Deb's House (orphanage)
1 November 2009
ELIZABETH'S KIDS (Deb's House
Orphanage) in Romania -
October 14th, humanitarian, Olathe Rotarian, and NBC
Action News Anchor Elizabeth Alex, told Rotarians the
story below of the Romanian children very much in
need of our help. Elizabeth had photos of the children
modeling their new clothes provided by Olathe
Rotarians. They also sang a song for us thanking us!
Deb's House Orphanage opened in 2000 in Botosani,
Romania, as a project of Debra Murphy-Scheumann
who planned it to be a temporary residence for babies
and small children who were slated to be adopted in
the US. From 2000-2003 Deb's House worked as
planned until Romania banned international adoption
as a requirement of entry into the European Union.
At the time, 14 children were living in the house waiting
for paperwork to be processed, they became known as
"the pipeline kids" part of a group of 200 or so children
throughout the country who were in the pipeline for
adoption when Romania ended it.
The kids at Deb's House Orphanage were stuck in
limbo. They could not go forward, and could not go
back. All of the children had been abandoned at birth
by their parents. Even though the EU has since
deemed international adoption to be a positive way to
find children homes, Romania has never opened up
again.
There is no government assistance from Romania, so
the house that was supposed to be only temporary,
became a permanent home. Today the children range
in age from 6-12. There are two sets of twins, girls and
boys. The children are growing up as brothers and
sisters.
In the past several years Deb has been very ill, so
Elizabeth Alex has taken up the cause with friends and
supporters, of keeping her orphanage open, and raising
the kids. As incoming president of the Deb's House
Orphanage board, Elizabeth Alex led a team of
volunteers in September of 2009 to Romania.
Volunteers worked at Deb's House for one week, fixing,
painting, cleaning, replacing furniture, doing medical
check ups and assessments, and giving the kids lots
and lots of love.
They identified 3 areas of concentration for the care
givers in Romania in the coming year:
Nutrition- they delivered vitamins, calcium, asked for
menu adjustments, and are helping to facilitate dental
care.
Behavior- they are facilitating programs to help the
children socialize outside "their group" which includes
signing up children for dance, sports, and musical
lessons, plus teaching respect and personal space
even in a home filled with other children.
Education- education is the way all of our children can
one day make a life for themselves. They have
employed tutors, are purchasing books, and
concentrating heavily on studies.
The cost of raising the children is high. But the risk of
sending them out into the state orphanage system is
even higher. The economic crisis has devastated
Romania hard. There are few places to house
abandoned children currently available. Elizabeth is
working with the local government in Romania to help
not only our kids, but others in the area.
Orphanage) in Romania -
October 14th, humanitarian, Olathe Rotarian, and NBC
Action News Anchor Elizabeth Alex, told Rotarians the
story below of the Romanian children very much in
need of our help. Elizabeth had photos of the children
modeling their new clothes provided by Olathe
Rotarians. They also sang a song for us thanking us!
Deb's House Orphanage opened in 2000 in Botosani,
Romania, as a project of Debra Murphy-Scheumann
who planned it to be a temporary residence for babies
and small children who were slated to be adopted in
the US. From 2000-2003 Deb's House worked as
planned until Romania banned international adoption
as a requirement of entry into the European Union.
At the time, 14 children were living in the house waiting
for paperwork to be processed, they became known as
"the pipeline kids" part of a group of 200 or so children
throughout the country who were in the pipeline for
adoption when Romania ended it.
The kids at Deb's House Orphanage were stuck in
limbo. They could not go forward, and could not go
back. All of the children had been abandoned at birth
by their parents. Even though the EU has since
deemed international adoption to be a positive way to
find children homes, Romania has never opened up
again.
There is no government assistance from Romania, so
the house that was supposed to be only temporary,
became a permanent home. Today the children range
in age from 6-12. There are two sets of twins, girls and
boys. The children are growing up as brothers and
sisters.
In the past several years Deb has been very ill, so
Elizabeth Alex has taken up the cause with friends and
supporters, of keeping her orphanage open, and raising
the kids. As incoming president of the Deb's House
Orphanage board, Elizabeth Alex led a team of
volunteers in September of 2009 to Romania.
Volunteers worked at Deb's House for one week, fixing,
painting, cleaning, replacing furniture, doing medical
check ups and assessments, and giving the kids lots
and lots of love.
They identified 3 areas of concentration for the care
givers in Romania in the coming year:
Nutrition- they delivered vitamins, calcium, asked for
menu adjustments, and are helping to facilitate dental
care.
Behavior- they are facilitating programs to help the
children socialize outside "their group" which includes
signing up children for dance, sports, and musical
lessons, plus teaching respect and personal space
even in a home filled with other children.
Education- education is the way all of our children can
one day make a life for themselves. They have
employed tutors, are purchasing books, and
concentrating heavily on studies.
The cost of raising the children is high. But the risk of
sending them out into the state orphanage system is
even higher. The economic crisis has devastated
Romania hard. There are few places to house
abandoned children currently available. Elizabeth is
working with the local government in Romania to help
not only our kids, but others in the area.