Could You Say "No" to This Face?

Oh my, how I am missing all of the babies right now!!

Maybe You Are The Family He Needs!

Hello, I am 10 years old and I enjoy art, woodworking and spending time with my friends. I would love to be a part of a family.

This adorable, young boy was abandoned on the side of the road when he was just five years old. For the past five years he has called an orphanage in Burkina Faso "home". We know that he has a hearing impairment, but the severity is unknown. As a result he hasn't developed his speech and communicates with simple hand signs. Unfortunately, due to his impairments he hasn’t had the opportunity to attend school. In spite of these limitations he is successful in communicating and interacting with others. He is described as delightful, cooperative and creative by his caregivers.

Perhaps you have a place in your family for him or maybe you know someone who would open their heart and home to him.

For more information visit www.adoptionadvocates.org, select Africa then click on Burkina Faso to review the program profile. For additional information contact Gay Knutson at gay@adoptionadvocates.org or call 360-452-4777. Be sure to reference case #83.

 

From Trash to Treasure...Creative Solutions

One of the first thing you notice here, and in most 3rd world countries, is the problem of trash. It's everywhere! There is no government way of handling trash, no garbage trucks, no trash collection, nothing. So, it just piles up on the streets and even in the trees! Each family is responsible for their own trash and usually you can see smoke billowing all over town at dusk when piles of trash are being burned.

It's unfortunate, but the people have been conditioned to just drop their trash wherever they are. Everything sold here is placed in black plastic bags (sachets) and these are what you mostly see all over.

Plastic bags blown into the trees

There have been efforts from groups to help eliminate the tossing of sachets by placing garbage cans and signs in different locations. Most plastic bottles are reused by women who either sell beverages in them or liquid soap that they make. Many other containers are used to start plants for gardens. Personally I like to see what the kids come up with. I have seen bracelets made from pen caps, shoes made from boxes, and a variety of different toys fashioned from bits of this and that.

Hats made from discarded boxes

Toy cars made from empty oil containers, broken branches and lids

Dress Up Fun

 We received a few gifts of children's costumes and made a dress-up trunk for the toddlers to have some creative play time. Much like our daughters when they were little, the orphanage kids loved trying on different things. I think they felt very fancy in their outfits. We actually had a hard time getting them to change back into their regular clothes!