About Us

The Challenge for Older Orphans

With poverty, economic issues, and drug and alcohol abuse on the rise in Russia and Ukraine, the number of children abandoned or taken from their homes is very high. As this number grows, the number of orphans and/or institutionalized children grows proportionately. By age 16 to 18, to make room for this ever-growing and aging population of orphans, these children, having little or no basic survival skills, are forced to leave the orphanage and are thrown into the world to fend for themselves, thus perpetuating the crisis.

The Mission of Family Hope
Family Hope International (FHI) was founded in 2000 to help address the needs of these “all but forgotten” children. Orphans will travel to various cities across the U.S. for a 3-4 week stay and will experience American culture and what it truly feels like to be part of a family. Although the purpose of this camp is purely an educational and cultural experience for the children, one of the wonderful outcomes that often occur is the increase in awareness of the plight of older orphans around the world which results in increased humanitarian efforts for these children. Since FHI began, people have hosted over 850 orphans. If you have ever had an interest in making a difference in the life of an orphan, this is the perfect way to get involved!