Right now there are seven young children halfway around the world in Kazakhstan patiently waiting to make their dreams come true with the trip of a lifetime.
Thanks to the “Michigan Summer Miracles” program, a project of Kidsave International, these seven lucky children are preparing to spend six weeks in America experiencing a summer day camp, weekend outings, carefree playtime and the love of host families. Normally, the children spend the summer either traveling the country or working on farms.
“The children are selected for the program by a group of people in their native country,” said Nancy Gunow, community coordinator for 2003. “There’s a committee that decides who is eligible for this year.”
The “Michigan Summer Miracles” program is geared towards families who are interested in hosting and adopting a child; however, families interested in just hosting are encouraged to participate.
“We always keep a backup list of families who want to host just in case,” explained Gunow.
The program is simple: Children from Russia and Kazakhstan are paired with participating host families for the summer. The children get to experience life in America and the host families get an opportunity to bond with a child in need.
Then the miracle happens.
According to Gunow, 95 percent of all children who have participated in the program have found permanent families. Since 1999, more than 750 orphaned children from Russia and Kazakhstan, ages 5-15, have found homes in 30 different communities across the U.S.
For those children who do not find permanent families, Kidsave provides different programs to help the child find a community mentor and a financial sponsor.
“However, the children do not come over specifically to be adopted,” said Gunow. “The government lets them leave for the purpose of a summer camp, not an adoption.”
The “Michigan Summer Miracles” program was brought to Oakland County in 2001. That year seven youngster came to the United States and found families – including one youngster who lives right here in Oxford.
The idea to bring “Michigan Summer Miracles” to the area began with a young girl named Sveta who was adopted by a Rochester family. Sveta wanted some of her friends from the orphanage in Kazakhstan to come to her new home. Finally, in the summer of 2001, three of Sveta’s friends came to Rochester via the “Michigan Summer Miracles” program and found homes.
For Oxford resident and “Michigan Summer Miracles” communications volunteer Michelle Zelazny, the purpose of the program hit close to home – she and her husband Don adopted their son Andrew Ascar, now 18 months old, from Kasakhstan.
“The entire process took 15 months,” said Zelazny.
Although Zelazny did not find her son through the “Michigan Summer Miracles” program, she understands the paperwork, emotions and difficulties of adopting children from Kazakhstan, and can relate to what the families go through after the children return to their country from the camp and the adoption process begins.
“The scariest part is bonding with the child and then waiting for the judge and court to approve that,” said Zelazny.
Zelanzy recommends the Kidsave summer camp program to any family that appreciates and is interested in other cultures, and has an open heart and home. She said that all of her encounters have been with people who really want these children to find good families.
She also wanted to emphasize that adopting a child, especially in relation to programs such as “Michigan Summer Miracles,” is not always a last option choice for those who can’t have children. In fact, she and her husband Don looked at adoption as a first choice option.
“We had both traveled and knew that there were children out there who needed homes,” explained Zelazny. “We are over here and people don’t always realize that there are wonderful, lovable children out there.”
“And just because they weren’t born here and were orphaned doesn’t mean they can not be contributing member of society. There are just some great children out there.”
The Zelazny’s had such a positive experience with adopting Andrew that they are currently considering adopting again.
“It really becomes your way of life because you want to expose your child to their culture,” said Zelazny. “This can be expensive, but it’s absolutely worth it.”
To prepare for the seven youngsters coming to Rochester and Clarkston this year, Oakland County volunteers are holding a “Gifts of the Heart” benefit fundraiser that includes dinner, live music, a silent auction, a cash bar and an appearance by Sveta, the inspiration for the camp.
“The interest for this program in the community has been pretty strong,” said Zelazny, “and it just keeps growing.”
The semiformal fundraiser is set for this Saturday, March 15 at River Crest, located at 900 W. Avon Road in Rochester Hills (on the corner of Livernois and Avon). Dinner begins at 6 p.m. A prepaid donation of $35 is suggested, and please reserve early since seating is limited.
Kidsave International is a nonprofit organization helping orphaned and abandoned children in Eastern European countries to find permanent families. Kidsave is not an adoption agency, it is an advocacy group for children who live in institutions.
For more information on Kidsave International, the “Michigan Summer Miracles” program, volunteering or to donate an item for the silent auction, please contact Michelle Zelazny at 248-969-4876.