In February I traveled with Julie Glandt, CAS Assistant Director, to Moldova. While I had been working with Carolina Adoptions Services’ Moldova Orphan Sponsorship Program since mid-2007 this was my very first time in Moldova. This trip allowed the people, places and realities of life (in a country evolving as an independent republic) come alive for me. Furthermore, while I support and believe strongly in the impact of the Sponsorship Program, humanitarian aid, and international adoption, in Moldova I saw first hand the effect that the CAS “family” has on the lives of young people.
In Moldova, I met with more than 20 of the 31 students receiving financial support through the Sponsorship Program to attend a vocational school or college. As I met with students new to the program – timid, uncertain 17 year olds – I contrasted them with the graduates I just met – self-confident, grateful and planning for the future. While the financial support is extremely helpful in the depressed economy, this observation proved to me that the support that is most beneficial to these students is having someone that believes in them and cares for their success. One student wrote to her sponsor “due to you and your care I feel as if I have my mother next to me. I also understand that there are wonderful people in the world who are not indifferent to the sufferings of children who are not among the happy kids who have their own parents.”
Through humanitarian aid a difference is being made in Moldova. Each of the six orphanages that Julie and I visited received a financial donation from CAS. One of the orphanages with 87 babies and preschool aged children needed money to purchase milk to drink and to make soups. Another orphanage in the northern part of the country does not have indoor bathrooms or showers. The financial donations may be small but they are making a difference, one dollar at a time.
Another way lives are being changed is through the dedicated adoption professionals working diligently to find permanent families for children. As an adoptive parent, and at times cynical, I sometimes thought these coordinators were doing the job purely for a paycheck. Boy was I proved wrong! CAS’ adoption facilitator in Moldova dedicates her life to these children. She is a woman full of energy, tenacity, professionalism and the belief that she can make a difference. Yes it is her profession, but she works long hours, spends time educating government officials on adoption law and often does the job of other officials, all to make adoptions happen.
Thank you to all the families and generous supporters of this agency, you are making a difference!
For more information about becoming a sponsor of a student in Moldova please contact Amy Kreimer at akreimer@carolinaadoption.org or (336) 275-9660. To donate to the agency’s humanitarian aid fund, please contact Carolina Adoption Services.
