When I first began to settle into my role as Online Marketing Manager for CMomA, I went about the task of finding and responding to messages various visitors had sent, both via email and on our Facebook Page.
I was personally struck by a small but steady stream of messages from young people, mostly in developing countries, who were clearly combing the internet for some way to achieve their big, youthful dreams.
Parentless, with limited resources, they were calling out via their wobbly web access for a family, a parent, a helping hand. While a percentage of these emails were disingenuous, many were (and continue to be) the true and authentic cry of a teen or young adult just like those I see every day, with dreams of a world-shaking career, a loving family, and with a hero like Steve Jobs or Elizabeth Warren drawing them ever forward.
Newly signed on, I wasn’t equipped to help them, and the mission of CMomA is only the slimmest fit.* So, whenever I could, I figured out where in the world they were and did a little research to find at least one organization that might be of real help to them.
A few months in now, and a little more seasoned, I have a better idea where to look when I get one of these messages. I’ve also learned there are a number of CMomAs like me, who are as deeply moved by this often-forgotten segment of the world’s orphans, and are looking for ways to help.
If that’s you, here’s a find that doesn’t really fit on our Resources page, but that you may want to check out and bookmark. The International Scholarships and Financial Aid Positions Website has a page devoted to scholarships for orphans. Contributing to scholarship funds like these can be a way to spread a little love and encouragement to young people from Ohio to New Zealand to South Africa.
My guess: many of them also need help with applying for these scholarships (I sure would). With that in mind, if you’re not in the position to contribute funds to the scholarships listed, it may be worth contacting the organizations to see if they accept online (or local?) volunteers to help young applicants assemble the required paperwork and information.
I also have no doubt the list is very, very incomplete. A quick search brought me to this promising list of foster youth scholarships on the Foster Care to Success website. Consider being a research angel, and finding other scholarships for orphans that can be added.
Finally, I’d like to remind you that donations to CMomA fund grants to families adopting older children in need (age 3-17) or special needs children of all ages, both domestically and internationally! Click here to learn more about CMomA Adoption Grants. Click here to contribute now – no amount is too small!
*The key connection is that we maintain Resource pages that list not only adoption and fostering agencies, but also organizations that facilitate connecting with children, and orphans in particular.
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