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Organization	Kidsave International
Region	Sierra Leone
Website	Website
Facebook	Facebook
Twitter	@Twitter
ProjectLeader	Bonnie Williams

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Older orphans in Colombia often have no hope of growing up with a family simply because they have reached the age of eight! But many want - and long for -- a family. Kidsave gives them real hope by bringing them to the US for a 4- or 5-week visit to find a family interested in adopting them. 80% of these kids do find their forever family and are adopted.

Challenge

Children growing up in Colombian orphanages -- government or private -- do not get the care they need. Older orphans especially, considered "hard-to-place," are often overlooked or forgotten. Many children without parents don't finish high school, and end up homeless and in prisons. They are prime candidates for trafficking, prostitution, terrorists and child soldiering. A stable family provides safety, stability, an environment of trust, and helps a child lead a successful life.

Long-Term Impact

Since 1999, more than 1,880 children have participated in this "Summer Miracles" program, and over 1430 have been adopted. These children are succeeding: they are graduating from high school, completing college, getting jobs and starting their own families -- reaching their potential and having a good life that would likely not be possible without their new family.