Volume 1, Edition 3 Spring 2011
Our Mission Giving hope to orphans in developing countries through education and a safe environment.
A Board Member Visits Osu:
More Committed to Helping These Kids
and Improving their lives.
Inside This Issue Founders corner..2 Yaws Story Sponsorship program.3 Matching Funds3 Slam Dunk for Kids...;;;...4
visit to Osu Childrens Home, the orphanage Dreams for Orphans is helping to support in Accra, Ghana can be life-changing.
After my visit,says Dreams board member Juliet Roger, I came away thinking that this place needs a lot of help and more people need to come see the conditions and help improve them. Juliet visited with Andrew, her 13year-old son because He and some friends had raised money for the orphanage and I thought it would be good for him to see where the money went. It was valuable, provocative experience for both of them. Kids need a lot of help The orphanage is situated on a very large campus and its very official looking., Juliet says. The children are carefully protected. You dont just walk in and pick up babies. But its clear that the kids need a lot of help. The conditions in the nursery are a little bit shocking and as a mother it was hard to see infants in that situation. On the other hand, they seemed happy and the children are so welcoming so happy to see you.
Juliet and Andrew Roger with one of the Osu kids Yearning for love When Kirkland, WA resident Laurie Thiebert visited Osu the children surrounded her, she says. You could just feel their yearning for love and family. I was overwhelmed with the number of children there. Laurie later adopted a son from the orphanage who now lives with her in Kirkland. He is thriving, Laurie says. (See P. Osu, P. 3)
About Our Logo
The diamond shape of our logo is the symbol the Akan, a West African people, use for fence. A home with a fence is considered to be an ideal home. Because of the security and protection that a fence affords, the symbol is also associated with the security and safety one finds in
Donate Now!
Dreams for Orphans P.O. Box 9983 Seattle, WA 98109
Dreams for Orphans is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization
The Founders Corner
As Dreams For Orphans approaches its 18-month anniversary, I cant help but think of the 100-plus infants and toddlers at Osu Childrens Home that have been growing right along with us. For instance, I think of Bella, who I held the last time I was in Ghana. Thanks to your generosity, she will have a safer place to grow and learn with her friends in the new nursery we are working toward building. She was 18 months old when, weighing only ten pounds, she was rescued from a gutter in Accra and brought to Osu. Today, she has a future full of hope thanks in large part to your generosity. Bella and her friends are counting on us to be their voice and make life better for them. Since the birth of Dreams For Orphans, our organization has grown tremendously. We arenearly 80 per cent on our way to our goal of raising the $50,000 we have earmarked for building a new nursery at Osu. A special thank you to each of you who have already purchased Bricks for our Babies! our commitment to the orphans grows. Thanks to you we have the privilege to dream for children like Bella, and it is our responsibility to realize those dreams for all orphans. We do this because the orphans need us and because you make it possible. This makes for a match made in heaven. With Gods blessing and your continued support, Dreams For
Our dreams keep getting bigger and our commitment to the orphans grows.
It is because of each of you that our development is on track. Your time, energy, encouragement and financial support have allowed us to grow and advance at a faster rate than we thought possible. With this progress, our dreams keep getting bigger and
Orphans promises to provide the
most basic needs for the worlds most vulnerable children. Thank you!
Paola Womac
Co-Founder
Yaws Story
his smiling boy is Yaw. He is 11 years old and attends an better school, thanks to tuition support from Dreams. Yaw has sickle cell anemia, a very painful disease, and he is often hospitalized to replenish his fluids. However, he never lets you know how severe his pain is. Yaw studies very hard and the small class size helps him learn. He loves adventure stories and those about pirates. Anyone can see what a special boy he is and his smile will win you over in minutes. His best friend is Boam, for whom Dreams helped heal a hole in his heart. If you have a hole in your heart, Yaw could certainly fill it.
Dreams Launches Pilot Sponsorship Program
Osu from P. 1 Juliet spent time caring for the babies and volunteering in the library. In the nursery she helped bathe, feed and change the infants. In the library she helped kids with their homework and dished out a little TLC. They liked to be around an adult who would read to them. Some just wanted a little special attention. Most of them are good at math and they love to have you drill them on their math. As well as being an eyeopener, the trip helped strengthen Juliets commitment to Dreams for OrI really want the organization to grow because whatever we can do to help the kids is extremely valuable. A huge impression The trip made a huge impression on her son Andrew. He understood how good his life is compared to those of the Osu kids, Juliet says.
phans.
Three of Osus sponsored kids. From left: Awuley, 2nd grade; Isaac, 1st grade; and Boam, kindergarten. Boam is the child Dreams helped provide surgery to heal a hole in his heart.
Dreams for Orphans has launched a new sponsorship pilot program providing improved education and nutrition for eight Osu kids. The program pays for tuition at a better school, books, uniforms and a school lunch. Sponsors commit to providing tuition through high school and are encouraged to also fund college tuition. The kids love their new schools and are flourishing.
Above all, how lucky he is To have parents. You could take everything else away, but having parents is huge, whether they are great or not. The Osu kids dont know what its like to have parents. He really understood that. I really appreciate you, Mom, he told me and I love you. Coming from a teenager, this alone may have made the trip worthwhile. Love is what the children of Osu need most, says Laurie Thiebert. Can you imagine growing up without having anyone who loves you? Children need love, encouragement and safety and once they have those they thrive. Juiliet encourages visits to Osu. Its such a valuable experience. If you can find a way to get there, try to make it happen. You will benefit and so will the kids.
Andrew Roger playing with one Of the Osu kids.
Put Your Companys Matching Fund to Work for Dreams.
Retired Dreams Board member Paul Patinios easily doubled his recent donation to Dreams for Orphans. He just ran it through his companys matching fund. Your company may also have such a program many companies do. Check with your company and then double your money and our pleasure. Many thanks to Paul for all his hard work in helping establish our marketing program. And thanks to Microsoft for the matching donation.
Laurie and adopted son, Osei.
P. O. Box 9983 Seattle, WA 98109 www.dreamsfororphans.org
A letter from Osu
Little Things Mean a Lot
fter Juliet and Andrew Roger visited Osu, she sent a birthday present to Fred, one of the orphans, and received a thank you note that said: Hi Juliet and Andrew, Hope you are well. I received your present and its one of the greatest things that ever happened in my life. . . All the boys saw your present and were happy for me and on my behalf they all say THANK YOU.
Slam Dunk for Osu Kids
Board of Directors Kary Doerfler Lexi Doerfler Kathy Hardinge Linda Labriola ?????? Dick Malloy Andrea Nakata Rachel Nelson Robin Osika Paul Patinios Libby Rain Juliet Roger Paola Womac
Young Jonathan Burke, 13, of Chicago, dreamed up a slam dunk for the kids of Osu. With the help of his basketball team he collected 100 pairs of basketball shoes and delivered them to Osu, with the help of his Delta flight attendant mother, Lisa Burke. The kids need shoes to be able to go to school. Lisa gives us a presence in Chicago. Another Delta flight attendant, Melanie Mapp is carrying our story to New Jersey.
Future Events The fundraiser at Chopstix, home of the dueling pianos, is coming later this spring. Watch for it! This event was great fun last year.
