Celebrating One Year In Colima: Bella’s Story

Bella was separated from her biological family when she was four years old. She was taken to an orphanage in Colima, Mexico, where she would remain for the next few years.

While we don’t know much about the first few years of Bella’s life, we do know that her biological family couldn’t provide the care she needed. Although the orphanage offered her a roof over her head and warm meals, Bella was merely surviving, not thriving.

After two years in the orphanage, Bella was falling behind in multiple developmental areas. Sadly, this is not surprising. When children do not receive adequate personal interaction within a loving environment, their development is stunted, and their learning abilities are delayed – or lost altogether.

Bella desperately needed the love of a family. Thankfully, because of you, her life was about to change.

Hope In Colima

One year ago, thanks to your generous support, The Hope Effect opened our most recent field office and expanded into Colima. As a result of the success of our programs in other parts of Mexico, the government of Colima invited us to establish family care in their state.

We are thrilled that the government understands the importance of family and wants a better future for the children of Colima – children just like Bella.

We signed our official contract with the government in August 2023. Since then, our team in Colima has been diligently developing and implementing the family care program. The response has been incredible.

Earlier this year, the first seven families were certified to provide family care. On the same day, the first children in the state of Colima were welcomed into the loving arms of a foster family.

Soon after, it was Bella’s turn. Just a few days later, Bella moved into her new home, surrounded by the warmth of a caring foster family.

Overcoming Challenges

Bella’s transition to family care was not without its challenges, but her foster family was determined to provide her the support she needed.

Bella struggled with several sleep-related issues, including severe nightmares. Her foster family patiently and lovingly worked to create a sleep environment where Bella felt safe. They also tried different routines and tactics to help her sleep longer, ensuring she was more rested.

As Bella continued adjusting to her new environment, her foster family also began encouraging her to recognize and express her emotions. Transitioning to a family is a significant change for any child, and Bella’s family has worked to validate her emotions while helping her manage her behavior.

Bella also started school and has developed a love for learning. She has made significant progress in her academic skills and is working to improve her social skills with her classmates.

Although Bella’s journey is far from over, we are incredibly thankful she is now in a supportive, stable environment where she can receive the love, care, and attention she needs and deserves.

Back To Family

Thank you for giving this beautiful little girl hope for a brighter future. Across Mexico, you are changing the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children just like Bella.

Our family care programs in Mexico are thriving, and more locations are asking us to help them get kids out of orphanages and back to family. This is wonderful news, but at the same time, the demand for family-based care in Mexico has outpaced our available resources.

We need your support to get even more kids out of orphanages and into loving families...where they belong.

So this August, as many parents are getting their kids ready to go back to school, we are focused on getting kids back to family. Every gift makes a difference in the life of a child, and we are tremendously grateful for your continued support.

Together, we are changing the way the world cares for orphans...because every child deserves a family.

*The child’s name has been changed to protect her privacy.