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Numerous families suffer separation as a result of the war in Ukraine. This weekend was aimed at providing Ukrainian parents with a time of rest and relaxation and an opportunity to connect with other parents facing similar challenges.

World Without Orphans Bulgaria started following the WWO Global Forum in 2019. Ivan Menchev and the WWO Bulgaria team and its partners are working tirelessly to strengthen families and to provide resources so that more children can be adopted and placed in loving families. The Atanasov family is one of the families that found joy in adopting a young Roma boy. Listen to their testimony as they share their story.

In June 2024, Barbara, our team member and trauma trainer travelled to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. The goal of the trip was to join a first meeting with people interested in a Without Orphans movement and meet with a group of about 30 psychologists looking for trauma training.

When it comes to orphans and vulnerable children, we tend to think of countries in Eastern Europe or Africa. Yet in Germany, many children live in institutions or with short-term foster parents. The lack of long-term foster parents, social workers, as well as churches who understand their calling to help, were discussion points at the first roundtable toward a Without Orphans movement in Germany.

One of the highlights of the Global Forum in March 2024 were the many different stories of those who are involved in national without orphans networks around the world. Some of them talked about specific aspects of how to build a network and the importance of collaboration. Perhaps the most touching were the kind of stories I would call redemption stories.