In honor of Down Syndrome Day last week, I want to introduce you to this beautiful friend of mine. This is Hope. She is one of the first children I befriended at the orphanage. At that time, over 3 years ago, she was so full of joy and fun and hope — hence the name we gave her.
But in just 3 short years, she lost all of that. 👉🏽 Let‘s get real for a moment... 👈🏽 Life in an orphanage is HARD. No mom or dad to fight your battles with you, no one to hug you when you get hurt or embarrassed, no one to protect you from other kids or adults who are not on your side. You make friends where you can, and simply try to survive. Hope had a best friend three years ago... his name is Alexander. They did everything together and always had each other’s backs. One day we discovered that Alexander had been transferred to another room to help take care of the other older boys like himself. There was also a rumor that there had been some inappropriate behavior between Hope and Alexander, who were about 12 and 16 at the time, and both diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Now, I completely understand the need to move Alexander away from Hope after such a suspicion came up... but my heart breaks for Hope just the same. The hurt and loneliness that she has experienced in the following years is evident on her face and in the way tears come so easily to her eyes. It all begs the question... what can we do about this? How do we guarantee that Hope has a safe and loving environment? How do we ensure that the children who come after her don't experience the same physical vulnerability and heartache? It always comes back to the people who are surrounding these kids. 💗 Hope Station is on a mission to raise up champions for Hope and others like her. 💗 It takes a 👉🏽 mindset shift among orphanage staff to realize that more hands are needed, that children cannot be left alone in a room for hours on end, that children with special needs need not less care but MORE. And it takes a 👉🏽 skill set shift as well, an awareness about Down Syndrome and the struggles and gifts that she will experience throughout her unique life. Hope Station is fighting for Hope, and training up those who are already around her to do the same. Every moment our team and I spend in the orphanage brings awareness to Hope's nannies about what kind of care she needs. Slowly but surely, hearts will change and her environment will become safer and more loving. We fight together, as long as it takes.
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A note from Rebekah...If you've ever wondered what it would be like to start a nonprofit from the ground up, to open a home for ORPHANS with special needs in Asia, you've come to the right place. Archives
August 2019
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