Restoring those Beyond yourself

      

Restoring those Beyond yourself

 

        I want to write this blog on the importance of adopting and why everyone should consider it. When adopting, you are not only taking home a little child to be your own, but you are giving someone a place to call home and the chance to a loving family. A home that they may have never had or now hope to have otherwise. When the idea of adopting an orphan arises, many people begin to think of reasons of why they can't, wouldn't, or shouldn't every consider adopting. However, I ask that if you are at point in life where you are financially and mentally able to take care of a child, what holds you back? There are lives out there that need comfort and the "easier way" more than yourself.
       I believe that if people were to look beyond themselves and place their focus elsewhere--on issues that are larger than their own needs and wants--the tragic amount of orphans in the world wouldn't only be much lower, but other issues would be met with solutions as well. When considering adopting a little boy or girl in the future, or right now, I urge you to not allow your thoughts to go to yourself first; rather on the person that you would have a chance to transform for the rest of their life. Reach out to someone that would perhaps never know what it really meant to have a family or know the actual concept of being valued.
        Anyone can come up with excuses and find ways to not step up, or out. Therefore, it is the people that try a little harder, preserve a little longer, and look beyond their own lives that make a difference in the world and in an individual, important life. Will you be one of those people that arise to rescue, restore, and transform a child’s life that do not have much else? The choice is yours, as is the joy that comes with it.

Reflecting Back

     Reflecting Back

      In the beginning of this project, my first initial choice of a topic was not orphanages and orphans. I first wanted to look into sex trafficking, the corrupt nationalized business it has become, and what is being done for those captive in sex trafficking. However, a couple of people also had this topic in mind, so I strayed to something else so that the classes topics could be diversified. And after some thought, landed on orphans. I'm happy that I choose orphans because it has given me insights into this topic and the worldwide epidemic that it is and information that I would have otherwise, never known.
       Through this project I have learned that there is an estimated 143 million orphans in the world. And the only refuge and hope for a good life for these children is through an orphanage, a safe house, or the chance of adoption by a family. With these three being primary, there are few other options for orphans. Once your parents die, and if without relatives to take care of you, children are left to fend on their own. The three examples listed above are almost the only way for children to have hope for a better life. I have learned that the smaller, non-profit organizations are made up of the people that truly make a difference for the orphans out there. Not so much the big government organizations, but the altruistic, common every day person who has a loving heart--the people that look past their own comfort and personal needs to others.
       Over all right now, I am passionately interested in finding out more of what we can do for the orphans across the world and if it may be possible to make the adoption procedure not so tedious, so that more homeless, family-less children can find a good home to live in and have a fullier life. I therefore want to not be default, but dig in deeper to see if that is possible but more than anything, I want to see how childrens lives are changed once their adopted. Whether for the good or the bad. I'm interested to see what else I will discover and am looking forward to it!

Poll Feedback

Poll Feedback

       My poll gave the question, Would you want to adopt an orphan one day in the future? With options of: Yes!!, Possibly, Maybe, it depends, and, No, Likely never. However, overall only 3 people voted on my blog, making it not very credible. Of these 3 votes everyone answered, possibly. Which was the answer I anticipated to have the highest outcome. I predicted that it would be between possibly, and maybe, it depends. But being that only 3 people answered, this prediction didn't have enough data to come through. 

      It makes me happy to know though, that 3 people where willing to say yes, they might possibly adopt one day. Giving an insight that others within my age group feel this way as well, making it more likely for children to be adopted and have a good family to live with in the future. I wish my poll had more information and data to go off of, however am also happy with the outcome of it, even with the small numbers. If others one day stumble upon my blog and the poll and choose to vote on it, I will be very interested in their opinion and in seeing how the poll progresses.

Just how old is too old to adopt?

      
Just how old is too old to adopt?

When the prospect of adopting comes to mind for many, the issue of the age of the adoptee commonly doesn't intervene with the process. In the world of adoptions and the families that orphans and children get adopted into, the concept and question can arise, how old is too old to adopt? With many different factors being incorporated into the idea of an older individual or couple wanting to adopt--having both good and bad sides--the issue of adopting at an older age proves to be a controversial one.

Adopting at an age of 40 or older obviously brings in the consideration of the life span of the parent(s) to the child they intend to be caregivers for and raise. While many can live good, long healthy lives, the responsibility of raising a child to adulthood when your life span is at a rockier, less predictable stage blatantly is something to strongly take to mind. Also, while adopting at an older age the concern for the child's physiological development comes into play, being that the child has to deal with not only possibly being of a different ethical group, but also having parents that are much older than other others parents marking them marked "different" further more. And as Betty Laning gives good advice and points in her When are you "Too Old" to Adopt? article, "Teens need tactful parental supervision or parent participation in sports, outdoor activities, social events, etc. If you are 45 when adopting a baby, you'll be 60 when your child is 15. Make a point of having some friends younger than yourself so that they possibly can substitute for you in activities when you find yourself not as young as you used to be!" Expressing that being at such an older age than your adopted child, it may be harder to keep up then it would have been 20 or 30 years prier. 

However, although adopting at an older age may have its cons, it just as well has its pro's also. When adopting at such an age, many share how they feel their more mature and stable in life to be the child's benefactor and take on an additional or first child into their family. As an Adoption under one Roof article shares, "You don’t have to be superman or superwoman. What you don’t have in energy, you make up for in patience, understanding, and life experience" What a great way to state it! Another good aspect to adopting no matter your age is that not only will a child get welcomed into a loving, caring family that they may have never found otherwise, the new mother and or father also get a chance to parenting and having a kid that they may never would have if not through adoption.

Adopting at an older age can prove to be hard, and while some may think there should be a limit to the age that a person should adopt a young one (which very well may be true) all should keep in mind the ever present issue of orphan's and family-less child in the world as well. The state that a person is in mentally and physically differentiates between person to person--not only be the age group that they are in. May this prove to be the dependent view point when making the decision of when is the best age to adopt a child, no matter that individual's age.




 Laning, Betty. "Untitled Document." RainbowKids.com Adoption Information, Support, Child Photolistings, Articles and Resources. 01 June 2006. Web. 07 Nov. 2010. <http://www.rainbowkids.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=66>.

Adoption under One Roof. "Older Parent Adoption | Adoption Under One Roof." Adoption Under One Roof | Covering Adoption from Every Angle, Every View, for Everyone. 2010. Web. 07 Nov. 2010. <http://ouradopt.com/content/older-parent-adoption>.

Harvest Blessings Center

        Harvest Blessings Center is an organization that is dedicated to rescuing orphans in Kenya, Africa, however is also reaching throughout all other parts of the world. It was founded February 4th, 2007 and shows updating on September 8th of 2010. Harvest Blessings Center (HBC) is an accurate, effective, and over a all mostly credible source for information on a child sponsoring organization. With contents and graphics that partially meet high end standards.
      Although it is hard to have differing opinions on orphans and the action that should be taken with them, HBC gives a strong stand on what they believe and the lives that they are after to save. Not leaving much room for what is and what isn't accurate in the opinion of the restoration of children in Kenya and other parts of the world, but showing that their mission statement and vision meets up with others of similar goals for the orphans of the world. Resolving in yes, HBC presents to be accurate. Harvest Blessings Center is also written very well with information that is quite easily found. With a layout that is both eye pleasing and inspiring. It gets it point across without boring you in the process. Being effective and useful.
      While this source is legitimate in the fact that it is a real organization, it also lacks some countability. It is hard to find when it was last updated, besides by a side blog on a orphan child. It also shows no designated sponsor or actual author besides the organization its self. However, by the credibility that is displayed by the organization being an impactful and life changing group that makes a difference, the facts of who the sponsors are, etc don't really stand as highly important. It is the format of the website and how it is laid out, not the founders and runners being dishonest or creating any of the information to be untrue.
      The contents graphics are only to a fairly high level. Because although they get the cause of the children across and what people can do, they should also state more of the facts and topics on orphans in general. And they do have some nice pictures of children however, they should also show more of what their doing and the effect that it beings on the children. The visuals are only partially efficient. But for the goal of the site, reaching people to help care and support children, it is sufficient. It plays against peoples typical mercenary mentalities and elicits their hearts.
      Harvest Blessings Center is a source and organization that does what its sought out to do well, save and provide for children. It could add on its detail on the over all cover of orphans in general and enhance the visuals and graphics, but is never the less a good and impactful organization. Credibility, accuracy, effectiveness and its content is resolved legit. Their mission is sought after with a powerful website behind them and, lives are changed due to it.

HBC. "Harvest Blessings Center." Harvest Blessings Center ♥ Kenya « Transforming a Nation… One Child at a Time. 8th Sept. 2010. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. <http://hbckenya.com/>.

Orphans of Today

Orphans of Today

        Currently 2.5 percent of all children in Africa have no parents at all. And of 2008 the rest of the world has an estimated 145 million orphans. However, this number doesn’t reflect what we normally think of as a traditional orphan. Of the 145 million orphans there are more than 92 million that have a surviving mother and 38 million that have a surviving father. Added together however there is still over 15 million that are double orphaned without a father or a mother. Statistics are hard to get a hold on for orphans, but when the numbers reach above 100 million, and 15 million that are double orphaned, that is more than enough to know something needs to be done. Everyone agrees and knows that action needs to be taken for these children--to rescue them—and there isn't any argument or disagreement with it. But when people take a step to actually accomplish change and help save lives: that is when we can see a difference.
       There are organizations all across the world that are devoted to helping these children, giving them new homes, saving them from sex or labor slavery, and stopping such a thing before it even starts within the government, churches, and individuals. However these organizations are powerless without the support of people standing behind them. The power that will determine whether these children find hope rests in the hands of everyday people throughout the globe that can donate to these organizations and keep them running. That is where orphan's and orphanages stand today, through the people who are determined enough to establish change and give a little of themselves for another.


 Berg, Rouvanne VD. "Orphans Today, Leaders Tomorrow? « the HIVe." The HIVe. 28 May 2007. Web. 16 Oct. 2010. <http://hivaids.wordpress.com/2007/05/28/orphans-today-leaders-tomorrow/>.

Fortune, Maison. "Maison Fortune Today." Welcome to the MaisonFortune.org. 02 Dec. 2009. Web. 19 Oct. 2010. <http://www.maisonfortune.org/index.php/the-orphanage-today>.

Background

Orphanages Background

        Orphan's have been in the world as long as parents have had children, the unavoidable possibility of death can always threaten all, including every parent throughout the world. Within every country there are those who have been orphaned and if without relatives or friends to be taken in by, they are left to live fully on their own. And that is where the hope and prayers for an orphanage come in; if it were not for orphanages, the over running epidemic of abandoned orphan's would be near to impossible to comprehend. Orphanages are the only hope for orphan's to be rescued. But throughout the world, countries that are not as structurally strong and founded don't have the resources and organization to help all the children that are homeless and without food. Many do not have the money it takes to create or run an orphanage, and due to corruptness that is within the ruling of many third world countries, it is hard to know where to start in solving the problem that runs rampant in so many countries.
         When a child's parents pass away, all thoughts and expectations go to those who are related to the child or a close family friend who will take them in and care for them until they have reached the age of adulthood. However, what many over look is that a lot of children do not have a parental guardian to look after them if their parents die. Whether it is due to not having much of a family or a connection with them, or a sense of community that obligates anyone to take in a families children, many are left to fend for themselves. Many people in America or any country, do not have the money and ability to support a child or an additional one into their family. There are families in every country that can not care for the children that they have, leaving some children to be orphaned without even losing their parents.
         If without a family or friend to take in an orphan, an orphanage organization is the last resort for many children to live and grow up. The first orphanage was founded in the 1st century and was created to give a place for orphan's to live and be taken care of until they reached the age of 18, and was then given as apprentices to different households to ensure their support and learning of an occupation. It is these orphanages that create a place to live and develop in until the children reach adulthood. And if it weren't for orphanages and the people that start and run them, there would be no restoration or support in giving them a new start in life and resources to depend on.

        The condition of a country greatly reflects how the people that are greatest in need are taken care of. If in poverty or the governorship of a country is corrupt, the country is unable to support those who are in need and orphaned. With Haiti as an example, when the earthquake hit them, "Thousands of children left orphaned by the devastating earthquake in Haiti are now left with no one to care for them. Many are scattered among makeshift camps for the homeless, leaving them prey to disease and child predators." Haiti couldn't help its citizens and orphan's after such a horrible earthquake that threw the already poor country into devastating circumstances. Their entire dependency was on other countries support. So when a country is without the ability to take care of their own people and provide them with what they need, it is in these same countries that children without a home or a family go unseen. And if children that are homeless go unrecognized, they're hope in being rescued is lost. And children shouldn't have to live hoping to be found, but should be taken up and cared for by those who are able. And if there are people who are willing, there are also people who are very well able.  

 Bibliography:

Charlene, By. "Finding Hope for Haiti's Orphans - World - CBN News - Christian News 24-7 - CBN.com." CBN.com - The Christian Broadcasting Network. 31 Jan. 2010. Web. 04 Oct. 2010. <http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2010/January/Finding-Hope-for-Haitis-Orphans/>.

"Orphanage." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Ed. Wikipedia. 20 Aug. 2010. Web. 04 Oct. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphanage>.

Orphange Introduction

Faces of an Orphanage

 There is said to be over 143 million orphans in the world today, and every two seconds, another child becomes an orphan. Leaving millions of children to fend and live on their own, without a home and place to go. This year I want to not only research and blog what these children are going through and the lives they are living, but how they got to be on their own and the life they have ahead. Millions of girls every year are abducted, tricked, or sold into sex slavery. And all orphans, if not enslaved into a form of sex and labor slavery or are not rescued, are left on their own with no where to go. But what is being done for these children and young adults? What hands are reached out so that they don't have to live life on their own? And what becomes of them if not rescued once they do reach adulthood? There are millions of children who are living without a voice, a bed to lay in, and food to eat. Though how is it that all these orphan's throughout the world got into the position that they are in, what brought them there, and what can bring them out? These, and the questions prier are the questions that I hope to answer throughout this year. Giving an insight to everyone in our classroom of what is happening in our world today, and bringing the knowledge that must be known before change can ever be possible.