally sponsoring his dear friend.
(Right) A recent 2008 photo of his friend, receiving a gift my son sent.
My husband and I did not meet this boy when we were in Kazakhstan. He was not at the camp or orphanage. (That is his story to tell and not ours.) Our son often mentioned him and wished that he could maintain contact with him. Thankfully, through Antares, he has been able to do so!
Apryl
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