PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
ADOPTION STORY … Archbold Rotarian Tammy Allison recently told Rotarians about her family’s experiences of adopting children from underprivileged areas of the world – something that they have done since 2007. She is holding a picture of Anderson, their most recent adoptee from Guatemala. With Tammy is Archbold Rotary president Matt Mello.
PRESS RELEASE – For Archbold Rotarian Tammy Allison adopting children living in poverty around the world is much more than an act of charity. It’s an act faith.
Working through Compassion International since 2007, Allison and her family have provided monthly support ($43) to “adopt” three children from the Philippines and Guatemala.
Two of those children, Mary Joy and Mitchell, have now graduated out of the program, which provided them with the support and skills to become successful adults. The youngest, Anderson from Guatemala, is still in the program.
In fact, earlier this year, Allison was part of a group organized by Compassion International that visited Guatemala and she was able to meet Anderson and his family in their village.
Compassion International was founded in 1952 as a Christ-centered, church-driven, child-focused organization that helped Korean War orphans through sponsorships by individuals, families and churches.
Since then, it has grown to support some 2.4 million children in 27 countries through more than 9,000 front-line churches located in communities where the children live.
Allison explained that’s what initially drew her to Compassion International as the organization to work through. The intent is for each child who is “adopted” through Compassion International to be paired with one family until the child ages out of the program.
A front-line church in the community where the child lives is responsible for using the organization’s whole life child development model to develop care that is personal, individualized, relational and tailored to the child’s age, gender, health, culture and family situation.
During Allison’s visit to Guatemala, the group visited the children’s homes and a center where children learn life skills so they can eventually make money. She added that the children’s parents are also taught parenting skills until the child is five years old.
As part of the visit, the group along with children in the program and a parent experienced a fun day at the Guatemala city zoo.