Priceless!

Posted by Tim Brown, Delegate

Monday, Oct 12th was an incredible day. I am still processing through all that I had experienced. I was once again reminded that a smile and a laugh in any language means the same thing.

We started our day getting introduced to the staff here at Interlink and getting an overview of the various ways they work with the people of Kazakhstan. Next we took our visit to the orphanage at Saryrmoldayeva where I got to meet for the first time the 2 children that our family has sponsored since January. Sergey (boy - 6 years old) and Ayaluim (girl - 9 years old).

The orphanage director provided us with an extensive tour of her facility and I was quite impressed. My only other comparision is what Lisa and I experienced in 2000 when we adopted Mitchell from the Bobek (baby house) in Aqtobe, KZ. After our tour we had an unplanned traditional meal in a Yurt (tent) on the orphanage property. We then spent the next 1 1/2 hours with our kids at a local entertainment center (kids play area). The evening concluded with having dinner with the Miller family who have been in KZ since mid/late summer as the conclude the adoption of their 6th child. They have 2 biological, 2 adopted from Liberia, and 2 adopted from KZ (one 4 years ago and the other hopefully to be finalized next week).

Below is just a sampling of photos.


Lunch at the Interlink office with the staff


At the orphanage


With my two sponsored children


Riding the bumper cars

The People Behind Interlink- Katya Kantseva

Posted by Katya Kantseva, Receptionist

I am the new receptionist at the Taraz office of Interlink. I graduated from the university in the summer, and since October 2009 I have worked here. I’m very happy to be a part of the Interlink team and to assist in our great work helping poor people and orphans. I think it is good opportunity to have work experience in such a company! Before I started working here, I have been an intern at Interlink and a volunteer for Savva delegations several times. It was great! I like the staff and our work here in the office.

Reflections from Abby

Posted by Abby Naunheimer, Delegate

My time in Kazakhstan was a great reminder of how much need there is around the world. We, as a culture, more often recognize the physical needs, but there were countless times where my team was simply called to converse or play with the local adults and children. We were needed to be listening ears and loving arms for those who do not readily get attention. I can quickly forget how difficult it is to live in other regions of the world. It was so good to be in Kazakhstan and truly experience what life can be like in central Asia. It made me proud to know people who have lived or traveled there before me.

My experience was enhanced by a local family who allowed my husband and I to stay in their home; where they cooked meals for us, taught us bits of language and culture, and simply befriended us. They gave us a window into the life of a loving family.

Orphanage graduates going to colleges this year

Posted by Olya Cherevko, Youth Impact Manager

Usually very few orphans receive full scholarships to study in colleges. One of the main reasons is that their educational levels are low; however, this year Interlink's Youth Impact program put a special emphasis on preparing orphans for national tests and teaching how to fill out applications and write essays.

Last year out of 95 orphanage graduates only 9 got accepted to colleges/universities. This year it is three times as many - 27 students will go to colleges with fully covered tuition and monthly stipend.

Most of the grants have been provided by the government but 9 of them have been granted by two private foundations in Almaty started by local businessmen and foreign embassies in Kazakhstan that give 100 scholarships to orphans and youth from low-income families in Kazakhstan.

The youth in the photo below working on their essays all got accepted to colleges/universities thanks to those foundations. Now they are required to keep their grades high and participate in volunteer activities for the good of the society. Their volunteer activities may include social service projects at NGOs like teaching children, helping at orphanages, or cleaning of local parks.

Fun with the high school delegation

Posted by Vicki Charboneau, Kids Connection

At the end of July a delegation of high school students came to Kazakhstan from Indiana. During their time here they did many things including visiting the children of Ulan at their summer camp. To say the children were excited to see the team arrive is an understatement. They literally were bouncing with joy. The delegation was only there for several hours but in that time they went swimming, colored with the children, and had a carnival.

In America youth today are at times portrayed as selfish and destructive, but I watched a group of teenagers reach out with open hearts and kindness to the orphans who were so eager to touch and see a "real" American teenager. Each one of the youth who made up the team and the young adult leaders gave 120% of themselves to the children. They hiked down to the river and spent about an hour swimming and splashing with the kids. As they walked back up the hill they were walking hand in hand. Big smiles were on everyone's faces and the chatter of excited children filled the air like music.

The carnival was a huge hit with the kids also. There were games at seven different stations, from face painting to ring toss with small prizes or candy received by each child. Even the caretakers joined in after watching the kids have so much fun. When it was time to leave no one wanted the day to end.

Each one of the youth from America were shining examples of the good that is still in our youth today. They each gave of their time and energy to come halfway around the world to give a little happiness to children they didn't even know. We thank the high school delegation for touching the hearts of the many youth that you met while here in Kazakhstan.

Youth Delegation Update

Posted by Zach Matchett, delegate

Note:  The youth delegation, consisting of 8 high school students and two leaders, arrived in Kazakhstan today.  They will be working with several different groups of youth as they learn more about the Kazakh culture.

Hello all!  Our Kazakhstan team has made it safely to Taraz.  Everyone seems to be in good spirits after long flights/layovers on the way here, getting through customs in Almaty, and a rather “eventful” and exciting bus ride here with our first exposure to the first typical bathroom J  Naturally, we are all tired but now we are at our host home for the evening getting a shower (woo hoo!) and getting ready to go to dinner at Café Istanbul and spending some time at the Square (central part of town where many Kazakhs like to hang out).  We are hoping to make it to 10:00 before going to sleep, but we’ll see how that goes for all of us…ha ha!

Our time in Amsterdam was good and the weather was perfect for some sightseeing and our canal tour of the city.  However, the tour was so relaxing and so “informative,” Lauren and Rachel saw it as a prime opportunity for a nap.  Cheater cheater, pumpkin eaters!!  I can’t blame them…we have tried to grab our rest when we can while still trying to overcome our jet lag by staying up to get used to the new time zone.  Overall, we did get some sleep on the flights (while not an ideal amount) and made them go a little bit quicker.  Now that we are here, in spite of our drowsiness, we are so excited to be here and to get started!

First impression of Kazakhstan, you ask…I’ll be honest, it was just about what I expected: plenty of European cars, suspect bathrooms, and new foods to try.  I am excited to see how plans unfold and the Kazakhs we interact with.  Beth Turnock, the director of Interlink here in Kaz, briefed us on how to stay away from some cultural faux pas.

If you’ve been worried if we made it here or not, we are all safe and well. Tomorrow we will leave for three days at the Vanofka orphanage.  Expect more updates as our trip unfolds.  

Savva Delegation Update

Posted by Victoria Charbonneau

The American delegation arrived Tuesday after an exhausting two days of travel, but all were in good spirits.  The team of 15 people is made up of folks from Oregon, Indiana and Virginia.  Most of the team members have traveled numerous times to do English Camp for local orphanages but 3 team members are here to experience it for the first time.  It is always fun to see Kazakhstan through their eyes.  

After lunch and orientation each team member went to spend the night with a host family.  This is how to really experience life in Kazakhstan.   There is always an English speaker in each of the host homes and if it is an American's first trip they are paired with another American.  Kazakh's open their home and show hospitality unlike you ever experience in America.  It is humbling to see how they value relationships and genuinely want to get to know the American who is staying in their home.  

Wednesday morning all of the Americans arrived back to the office looking refreshed and rested.  All of the supplies were loaded onto the bus that would be driving them to Savva Orphanage about 3 hours away.  This team has planned and prepared for this 9 day camp for months.  The children start looking forward to the Americans arrival the day after camp finishes the previous year.  

When I was in Texas I had the opportunity to hear from two children (ages 15 and 13 years) who participated in several of these camps.  I know sometimes people wonder what difference in a child's life a 9 or 10 day camp can have.  I got to hear first hand from these two children that were adopted two years ago.  It was a ray of sunshine coming into their lives.  Like Christmas morning with all the joy and anticipation.  They shared the hope that began to bloom in their hearts that someone cared for them and loved them.  It was hard to comprehend that strangers from so far away would come and love them, but it also touched their hearts igniting a hope that maybe they were of some value.  They shared how all the children talked about all the fun they had over and over and over again.  

Sometimes I think these short term trips are just as much for the Americans who come as they are for the children.  To get out of your comfort zone, experience something so different, and become like a little child again totally dependent on others for all of your basic needs opens your heart to learn more about what is really real.  

The Americans are now in their 3rd day of camp and we will post more pictures and adventures from their time there soon.