Outreach Projects

Our primary mission here at Reece's Rainbow is to seek grant donations and adoptive families for our waiting children with Down syndrome around the world.

As a result of these adoptions, one by one, the hope is that these will plant the seeds of truth and change in the hearts and minds of orphanage staff, adoption officials, and citizens in the communities where these children are adopted FROM.    The immediate need for these children is to have loving families, access to proper medical care, education, inclusion, and support.    They are not able to receive these things in their own countries right now.  But the long term goal is to enact and catalyze social change in these countries, so the need to "rescue" their orphans with special needs doesn't even exist.

As Reece's Rainbow continues to grow, we are being presented with special opportunities for outreach and advocacy in Eastern European communities.  Your financial sponsorship of the projects listed below are the seeds of PERMANENT CHANGE in these countries! 

Therapy Workshop Project in Sevastopol, Ukraine	A therapy and training workshop has already been arranged, and is scheduled for November of 2008!   Trained pediatric therapists from Moscow will be traveling to Sevastopol, Ukraine to spend a week educating these birth parents AND the orphanage staff on techniques to help our children and improve their developmental progress.   They will also provide therapy sessions for the children living at the orphanage.  At this time, none of these children have committed adoptive families, so they will all get to benefit from this visit.     Cost to cover time and travel for these therapists:  $1000
Therapeutic Toys and Play Forms for Therapy Room, Sevastopol, Ukraine	During the therapists' visit in November, we would like to be able to offer the gift of therapeutic toys and play forms for a new therapy room at the orphanage in Sevastopol.   Your donations here will make this possible!    Goal:  $10,000
Birth Parent Support Group in Sevastopol, Ukraine	We know of several children with Down syndrome waiting to be adopted in this seaside resort town of Sevastopol.    But there is a handful of parents who have chosen to keep their children, and are just now taking baby steps to starting their own DSA and challenging the status quo in their community.   Did you know that one of the children we learned of, who was originally orphaned, was actually brought home by her mother, who is now active in the development of this DSA??   Donations for this fund will be held for ongoing needs as they arise.   Goal:  $2000
Birth Parent Support Group in Sofia, Bulgaria	An American missionary in Bulgaria recently gave birth to her own child with Down syndrome.   She quickly found there was no support of any kind for her son in Bulgaria.  It did not take her long to realize that God had an important task for her there, and a special mission for her son.  Steve and Tanja Pankratz have already begun the first Birth Parent Support Group (DSA) for children with Down syndrome in Sofia.  Your financial sponsorship for this ongoing project will provide financial help for translation of printed materials that we have here in the US for new birth parents in Bulgaria, the cost of printing those packets, reaching out to new birth families, and any additional projects or events they hope to hold in the development of this historic group of brave and courageous families!!    And of course, if you are interested in adopting a child who is waiting for a family in Bulgaria, please visit our Bulgaria program page.     Cost for initial startup program:  $1000
Orphan Hosting Program!	Our hope is to be able to arrange a hosting program in Ukraine exclusively for children with Down syndrome.   This is a goal for the 2010 year (that is less than 2 years away!!), but fundraising must start now so that we have all the funds in place to completely subsidize all of the travel costs for all of the children we hope to bring over.    We estimate a minimum of $1000 per child in airfare and escorting alone.   Our goal is to bring as many as (10) children for (10) families to host (and hopefully adopt afterwards).   This would be a historical opportunity, and have monumental meaning for every waiting orphan who hopes for a family of their own.   Donations now will make it easier for hosting families when the time comes, and eliminates financial barriers for these families and the visiting children!    Goal:  $15,000