Beautiful And Unique: Olivia’s Story
“Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move…you have the capacity for anything.”
Orphaned and vulnerable children. Whether you’ve followed The Hope Effect’s work for some time or you’re relatively new to our organization, you’ve likely heard us use that phrase.
It’s a term that identifies an extremely at-risk group among children…kids growing up without one or both parents, or children who may have living parents but rarely see them and possibly live on the street or in institutional care. And while that term is used to identify a category of children, we must never forget that each and every child is a unique, special individual.
Yes, it’s true that most orphaned and vulnerable children have things in common. They come from hard places. They’ve experienced trauma and loss. They often don’t understand what it means to be part of a loving family.
But beyond those commonalities, there are unique individuals. Children with wonderful, one-of-a-kind personalities waiting to be discovered and encouraged. And while we often see heartache and tragedy in their stories, we experience so much joy as their personalities begin to shine and they find their own identity thanks to the love of a family.
OLIVIA’S STORY
At two years old, Olivia was found wandering the streets of Sonora, Mexico. She was taken to child protection personnel, and authorities learned more about her story. Tragically, Olivia was constantly exposed to domestic violence and drug use at her home, and she was being neglected by her biological parents.
Olivia was taken to the orphanage, where she was treated for some current medical conditions. But thankfully, she wouldn’t remain in the orphanage for long. Authorities immediately contacted our team in Hermosillo, and just a few days later, Olivia was welcomed into loving family care.
Although Olivia didn’t grow up in an orphanage, she also didn’t grow up in a loving family. When she was placed into family care, Olivia began to learn for the first time what it meant to have a stable home and caring, attentive parents. And through the love of a family, this beautiful little girl began to heal.
learning the love of a family
When Olivia first arrived in family care, she was extremely restless and had no sense of identity. While she was very observant, she would imitate behaviors and reactions of those around her, rather than communicating her own thoughts and emotions.
In addition, Olivia would often hide her emotions behind pretend play, constantly making noises or roaring as if to imitate a monster or other animal. While pretending can be normal behavior for a young child, Olivia did not seem to exhibit a sense of self and used pretending to avoid communicating with her family.
When she did communicate, she seemed remorseful, saying “I’m sorry” for various things even though an apology was unnecessary. But as the family continued to show love and compassion, Olivia began to understand that she was unconditionally loved in this home.
Finding Her True Self
In time, Olivia started to adapt to life in a family structure. After a few months, she became more comfortable and gained confidence through the loving care of her foster family.
Today, Olivia is happier and more content, and she often starts singing at night before going to bed. She shows affection toward her foster parents, which is a huge step considering her background and experiences.
Olivia has also made great strides with her intellectual development, and she enjoys doing activities from her school workbook with her foster mother. Overall, her behavior has calmed down and she has improved greatly in her ability to follow directions.
And last - but certainly not least - Olivia has developed her sense of identity and security. She knows she is in a safe environment, and she no longer imitates animals or monsters to escape from her surroundings. Her family says she has shown tremendous growth in this area.
“She has improved a lot. When she first came, she use to believe she was a puppy, then a monkey,” her foster father said. “We told her, you are Olivia, you are a girl, a beautiful girl.”
Changing the way the world cares for orphans
We are so thankful this beautiful little girl is growing up in a loving family today. And it’s all because of you!
Your continued support is changing the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children like Olivia all across the globe. We are so grateful for you. Thank you for helping so many kids find the love of a family.
Together, we are changing the way the world cares for orphans!
*Name has been changed to protect the privacy of the child.