Summer of Hope, Forever Family Project

by Leslie McDaniel

“I have come to realize more and more that the greatest disease and the greatest suffering is to be unwanted, unloved, uncared for, to be shunned by everybody, to be just nobody to no one.”
– Mother Teresa

The Summer of Hope program provides a four-week experience in the home of a Montana family for international orphans aged 8-15 who may otherwise never have the opportunity to travel abroad or be adopted. I am passionate about this organization because of their unique opportunity for older orphans, a population that is generally overlooked, to connect with adoptive families. The goal of this program is to give children a home-away-from-home experience of family life and hope for the future. Although talk of adoption is not allowed during this four-week stay, most of the families adopt the children that stay with them or connect them with other families.

In “Forever Family”, I highlight the Osen family who adopted Giovann and Alan from the Philippines after participating in the Summer of Hope program. The photographs give the viewer a glimpse into the new and existing relationships in the family and the plight of each child as they try to find their identity in the newly created family unit. What surprised and amazed me the most was the family’s incredible commitment toward their adopted kids and the wisdom and unselfishness of Timothy & Juliette, two of the biological kids still at home. Giovann and Alan, having had several years of life before joining the Osens, have the power to choose whether or not they want to assimilate into their new family. While this power to choose to love or not has tested the Osens, their unconditional love and acceptance further proves their unwavering commitment to be a Forever Family for these kids.

Leslie McDaniel On behalf of Summer of Hope/The Sacred Portion Childrens Outreach