For years we have partnered with people working with, and have directly worked with, abandoned children. Through this process we have learned what truly is the source of the failure or the success in their lives. This is determined by how they are equipped, or hindered, by those around them. 

In the same way that you were shaped by the one who raised you, whether good or bad, so too are these children. A child who does not grow up in a healthy, loving environment will always have “issues”. An environment that does not educate in a correct way can hardly be called healthy or loving. 

When abandoned children are not adopted or fostered into a healthy and loving family, they are “institutionalized”. Every institutionalized child has different specific issues, situations and histories that shape them to become the child or adult that they currently are, but they all share common needs. The first is training on how to deal with their trauma, second to be taught missing life skills and third to be provided with a good education.

Abandonment equals trauma, poor or no parenting equals missing social skills and a lack of motivation or understanding of the importance of education equals an inadequate education. Just one of these can damage the chances for success in anyone’s life, what if you had to deal with all three at the same time? 

To unlock the potential for success, we have to equip the child or adult to deal with these issues separately. 

Trauma shows itself in a range ways from being antisocial, aggressive, reckless or overly needy. These issues typically start to take shape before children are abandoned, while they are in their home environment. There are always traumatic events that lead up to a child’s abandonment. In most situations, the people around the child have decided that something or someone is more important than the child themselves, therefore the child’s needs are not met and the child is pulled away from the family or voluntarily abandoned. Sadly the trauma doesn’t stop there. When a child is brought into the institution the trauma continues. This can  be as bad as being quarantined upon entry, humiliated by staff, bullied by peers, abused by someone more powerful or simply being physically and emotionally neglected, much like prison. Even if they are lucky enough not to reach this extreme of a situation, this new environment is a complete shock for them. No matter how it compares to their previous home conditions, their mind is not capable of dealing with what has just gone on. This begins a constant state of fight or flight that rewires the way that they see and adjust to this world. This issue does not correct it’s self with time, it digs itself in with time.

For this reason, the orphan has to be equipped with the tools to address their own issues. If not, their inability to deal with issues will leave a path of destruction everywhere they go for the rest of their lives. 

For trauma, we turn to the methods and training that is provided by the KARYN PURVIS INSTITUTE OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT in the TBRI therapy program. In this way, we work to train not only the child but the care giver as well, to help the child to heal, develop and ultimately succeed!

When a child is institutionalized, the ultimately become a number. This affects them on so many levels but exposes itself most obviously through their educational progress and social skills. It is very difficult for a child to discover on their own why education is so important and how it is correct to interact with other people in society. 

Institutionalized Orphans often have issues with attention, focus and delayed brain development. This is because of their past trauma and constant fight or flight mode. You can guess how this works itself out in education and every parent and teacher should know that when grades go, so does behavior. The snowball starts and eventually you have an avalanche! At this point the kids feel horrible about themselves and their “lack of ability”. They believe every negative feedback that they receive about themselves and they eventually give up. Because of this, they are often passed off as stupid and even less priority is given to their success and wellbeing.

We work to show them that they can. Using the Feuerstein method and a lot of love, we labor to help them to develop their brains, find strategies to overcome their weaknesses and give them hope! We then provided them with professional tutors in math, English or their home languages to show them that they can learn, they can succeed! 

For those who are dedicated enough, we help them to get a higher education. During this time, they are placed with a host family that helps them to learn life skills and normal family behavior. This is essential for equipping them for a successful life.