What it’s Like to Participate in an Orphan Hosting Program
The last two posts have introduced you to orphan hosting programs. Linda Goodnight has hosted four children since 2005. She told me about her experiences with two hosting programs that she recommends:
URGEX, U.S.-Russian Global Exchange
www.urgex.netFostering Hope
www.hopeukraine.org
Q: Do you need to be actively seeking adoption in order to participate in the program?
A: Not with these two. Not at all. In fact, they are host-only programs, although some people do end up adopting their hosted child.
Q: What training do host families receive prior to the child's visit?
A: With both Fostering Hope and Urgex, an e-mail seminar is provided.
- Urgex also provides a world of language info and other resources to prepare the host family.
- Fostering Hope also has a close-knit group that meets to discuss the program and the coming children so that parents are prepared.
Q: How much does it cost to participate in the program?
A: Both programs were about $2,300 total. If you live on the east coast, this is quite a bit cheaper, but because I live in the central part of the U.S., the child had to be flown to me and this added another airline fare.
Q: How long does the child stay in your home?
A: 3-4 weeks, depending on the time of year.
Q: What host program activities do you and the child participate in during the visit?
A: Get-togethers with the other families.Each site has a coordinator that sets up some outings that all can attend. There are also telephone translators for any problems that may arise and a caregiver from the orphanage.We, personally, never had any issues.
Q: What is the most challenging aspect of hosting an orphaned child?
A: You're probably expecting me to say “language,” but it really wasn't. There are many ways to communicate and we did incredibly well. The hardest thing about hosting is sending the children back at the end of the vacation. We know going in that this will happen, but it is still so, so difficult to say goodbye.
Q: What is the most rewarding aspect of hosting an orphaned child?
A: The entire experience is immensely rewarding.
Examples:
- Seeing a child's eyes when they experience something they have never seen before—something as simple as bubble bath or a vacuum cleaner or a clothes drier.
- Hearing those first English words, spoken with a darling accent, “sank oo.”
- Giving them the attention they have craved for so long and done without and watching them bloom from it. I could go on and on about the positives of opening your heart to a needy child.
- Best of all, I keep up a correspondence with the kids, sending them little cards and gifts. They write back. I know I have touched lives forever. In fact, one child wrote about her hosting experience: “Those were the best days of my life.”
Q: Did you adopt the children you hosted?
A: We had planned to adopt the first child we hosted through a disreputable group. When that fell through, we decided to host for the joy of it and not worry about adoption anymore.
Q: Why do you recommend these programs?
A: Both of the programs I have discussed are professional, caring, wonderful programs who are deeply committed to the children. They do their best to keep the cost as low as possible and work hard to provide the most positive experience for everyone. They also both do humanitarian work in the orphanages before and after the hosting.
Related posts:
- Orphan Hosting Programs: New Horizons for Children
- Orphan Hosting Programs: The Russian Orphan Lighthouse Project
- Cultural Programs for Adopting Russian Orphans
- Pros and Cons of Hosting Programs for Soviet Bloc Orphans
- The Foundation for Orphans - links to many orphan hosting programs
Other posts in the Orphan Care series:
For more news and information about adoption, visit www.laurachristianson.com, and check out my Amazon Exploring Adoption bookstore.
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