An innovative couple working with one of our partners in Murmansk, Russia recently began a project called "Secret Angels." It allows children in orphanages to start relationships with secret angels in their community by writing or drawing pictures. Each child is then matched with a secret angel adult who is committed to correspond with the child.
After a few months, the child and angel can meet in person. Our partner members have found it fascinating that the children can always guess who their secret angels are! And that one of the first questions each kid asks when meeting his/her angel, is, "Where are your wings?"
As time goes on, if both parties agree (and with all legal/supervision in place by the caregivers), the angels can visit their children in the orphanage and even bring them home for short visits. This truly provides a unique opportunity for connection and bonding between the orphans and caring adults.
The couple who started the project wanted to construct it scientifically and include best practices. They knew exactly how to do this and perfectly understood the issues since the wife worked in an orphanage and her husband is a former orphan.
This program began at an orphanage known as “the place no one ever leaves.” Seventeen of the 20 kids who participated in the program last year have maintained a relationship with their angel. Eight of these 17 were adopted by their angel and five are in the process of being adopted!
This year, 46 of the 47 children at the orphanage are signed up for the "Secret Angel" program. Additionally, the local government has recognized the effectiveness of this program and has approached our partner with the desire to use their model in orphanages across the region … and possibly make it a nationwide project! Pray with us that God would make this a reality!
