First the old rumor.. The SDA was suppose to open to adoptive families today. It didn't. No one is surprised. Staff is working at the SDA building. I have hopes that it will open to adoptive parents in July. (sigh...........)

I wrote about becoming a volunteer coordinator for my daughter's Ukrainian orphanage 2.5 weeks ago. I am working with the Life2Orphans charity, which is based in the United States.


I just realized that I didn't share my stories about the orphanage and the director Igor Aleksandrovich.


Starting with the orphanage name.... My daughter's orphanage is known as Green Forest Specialized Orphanage (GFO) and Zeleniy Gay Orphanage. There are a half dozen other spellings for the orphanage name. This creates confusion among adoptive families. I had to exchange photos with another family who adopted from "Green Forest" before I was certain that it was the same orphanage as Zeleny Gai.


NOTE: I am funding raising for several Green Forest projects. I am doing this via different means. I am not trying to ask you for money. :) I am just sharing information on my current projects.


But if you feel called to help, you can donate money via paypal or send a check. Life2Orphans has a page titled, "The Many Ways To Help" if you are interested in other options

• Shirts



• Magnets



• Christmas Cards



• eBay auctions

And if you are donating money for Green Forest Orphanage, please mark the donation with Green Forest Orphanage.



Has anyone heard of a donkey being used to help children with mobility issues? The picture above is GFO's rehabilitation donkey.

Horses are used around the world to provide therapy. People with cerebral palsy are able to walk better after riding a horse. The movement of riding seems to train their muscles. Horses have been successfully used for many different emotional types of therapy too.


GFO's director Aleksandrovich didn't have money for a horse so he bought a donkey. I like someone who can think outside the box... very creative.


GFO's orphanage currently has 112 children. Since it is a specialized orphanage this means they have children with AIDS, crossed eyes, cleft palate, cerebral palsy and down syndrome. Right now they have 18 babies with HIV or AIDS.

My daughter, Natasha, was at GFO because of her crossed eyes.


Currently I am fund raising for a verdana. Director Aleksandrovich wants to repair a veranda that can be used by the children and staff for shade and shelter during their outdoor play. He needs to purchase concrete for the floor and other materials to create the roof.


Outdoor play helps the children stay healthy and develop muscle tone. Also it allows the children to generate the sunshine vitamin.


Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin because our body creates it after being exposed to sunlight. It strengthens bones because it helps the body absorb bone-building calcium. And this in turn prevents rickets. All good things.


Oops... I just ran out of time. I will blog about the other projects later.