By Benjamin Rosas
Our Summer Miracles program has given hundreds of older kids in foster care or orphanages in Colombia the opportunity to travel to the United States and help them find an adoptive family that they would not normally find in their native country. For many, the likelihood of being adopted in their home country is minimal, which is where our Summer Miracles program comes in. In some cases, the family a child is meant to join may live thousands of miles away. In others, they may not even speak the same language. While our agency strongly encourages families to learn the child’s language whenever possible, learning a language can be difficult and time-consuming. These challenges are a reality for foster youth and for anyone who opens their home and heart to a child from a different culture or background through adoption. With compassion and love, these experiences can create lifelong bonds, giving these children the family they have been waiting for their entire lives.
Building a Sense of Belonging Without Erasing Identity
Summer Miracles is not about asking a child to give up who they are to belong. It is about honoring each young person’s culture by celebrating it and sharing it with a new family. Summer Miracle's parents have the important responsibility of creating a home that feels safe and welcoming to children from another country. During the few weeks a child is visiting the United States, this time can be full of gratitude, but it may also be challenging. These youth must navigate an entirely new culture while holding onto the one they’ve already developed. When a child sees that their original traditions, language, and culture are honored alongside their new environment, it fosters a sense of belonging and encourages them to embrace their new home without abandoning their culture. This process of adapting to a new culture while honoring their own doesn’t happen overnight, however, and should be approached with care and patience.
Mandatory Homework before Adoption
One of the most important qualities when caring for a child in foster care from a different cultural background, especially an older youth, is patience and commitment. Adjusting to a new home and culture takes time and cannot be rushed, or there’s a risk of undervaluing their identity. While introducing new traditions and a new way of life can be exciting, cultural exchange requires a willingness to learn from both parties involved.
Hosts and prospective adoptive parents can make a conscious effort to understand and embrace the child’s original culture such as traditions, foods, values, language, and customs. Self-education not only shows respect but also communicates to the child that their identity is valued and worth preserving. When adults honor both cultures, they create a home built on mutual respect, understanding, and belonging. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that the child’s new environment is filled with love, understanding, and a strong sense of identity.
Dealing with a Language Barrier
Every parent knows there is no instruction manual for raising a child. Welcoming a child who speaks a different language is no different; it can even be more challenging. When words are limited, actions speak louder. Incorporating routines and introducing English phrases into daily life such as “Good morning” or “Thank you” can be a good start. Electronics are our friends when it comes to learning a new language. Translation apps, visual cues like flash cards or body gestures, or online courses can bridge the language gap. Establishing consistent daily routines also builds trust and security.
Adopting from a foreign country can be scary and nerve-wracking for everyone involved. Taking a leap of faith, leaving everything familiar behind to begin life with a new family, requires immense courage from a child. These kids have so much life to live. They just need the family to guide them to be the best possible version of themselves. Through our Summer Miracles program, families are formed in ways once thought impossible. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Research and preparation are essential when adopting from another country, and Kidsave is here to assist every step of the way. To learn more about hosting a child from Columbia, visit kidsave.org/summer-miracles.
