More than 175 large and small projects in all regions of Russia were completed in 2001.

In January 2001, the pilot program of “Mommy, Find Me” in the Kemerovo region began. CHI was instrumental in researching, organizing, and implementing the domestic adoption and foster care for children in orphanages in this region:

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Mommy, Find Me domestic adoption campaign in Kemerovo.

Mass media representatives, public billboards, and radio programs were just a few resources used to inform the public of the many children in orphanages in this impoverished region in Russia. The purpose of the project was to educate and find foster families and/or permanent homes for children whose parents are either imprisoned or had their parental rights terminated. Domestic adoption and foster care is sometimes the only hope these young children have when they are in a situation through no fault of their own.

CHI and our families have contributed in efforts to administer medical assistance to children with misdiagnoses so they may be available for either domestic or international adoption. Many children raised in orphanages have inadequate medical attention and are diagnosed with things such hepatitis, which makes them less likely to be adopted. With correct medical diagnosis and treatment, these children will thrive and eventually find forever families with humanitarian aid from Children’s Hope International.

The Alyosha Baranov story is an inspiration. Alyosha was featured in the January 2001 Children’s Hope News when a Tennessee family saw the appeal to help get Alyosha to the U.S. for craniofacial surgery. The wheels were put into motion. Airline tickets were purchased, Dr. DeLozier in Nashville agreed to do the surgery, and the Bryants were ready to host Alyosha and his escort, Nadezhda Astakhova. In August the surgery was completed. Upon seeing this story in another Children’s Hope News, the Zurkowski family (originally in the China program) opened their hearts to this wonderful little boy and have since traveled to adopt him. It is truly amazing how effective our Children’s Hope News opens the doors and hearts of all our families.

There are also humanitarian aid efforts in Tver, Novosibirsk, Moscow, Smolensk to name a few areas that CHI is involved in. Efforts have been made to upgrade buildings and provide electric stoves in Moscow; purchase heaters and beds for children in Vladivostok; provide fruits, books, and toys for an orphanage in the Tver region to name a few.

Van purchased for the Sludyanka orphanage.

Operation Hope Program

At this writing, most of the children that participated in the 2001 program in Kansas City, Seattle, and Nashville are home with their forever families. This project is for older children from 6-12, who come to the U.S. for 2-3 weeks and are hosted by a family that is interested in adopting an older child or a family that is willing to give that child exposure in their community so that someone will want to adopt that child. This program has been so successful that Children’s Hope International plans on continuing Operation Hope 2002 in Nashville, Chicago, Kansas City, New York, St. Louis, Seattle, and Portland, OR. The response has been wonderful for these older kids and their new families.

Hobby center in Tomsk.