Russian Adoptees Give Back

The following article tells the story of Russian adoptees Natasha and Oksana Shein: Her goal is to help Russian orphans

[Providence Journal 10/14/12 by Carolyn Thornton] It includes a compelling history of when they were taken into the orphanage at an older age, their treatment at the orphanage and how they have overcome their difficulties in their adoptive family.

Our blog has recounted the super-sappy ,unrealistic expectation stories either from the media or from personal blogs that serve as recruitment tools for the industry as well as the unfortunate number of heinous stories that point to reform. The media rarely shares stories like this one: a real-life account of a tough beginning that is turning out positive due to appropriately addressing common postplacement difficulties.

They visited their former orphanage in 2007 ” and are planning another tripnext June after school lets out.

This time, Natasha is enlisting the help of her soccer team. At the beginning of the season, she wrote a letter to her teammates explaining that she and her family are collecting supplies to bring to the impoverished orphanage. It is in dire need of medical supplies, such as pain relievers, ointment, bandages and vitamins, as well as toiletries, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and toilet paper.

Oksana and Natasha plan to interview the children at the orphanage and will pair each of them up with a soccer player when they return to Rhode Island. The hope is that the players will establish a long-distance relationship with the children, by sending them cards and letters throughout the year and perhaps sending them small gifts.

“It would mean the world to the children stuck at the orphanage,” Natasha wrote to her teammates. “Just knowing there is one person out there, somewhere, who cares about you is often the difference between optimism and anguish, hope and despair. We can get this project off the ground, and we will be making a genuine difference in the world by helping to save boys and girls from the same place as me.”

“North Kingstown will be placing collection boxes at the field for each of its remaining home games. For more information, e-mail   nkhsgirlssoccer.outreach@yahoo.com    or   cthornton@providencejournal.com ”

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