June 2010
On our recent trip to Kazakhstan we were approached by the orphanage doctor at the Karakastek baby home asking for help in purchasing a water filtration system. Our board decided that this is a fantastic way to improve the lives of the orphans at Karakastek. Our fundraising goal was $3000. With this money we will purchase 6 water systems and 24 replacement filters.

The Karakastek orphanage is located in the Almaty region and is home to children age birth to 7 years old. The baby home houses anywhere from 75 to 125 at a given time. It is a village orphanage that is only supported by the local government and is very poor and under funded. The children lack proper nutrition, are very small and often sick. Part of the reason for their sickness and malnutrition is poor water conditions. Most children adopted from Karakastek come home with bacteria or parasites that are caused by drinking or ingesting contaminated water. Just looking at statistics of children that are adopted with parasites we are sure that many of the children still waiting for a family are also infected. We can change their diets or supply vitamins but it will only do so much if the water is not also changed.

We are so happy to report that the wonderfully generous families at Kazapalooza raised $5581 for our project!

The systems will be purchased and installed in August. Thank you Kazapalooza for choosing Two Hearts and thanks to all the great families for your support!

 

May 2010 - Playground at the Children's Home in Almaty City complete!

The 2 Hearts 2 Kaz 2010 mission team traveled to Almaty City for 10 days to construct a playground at the largest orphanage in Kazakhstan. The Children's Complex houses 350 orphans, age 5-16. We also took 23 bags of donations with over 3500 items! To read more about the trip please check out or blog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 2010 - Two Hearts supplies donations to a women's prison in Almaty, Kazakhstan:

After receiving a request from the Ministry of Justice in Almaty, we collected donations for this women's prison that also has a baby home. They were in desperate need of many items and we were able to provide: diapers, shelving, 2 strollers, 14 radiators, 2 irons, a microwave, 25 pots and pans, sterilizers, baby wraps, toys, sheets and blankets, 100 plates/spoons and cups, potty chairs, 3 sleds and outdoor clothing for the orphans! Thank you to all who supported this need!

March 2009

 

Nauryz celebration in Qostanay:  We are very pleased to report that the orphans in Qostanay had a fantastic Nauryz holiday.  The children received many new items, including tricycles, and had a wonderful day.  Unfortunately we are not allowed to post their pictures but here are some of the great things that were purchased with your donations!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 2009

Nauryz Celebration in Taraz 

When we collected the donations to sponsor an orphan for New Years in Taraz, we promised that the extra donations would be giving to the children for their Nauryz holiday.  The children were given new sports equipment. 

"I just thought you (and possibly your sponsors) might want to know the reason for our choice related to the gifts for the Kazakh New Year.  As we talked, we wanted to make sure that we purchased something that would provide hours of enjoyment for the children and something that would allow for them to enjoy being outside (to go along with the idea of rollerblades and bicycles).  We also wanted to give them gifts that would be less likely to disappear.  As a result, we decided to get good quality balls for each group.  Often, groups at the orphanage love to play sports, but don't have balls that are good enough quality to last under the conditions of daily play.  

There are two buildings at Ulan.  The older children's building has a basketball court.  As a result, we have decided to purchase a volleyball, basketball, and soccer ball for each group in that building.  Since the younger kids building does not have a basketball court, we have decided to just purchase a volleyball and soccer ball for them.  These balls will provide hours of entertainment for the children.  We are going to label each ball with the group number, so that we (and they) will be able to keep track of them more easily.  

Nauryz sounds like it was wonderful in Taraz.  Our team there (along with some visitors from the States), took your gifts to the children.  As you can see by the pictures, your donors made a lot of children VERY happy!  Since I am not there right now it is fun for me to see their pictures and see the smiles on their faces.  I was informed that one of the groups was so excited, that they immediately went outside and started playing.  Thank you once again for making a difference in the lives of these children.  These balls will provide hours of entertainment."

Thank you  that donated! 

 

January 1, 2009

Two Hearts provides Hope in Taraz:  This holiday season Two Hearts organized a campaign to all 160 orphans at the Ulan Orphanage in Taraz.  We asked you to donate $15 for 1 orphan and the response was overwhelming.  We were able to sponsor every single child which provided them with a gift of their own to open on New Years Day.  The children were taken to the toy store and got to select a toy of their own.  Here is how it went:

"It went really well. We were able to take 72 children (almost exactly half) shopping. One boy went through the whole store buying things that were about 100 Tenge or less (notebooks, rulers, markers, drawing paper, pens, etc). He probably ended up with about 40 items - we had to make up some extra labels for him. ?

I got to take two little girls shopping. I walked with them through the clothes (which they said they wanted) to the stuffed animals (which they loved) and finally to the doll aisle. They both ended up choosing a 1 1/2 foot doll in a pink dress. They proudly carried their doll to the front of the store where we put a label on each one with their names and then they put their dolls in the cart after a few pictures. It was funny to watch how big their eyes got when they first saw the dolls. One of the two little girls had been at the orphanage for less than one week. This was her first experience doing anything with us and she was a bit scared at first. It was fun that she had something special happen during her first week at Ulan.

We have about 75 children left. Ten of these children are in the youngest children's group (preschool), so we will choose the gifts for them. About 15 were in the hospital. We will probably take one more trip to the store and then just purchase gifts for any children that are remaining. We are in the process now of getting the gifts wrapped so that we will be ready when it is time to give them out. Thanks so much (to you and your sponsors) for making this possible. The kids are having a great time. One of the girls said "so this is what it means to go shopping - I didn't know because I never went shopping before."

In addition to the presents, each child received a gift of fruit and candy on New Years morning.  We received an email that the morning of New Years Day was amazing.  The children had great big smiles on their faces and had a fantastic day.  Isn't it amazing that giving a little provides a whole lot!  Thank you once again to everyone who donated this year! You made it a success and brought many many smiles to those children who so desperately needed them!

 

 

 

 

 

September 18, 2008

Two Hearts for Hope receives the Congressional 2008 Angels in Adoption Award:

"Senator McCaskill of Missouri is thrilled to select Two Hearts for Hope as her 2008 Angel in Adoption. Two Hearts for Hope was started in January 2008 by two women, Kim and Stacy, who traveled to Kazakhstan in 2007 to adopt their own children. Going through the adoption process from April to June 2007 made Kim and Stacy aware of the environment that these orphans reside in. Less than perfect conditions with not enough supplies plague these orphanages and make these children’s lives very hard. After seeing these conditions first-hand and how many children are still awaiting adoption in Kazakhstan, Kim and Stacy decided to create Two Hearts for Hope. The organization intends to make Kazak orphans lives better while they wait for a caring family to adopt them. Every month Two Hearts for Hope takes donations for items ranging from shoes and socks, to hygiene products, to toys. These donations are boxed up and carried to Kazakhstan by other families looking to adopt a child. While there, the boxes are dropped off to various orphanages for the children. The supplies enrich the lives of these orphans and help to add joy and hope to them as they wait to be adopted. Kim and Stacy started this organization all on their own and it has grown immensely to help make 1,000s of Kazak orphans lives better. Two Hearts for Hope continues to accept donations for Kazak orphans and is currently planning a trip to Kazakhstan to personally deliver these presents to the orphans. Stacy and Kim’s devotion and dedication for helping Kazak orphans makes them an excellent choice for Missouri’s Angel of Adoption."