From Lizzie – A Donor
April 3, 2015
When I was younger, I never understood why some kids didn't have parents. And then when my family told me exactly what being an orphan means, I knew I wanted to help.
At 13, a friend, who was adopted from St. Petersburg, showed me his adoption "movie." It was a video his parents filmed in the process of adopting him. I remember seeing the orphanage and being shocked at the conditions and the lack of love and care.
This started my research of Eastern Europe and the broken system. And from that moment on, I knew helping orphans or institutionalized kids was my calling.
I believe the work that Allies in Youth Development is doing is changing lives, forming positive relationships and proves that even us, thousands of miles away, are devoted to helping and loving them.