Adoption Awareness Month

November is Adoption Awareness Month. Adoption is something very near & dear to me. If I was able to adopt, I would. But, as of right now it isn't able to happen.

Why is adoption so important? In many countries around the world, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Serbia, Republic of Georgia, Ethiopia & so many others, children with Down syndrome (& other special needs) are put away into mental institutions. Left to die. It is a horrific & incredibly sad reality. The video below gives a small glimpse into the way many of these children are treated. Not all institutions are as horrible as the one shown in this video, but nonetheless many of the children transferred to mental institutions die within the first year of being there. From sickness, malnutrition, starvation.



Because of this horrible reality, a group called Reece's Rainbow brings awareness and finds homes for many children in orphanages around the world. In the 3 short years it has been in existence, a couple hundred children have found homes.

Due to this fact, a girl named Lydia started a project (the "Darya Project") a week before Thanksgiving to bring one of the children shown on Reece's Rainbow's website home. She set out on a goal to raise $20,000 in 8 days (by Thanksgiving). If she was able to do this, her family would adopt a little girl, Darya, in an orphanage in Eastern Europe. Through bake sales, car washes, photo shoots, and many other things, Lydia was able to raise $26,000 by Thanksgiving morning! As of Friday, the total was $28,500. The extra money is going to another family who has been wanting to adopt a little one with Down syndrome. So, after 8 days of fundraising, 2 children will be rescued out of the orphanages in Eastern Europe.

Qadoshyah