Sparrows Nest Inc.

PROVIDE FOR ORPHANED AND ABANDONED CHILDREN IN FORMER USSR.

DURING 2018, SPARROW'S NEST PROVIDED CARE FOR 96 CHILDREN IN OUR MAIN ORPHANAGE IN JELGAVA, LATVIA. WE CONTINUE TO OPERATE THREE HOMES FOR CHILDREN. EACH HOME IS STAFFED BY A CARE TEAM OF FIVE MEMBERS. FROM SIX TO EIGHT CHILDREN ARE CARED FOR IN EACH HOME. POLITICAL CHANGES IN LATVIA HAVE AFFECTED THE LENGTH OF STAY IN OUR ORPHANAGE. THERE ARE LARGER NUMBERS OF CHILDREN WHO NEED CARE, BUT OVERALL LENGTH OF STAY AT THE ORPHANAGE HAS FALLEN FROM AN AVERAGE OF TWO YEARS, TO AN AVERAGE OF JUST 10 MONTHS. THIS IS A POSITIVE CHANGE AS CHILDREN ARE PLACED IN PERMANENT HOMES OR RETURNED MORE QUICKLY TO BIOLOGICAL PARENTS. THE ORPHANAGE WAS CHOSEN IN 2018 AS A MODEL FOR SOCIAL CHANGE IN LATVIA. WE HAD VISITS WITH MANY REGIONAL SOCIAL DEPARTMENTS AND ORPHAN'S COURTS THROUGHOUT LATVIA. DURING THESE VISITS WE SHARED A PRESENTATION AND THEN ALLOWED TIME FOR GROUPS TO OBSERVE OUR METHODS AND LIFESTYLE. WE WERE HONORED TO SHARE OUR INSIGHTS AND KNOWLEDGE FROM THE PAST 21 YEARS OF WORK. IT WAS A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY TO INFLUENCE THE DIRECTION OF FAMILY CARE WITHIN LATVIA. THE SCOPE OF OUR WORK INCLUDES MEETING THE BASIC PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF EACH CHILD. WE ALSO WORK TO ENSURE THE CHILD OR CHILDREN ARE IN GOOD HEALTH WITH ALL VACCINATIONS. WITH THE HELP OF A MONTESSORI SPECIALIST, CHILDREN ARE ENCOURAGED AND SUPPORTED IN THEIR SCHOOLWORK. GAPS IN LEARNING ARE ADDRESSED AND FILLED. CHILDREN MEET REGULARLY WITH A PSYCHOLOGIST AND HAVE INDIVIDUAL TIME WITH A SOCIAL WORKER. CHILDREN ATTEND CHURCH EACH WEEK AND ARE FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT SPIRITUAL ISSUES AND TO ATTEND A CHURCH OF THEIR CHOOSING. THERE ARE 24 FULLTIME AND 3 FULLTIME STAFF MEMBERS AT THE ORPHANAGE. ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF INCLUDES A DIRECTOR, SOCIAL WORKER, BUILDING MANAGER/DRIVER, AND BOOKKEEPER. STAFF MEMBERS ATTEND DAILY, WEEKLY, AND MONTHLY MEETINGS IN ORDER TO FULLY INFORM THE TEAM OF THE INDIVIDUAL CARE PLANS FOR EACH CHILD. THE PROGRESSION OF WORK WITH EACH CHILD FOLLOWS A CYCLE WHICH INCLUDES 1.) RESCUE AND RECEIVING THE CHILD; 2.) RELIEF OF IMMEDIATE SUFFERING; 3.) RESTORATION; 4.) REPLACEMENT IN A FAMILY. NO MATTER HOW WELL DESIGNED THE ORPHANAGE, IT IS NOT A FAMILY. EVERY CHILD NEEDS A FAMILY. DURING 2018, THE FARM PROPERTY WAS USED FOR SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AND SUMMER HOLIDAY. GROUPS OF 6-8 CHILDREN SPENT A WEEK AT A TIME AT THE FARM WHICH IS ALSO QUITE CLOSE TO THE SEA. THE OUTDOORS AND NATURAL SAND AND WATER THERAPY AVAILABLE TO THE CHILDREN GOES A LONG WAY IN BRINGING HEALTH AND STRENGTH TO THE CHILDREN. OUR FUTURE PLANS INCLUDE BUILDING A CHILDREN'S HOME AT THE FARM PROPERTY WHERE CHILDREN COULD LIVE FULL TIME.