Finding His Voice: Esteban’s Story
“Finding your voice is about having the confidence to know you matter so you can use your voice.”
It’s no surprise that orphaned and vulnerable children come from hard places. Whatever the circumstances – abuse, neglect, abandonment, or the death of a parent – these kids have lived through a traumatic experience that left them without a family.
We are so grateful that because of you, more and more children around the world are finding healing through the love of a family. These kids deserve to have hope for the future. They deserve to have the confidence to know they matter. They deserve to find their voice.
Every child deserves a family. And thanks to you, more kids like Esteban, a young boy from Sonora, Mexico, are growing up in loving families today.
Esteban’s Story
Esteban was abandoned by his mother when he was just two years old. His mother left him in the care of some friends while she traveled in search of work, but she never returned.
After six months, the friends called the authorities in Sonora. Esteban was taken by the DIF (Mexico’s version of Child Protective Services) and placed into an orphanage.
Sadly, Esteban remained in the orphanage for the next two years. During this extremely formative time in his life, he was without the love of a family.
When he should have been learning how to form trusting relationships and bond with others in a family environment, Esteban was simply trying to survive. Esteban, like all children in institutional care, didn’t receive the individual love and attention he needed to develop and thrive.
In addition, while the orphanage provided food and shelter, it couldn’t meet Esteban’s deeper needs. Orphanages often aren’t equipped to help kids deal with the trauma of their past. In this case, although Esteban was young when his mother left, the pain and trauma of abandonment was still present.
But thankfully, because of you, Esteban’s story doesn’t end there.
Finding His Voice
After two years in the orphanage, a wonderful family opened their home and hearts to Esteban. Now a four-year-old little boy, Esteban was welcomed into loving family care this summer.
Over the past several weeks, it’s been amazing to watch Esteban grow. When he first came into family care, he didn’t have any boundaries with strangers. Because he never truly belonged to a family, he would go with anyone who asked. Now, he identifies the members of his foster family as safe people and his home as a safe place, which is a healthy and important milestone for children.
We’ve also seen a great improvement in his confidence. Although Esteban is very shy and struggles with anxiety, he has made incredible strides in a short amount of time. In fact, when he first came to family care, he would only speak in whispers. But within two weeks, Esteban began to talk and sing.
Thanks to the love of a family, Esteban is finding his voice.
Hope For the Future
While Esteban’s journey to healing is far from over, he knows he is loved, valued, and cherished. We can’t wait to watch him continue to flourish and thrive. We are so grateful that you have changed this beautiful little boy’s life and given him hope for the future.
Thank you for being Esteban’s hero. And thank you for being a hero to orphaned and vulnerable children across the globe. You are making such a difference for so many.
Together, we are changing the way the world cares for orphans!
*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of the child.