Meet April Wareham!

We are excited to give our families a little glimpse of the staff here at GWCA and CAN, so that you can see who we are and why we love doing just what we do. Every day we come to work and love to connect with our families, but now we are going to show you whose faces are behind every phone call, letter and E-mail received.

April is just a fun-loving person, plain and simple. She has this certain zest for life that’s undeniable and infectious. It couldn’t be more perfect that by definition her job allows her to enjoy life to it’s fullest! April is always off trotting the globe, bringing back new experiences and perspectives to share with our staff. When we are graced by her presence in the office, she is often behind-the-scenes opening and developing all of the new country programs that drive Children of All Nations. She is a vital part of our organization and we lucky enough to have someone this passionate on board!

So without further ado…meet April!

1. What is your job title and description here at GWCA?

I’m the Development and Program Management Specialist. My job is to research and compile information on new countries we plan to open, liaise with the foreign governments and orphanages we work with, hire and manage overseas staff, and coordinate our orphan care projects.

2. How long have you been working at GWCA?

It will be 3 years in September. 

3. What do you enjoy most about your job?

My favorite part of my job is when I get to travel and visit the children in the orphanages because it always gives me ideas on more ways we can help them beyond adoption. Meeting the kids and seeing their conditions first-hand motivates me to work harder at my job so we can do more for them. I also love visiting new countries and getting to know the culture, cuisine and local languages.

4. What is the most difficult aspect of your job?

The most difficult aspect is navigating the international adoption laws between the U.S. and the countries we work in, as they often change without warning. There are also many challenges to developing programs thanks to bureaucratic delays, lax adoption laws in the sending countries, and just cultural differences that can impede communication and timeliness to the adoption process.  

5. How have you grown personally from working at GWCA and with their families? 

Above all I have learned patience and understanding, as working with many different countries, cultures and across multiple language barriers can be challenging. That being said, it’s allowed me to realize that we must keep the big picture in mind, which is helping the children, to achieve these qualities. I’ve been able to grow spiritually, emotionally and professionally by working in a field that allows for so much good to be done in the world. 

6. Why do you love adoption?

My favorite quote is “Be the change you wish to see in the world” by Gandhi. Adoption allows us to “be the change” by helping children who would otherwise have never known what a hug from a mother or father is like. Changing the world starts with one person at a time, and if there is one less orphan in the world, and one more family is created in love, then that surely is a great way to impact positive worldwide change in which the ripple effects could be far greater than we imagined.

Fun facts about April:

1. I have been to over 15 countries on 4 continents.

2. Once, in Rwanda, I ate fried grasshoppers that I helped catch and “prepare” for dinner.

3. I speak fluent Spanish and have lived a total of about a year in Latin America.

4. I was the editor of my high school newspaper and yearbook.

5. As a kid, I used to organize little holiday parades with other kids in my neighborhood, and we would parade around the block singing some holiday song for our parents with our dogs, little decorated wagons, bikes, etc to celebrate.

 

“April is a joy to be around!  She is always passionate and excited about something that’s upcoming! She’s also responsible for so much of the growth that’s occurred within CAN the past few years and we owe a lot of credit to her.” -April’s Co-Worker

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Noah and Nora Need You Now!

At GWCA/CAN our waiting children deserve as much advocacy and support as possible. We know their forever family is also waiting for them, and our mission is to provide you with as much information on these kiddos as possible! Today, we are highlighting Noah and Nora, a sibling group from our Bulgaria program! Are you their forever family?

**For more information on Noah and Nora, please contact: Emily@childrenofallnations.com**

Noah and Nora are siblings that were placed in the care of their local village in 2006 due to negligence and maltreatment. Noah, male, was born in July of 2003. He is healthy and up to date on all of his immunizations. The reports indicate delay in development but with the tendency of improvement. His time in the child center has brought positive changes in his concentration and observation skills and there has been a significant enrichment of his vocabulary. He is very energetic can skateboard and ride a bike. He has adapted to the condition and order in the center and has a well-established bond with is mentor. He is currently in the third grad and is adapting well in school. Unlike previous years, he has good motivation for learning. Even the smallest success makes him want to try harder! He likes to tell stories and fairytales and to memorize short poems. He participates in different daily activities, shows responsiveness and responsibility. Nora, female, was born in June of 2004. She is healthy and up to date on all of her immunizations. The report indicated delays in neuro-psychical development and suggestions to work with psychologist, speech therapist and resource teacher are recommended. She active and energetic and enjoys participating in different games. Nora’s fine motor skills are delayed, but there are positive changes due to work with the center. The report indicates speech-language development delays and indicates there is a Phonematic hearing is disturbed but she can handle sound analysis and synthesis. She understands the meaning of simple words but meets difficulties with complicated and abstract concepts. Speech and language therapy are recommended. Nora has a strong personality and prefers to be the leader. The report describes her as “whimsical” She has adapted to conditions at the center but does not always keep the established rules. She is attached and has an established bond with her mentor. She is a 2nd grade student at a new school and has had some difficulty adjusting. There seems to be a little regression in her behavior and relations. The activities with the resource teacher are continued in the new school year. She gladly participates in singing, but articulation of words causes difficulties. She is expressing her emotions with singing and has stage behavior. There are established some basic daily habits and skills. She learned fast how to serve and clean the table. She shows desire to help after feeding with the vacuum cleaner in the dining room. In such cases she participates with joy and is willing to do the assigned tasks.

**For more information on Noah and Nora, please contact: Emily@childrenofallnations.com**

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GWCA 17th Anniversary

This week, Great Wall China Adoption celebrates it’s 17th anniversary!

GWCA is so happy to have helped over 6,000 children come home to their forever families.  We are excited to continue serving our families and children for many more years to come!

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Philippines Children Looking for their Forever Families!

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URGENT: Tom Needs a Family!

At GWCA/CAN we know that sometimes waiting kids just need a little bit of extra advocacy and support. We know that their future family is out there, we just haven’t found them yet! That is why sometimes there are special circumstances when we like to highlight a specific kiddo that comes across our desk. Tom is one of those cases. This little guy from the Philippines needs a home desperately. Can you help us find one?

Name: Tom
DOB: 01/2008
Age: 5 yrs
Gender: Male
Tom was born with a cleft lip which has been corrected. He was unable to receive proper care from his birth mother and was removed from the home by a social worker. Tom was brought to a development specialist at 3 years old for a language delay. He has been diagnosed with an overall Global Developmental Delay. Tom suffers from hearing loss in both ears and needs the use of hearing aids. He is able to use single words. 

Tom enjoys gong to the development sessions at the Early Childhood Care and Development Center. His is described as friendly and affectionate. He enjoys meal time and feeding himself. Currently, Tom resides with a licensed foster family. 
**For more information on Tom please contact leighanne@gwca.org**
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Meet Diedra Connolly!

We are excited to give our families a little glimpse of the staff here at GWCA and CAN, so that you can see who we are and why we love doing just what we do. Every day we come to work and love to connect with our families, but now we are going to show you whose faces are behind every phone call, letter and E-mail received.

Get some sunglasses, shield your eyes, and hold onnnn because the woman that we are about to introduce you to is a straight angel! We want you to meet our China Program Director, Diedra Connolly! There are not a whole lot of words that do this incredible woman justice. She is warm, inviting, empathetic, thoughtful, servant-hearted…and that’s just the beginning! For Diedra, there is always a solution to any problem that may arise, and no task is too big to tackle. She’s got a big heart and every time that far outweighs obstacles set in her path. We wouldn’t be the same without her.

So without further ado…meet Diedra!

  1. What is your job title and description here at GWCA?

China Program Director. I manage and supervise all China Program adoption services. I also manage, support, and provide training for our wonderful Great Wall China Adoption staff. It is such a privilege to work with dedicated staff that have a true passion for adoption and child advocacy.

  1. How long have you been working at GWCA?

I began with Great Wall China Adoption in Feb. 2007 as the Dossier Specialist.

  1. What do you enjoy most about your job?

I love talking with our families at all phases in the adoption process.  I enjoy getting to know them and seeing their joy and excitement when they have been matched with a child.  The best part of all our jobs is when families send photos once their child is home, or even better, when they come by the office to introduce their newly adopted son or daughter.

  1. What is the most difficult aspect of your job?

Dealing with delays due to government processes. However, I realize my frustration is nothing compared to the family that has been impacted by the red tape. My goal is to help look for ways to circumvent obstacles or solutions to navigate the barriers.

  1. How have you grown personally from working at GWCA and with their families?

Early on I discovered I have a heart for the Waiting Child Program. I love talking with families and helping them learn more about the children in this program. I am amazed everyday by the wonderful families that have opened their hearts to these beautiful children. The only “need” these families see is a need for a child to have a Forever Family.

  1. Why do you love adoption?

No child should have to live out their childhood in an institution. Every child deserves to feel safe and cherished. Adoption allows children to know the security of a home, the bonds of a family and the unconditional love of a parent. I feel very blessed and humbled to have been a small part of uniting a child with their family.

Fun Facts about Diedra: 

1.  I love to read, go to movies and listen to all types of music.  When I’m at home my radio is always tuned into the top country music station.

2.  My husband and I met in high school and have been married 30 years. Everyone says he makes the perfect frozen margarita and I agree!

3. We are blessed with a 21 year old daughter who is a senior at The University of Texas. She is completing her degree in Exercise Science/ Kinesiology and plans to get a doctorate in Physical Therapy.

4.  I have degrees from 2 of the state’s biggest rivals – The University of Texas and Texas A&M.

5. I have been called a Garage Sale Diva. For years I helped organize huge garage sales to help raise funds for a girl scout troop. I have assisted friends with garage sales to get rid of their unwanted treasures (notice I don’t say junk). As the reigning Queen of Garage Sales I am personally challenged to make sure no shopper leaves without a purchase!

“Diedra is truly THE BEST.  She takes care of GWCA families as if each were a member of her own family.  Diedra also comes around the office every morning to say, “hi!”  She cares so much about adoption and advocates for her families, the children, and her staff.  Her attention to detail and thoughtfulness makes each adoption journey memorable.”-Diedra’s co-worker

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Siblings Max & Mandy Need a Home!

At GWCA/CAN we know that sometimes waiting kids just need a little bit of extra advocacy and support. We know that their future family is out there, we just haven’t found them yet! That is why sometimes there are special circumstances when we like to highlight a specific kiddo that comes across our desk. Max and Mandy are one of those cases. This sibling set from the Philippines needs a home desperately. Can you help us find one?

 

**The birth mother left the children in the custody of their birth father  The birth father had difficulty providing the needs of the children and sought the help of an institution. The birth father decided to relinquish his parental rights over the children for adoption. Efforts were exerted to locate the birth mother  The birth mother appeared in the institution and disclosed that she cannot take custody of her children as she has no stable income. She decided to surrender her children for adoption.**

Max is a Grade 5 pupil in a public school. He is reported to do well in school. He can read and write English and Filipino words. His teachers reported that he is active in class discussions. The child is assessed to have Average intellectual functioning. At the center, he relates well with the other children. He does not want conflict with other children and would refer to his house parents when confronted by his peers. He enjoys playing basketball, football, and indoor games. He aspires to become a scientist in the future. Max is 13 years old.

Mandy is a Grade 3 pupil in a public school. She is reported to have good grades in school. She actively participates in class discussion and has good relationship with her classmates. The child is assessed to have Low intellectual functioning. At the center, she has good relationship with the other children. She follows instructions of her house parents but would at times, refuse to comply. She enjoys playing with her friends, swimming and indoor games. Mandy is 11 years old.

If you would like to speak with someone about Max and Mandy, please contact leighanne@gwca.org for further information. 

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Media Monday

Well the weekend is officially over and everyone is back to the grind at work! With the next week in sight, what better time to catch up on all of your current adoption news from the past week—including country and domestic updates, relevant articles, book recommendations, interesting websites, even how we are seeing adoption being talked about in movies, television, the media, etc.

At GWCA and CAN we know that you, the parents, are our experts so we are calling for your help. Our desire is to make this as interactive as possible, so if you ever have any suggestions about things to add please comment below or E-mail them to Mary at mary@childrenofallnations.com.

This past week in adoption:

  • U.S. State Department on Intercountry Adoption
Last week the U.S. State Department issued two different alerts to prospective adoptive parents. One from India, and the other from Serbia. On Thursday, the 28th, The Central Adoption Resource Authority of India (CARA) informed the State Department that it is accepting new applications for intercountry adoptions from prospective adoptive parents in foreign countries, including the United States, seeking to adopt children habitually resident in India.  On Friday the 29th, U.S. Embassy Belgrade received reports that one or more U.S. adoption agencies may be giving prospective adoptive parents misleading information about the process of adoption in Serbia.  Serbia places a priority on domestic adoption.  The only children who are generally available for intercountry adoption are children with special needs.  There are no adoption agencies authorized to offer adoption services in Serbia, and families should not seek to work with an intermediary.
  • The Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra of Kinshasa
Many of our families are currently in process to adopt children from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The DRC is one of the poorest countries in the world, while famine and disease (including AIDS) are leading causes of death in the Democratic Republic of Congo, leaving thousands of children without parents. It is estimated that 15% of children under the age of 18 are orphans in this country of 68 million people.However despite all of the brokenness, this is a story of beauty from the ashes. In Kinshasha, the capitol city, “Maestro Armand Diangienda, a former pilot, began an orchestra with neither teachers, instruments, musicians nor anyone who could read music.” Now boasting over 200 players in the orchestra, these individuals are “defying the poverty of their war-torn country by learning and performing classical music.”

  • Oklahoma couple hopes documentary speeds up foreign adoption
This is a testimony from an Oklahoma couple covered by a local news station. They share about their experience with international adoption and the documentary “STUCK.”

 
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Meet Carrie Schneider!

We are excited to give our families a little glimpse of the staff here at GWCA and CAN, so that you can see who we are and why we love doing just what we do. Every day we come to work and love to connect with our families, but now we are going to show you whose faces are behind every phone call, letter and E-mail received.

This week we want to introduce you to someone with such a genuine spirit, our Waiting Child Specialist, Carrie Schneider! People can talk about knowing a “sweet spirit” but we don’t think they’ve met Carrie yet–she blows everyone else out of the water! She embodies such virtuous characteristics like kindness, joy, and humility. She’s a sincere breath of fresh air, and it’s our privilege to have her working alongside families underneath GWCA.

So without further ado…meet Carrie!

  1. What is your job title and description here at GWCA?

I am a Waiting Child Specialist within the China Waiting Child Department. I am here to answer any questions families have about the program, medical conditions, and children available. I also feel very lucky to be a part of the matching process. It is so fun to celebrate with families when they find their forever child!

  1. How long have you been working at GWCA?

I have been working for GWCA since February 2013. I love it here!

  1. What do you enjoy most about your job?

I really enjoy learning about the precious children who are waiting to be adopted and love talking with families about them! I enjoy communicating with the families and learning about their lives and why they are passionate about adoption. I am also very thankful to be on a team of colleagues who care about each other, have a heart for adoption, and who are dedicated to serving our families.

  1. What is the most difficult aspect of your job?

It is difficult to see the hundreds of children who are waiting to be adopted, especially the older children and children with more challenging conditions. But I am learning that there are also hundreds of amazing families who are looking to be matched with these beautiful children!

  1. How have you grown personally from working at GWCA and with their families?

I have learned so much about China’s adoption process and about common medical conditions. Working here has magnified my passion for adoption and advocating for orphans.  I find myself constantly talking with my friends and family about all of the children that need families! Also, working with Great Wall families has opened my eyes to see how many wonderful people there are out there who are impacting children’s lives by adopting and advocating. It reinforces my faith in humanity. 🙂

  1. Why do you love adoption?

Several years ago, I spent a summer volunteering in orphanages in Bolivia. I grew very close to many of the children there and learned their stories. I was also able to celebrate with two children who found out that they were going to be adopted! They never let the photos of their adoptive parents leave their side! They would sleep with the photos next to their bed and carried them around during the day. It was so precious. That summer opened my eyes to the struggles that many children all over the world face: poverty, disease, and abandonment and it challenged me to do my part to make the world a better place. Spending time with those children was a beautiful experience that has forever changed my life and my perspective on adoption.

Another story that has greatly impacted me is a friend of mine who was adopted from Russia. He waited a long time to be adopted and as he was getting older lost hope that he would ever be adopted. One day he was notified that a family had chosen him. He cried tears of joy because he couldn’t fathom that anyone would want to adopt him. His story has given me a heart for older children who have been waiting a long time.

Adoption gives children the opportunity to experience what every child should: the love of a family and the freedom of just being a kid. Adoption turns hopelessness into joy, brokenness into healing, and “orphan” into son or daughter.

Fun facts about Carrie: 

1. I love animals. My family has two cats and one dog. We even made a fun video about our cats here: http://vimeo.com/16557573

2. I am an Aggie. Gig ‘em!

3. Coffee and chocolate are daily necessities.

4. My husband and I do photography and videography on the weekends. It is a really fun thing for us to do together and we love the opportunity to capture the beauty of nature and life in this way.

5. I enjoy running and yoga. I ran my first marathon last year and hope to start training for a second marathon soon. My goal is to eventually run in the NY Marathon!!

“Carrie is a very energetic, humorous, and positive person to be around. She keeps the atmosphere light and a great support as a co-worker always offering to help in any way she can.  Carrie is completely devoted to serving and helping our families, and her enthusiasm is always encouraging.” –Carrie’s co-worker

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URGENT: Maxwell needs a family!

At GWCA/CAN we know that sometimes waiting kids just need a little bit of extra advocacy and support. We know that their future family is out there, we just haven’t found them yet! That is why sometimes there are special circumstances when we like to highlight a specific kiddo that comes across our desk. Maxwell is one of those cases. This little guy from the Philippines needs a home desperately. Can you help us find one?

Maxwell was abandoned by his birth-mother at the hospital where he was born. The director of the hospital, who is a doctor took care of the child and stayed in the hospital until he reached 5 years old. At the age of 5, Maxwell was transferred to the custody of a distant relative of the doctor until he reached 7 years old. After which, he was then rescued by the social worker of the City Social Welfare Office after a case was filed against the former custodian who allegedly physically abused the child. He was then transferred to an institution for proper child care management and proper intervention.

At the age of 12 years old, Maxwell is very active. He speaks clearly and can express his feelings. He is very friendly and talks with respect to elders. At Grade 6, he performs well in school. He can easily comprehend. He has positive outlook in life. He is responsible and learned to do household chores.

At present, he is 13 years old and 1st year High School. His dream is to become a pilot someday. He is good in abstract reasoning and is looking forward to have his own family. 

 

For more information on Maxwell and his file please contact Kristy immediately at kristy@childrenofallnations.com. 

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