Volunteer Trips | Social Interaction | Facility Improvement Projects | Equipment Improvement Projects | Food Supply
Enrichment Field Trips | Organization Partnering | Life Skills |
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Orphan’s Bridge an international organization working to enrich the lives of orphaned children. We seek to enrich their lives and give them more opportunities to live a fulfilled life. We work with orphans whether they are living in orphanages, homeless or living in homes that are absent of functional parental guidance. This is accomplished through a variety of programs supplying social, physical, mental, and emotional growth. Our goal is to give the kids enough tools, knowledge, and experience to have choices for their adult life. We want the kids to have better opportunities as they grow and become adults. We want them to have the option to break out of the poverty trap and have the freedom to achieve their highest potential.
Our commitment to education includes hands-on education support to a children's home in Denver. We also provide scholarships to students in Mexico who wish to continue their education beyond the public education system of 10th grade.
Our activities can change from project to project and from trip to trip. Each of our activities are accomplished by volunteers that are participating in one of the group trips. On a trip you may find any combination of these activities occurring. For instance, one trip to Mexico may have a specific building project and social interaction. Another trip may be expanded and have an element of all of the activities listed below.
Each trip is planned around the needs of the specific orphanage. A strong relationship between orphanage directors and Orphans’ Bridge is crucial. Our organization is continually developing relationships with the directors of the orphanages. All of our activities are funded through private donations and foundation grants.
The following is a partial list of activities that may happen on any given trip at any given orphanage. We continually have new activities in development. One example is we are developing programs that offer educational opportunities for the high school graduates.
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Volunteer Trips
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ORPHAN’S BRIDGE shall organize group trips for volunteers. These volunteer groups will travel to a predetermined orphanage or youth center. The goal is to develop a team of volunteers that work with a specific orphanage over a number of years. Each trip should have a core of three or more volunteers that are returning to the facility.
In this way, we can develop better relationships with the children and staff at each facility. It is important for the returning group to show continuity with the previous group. With better relationships and continuity, we can accomplish more of our goals and activities. Each first time volunteer traveling with a group will receive training in cultural differences, expectations and trip rules. The group trips are the vehicle by which we deliver all other activities listed below. |
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Social Interaction
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This activity will bring a cultural exchange to the children that helps expand their world. One goal of the group trips is to spend time with the children, play with the children, and share our love with the children. Spending time with the children and developing relationships is how we can impact the children one at a time.
This interaction develops understanding, trust and love. The volunteers traveling to the orphanages will be encouraged to develop personal lasting relationships with children at these facilities. We encourage long term relationships of support and nurturing. Through close relationships we can mentor, coach, and develop skills in the children. |
Facility Improvement Projects
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On some trips the groups may work on facility projects. These projects will vary depending on needs, budget, and available manpower. On some occasions the volunteers will be doing the construction work. Other times it may be more beneficial to hire local craftsman to do the construction.
Volunteers may be used to coordinate construction or to gather supplies for construction workers. Construction projects will be designed to improve living conditions at the facility. Examples of projects are improvements to water systems, improvements to bathroom facilities, improvements to kitchens or food preparation areas, and improvements to sleeping quarters. |
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Equipment Improvement Projects
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Groups may work on equipment improvements. These projects will vary depending on needs, budget and available manpower. These projects will be designed to enhance the orphan’s lives. These children live in compounds and rarely leave the property except for school. Our goal would be to add equipment to the facility that is entertaining, educational, or enhances a child's development.
Some equipment may be utilitarian but would enhance health, safety or welfare. Some examples may be furniture for the facility, food preparation equipment, computers for learning, playground equipment, picnic tables, or heating and air cooling systems. These types of projects may be built on site. If available, equipment and supplies will be purchased locally to assist the local economy near the orphanage. |
Food Supply
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The group may supply food or equipment that is beyond the basic needs being met by the orphanage. These activities are designed to give humanitarian aid to the children. Nutrition is very important for good health and development.
Though it is not our main focus, we may supplement an orphanages food stores if deemed necessary for the orphan’s health. It is difficult to enrich a child's life if they are malnourished. In severe circumstances, we will seek a partner agency to assist in finding a sustainable food supply. |
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Enrichment Field Trips
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ORPHAN’S BRIDGE shall organize chaperoned excursions for orphans to see areas of educational importance, historical importance, societal importance or experiential/developmental importance. These trips will be designed to give the children experiences that are not otherwise available to them. The trips will be educational and will be designed to develop social, physical, mental, and emotional growth.
The trips may be a day or two long or may be up to a week. A day trip may be to the ocean. A trip may be to the city to visit museums. A trip may be to the city to tour businesses and learn about careers. Each trip will be designed around the needs of the specific orphans. |
Organization Partnering
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Orphan’s Bridge is dedicated to partnering with other organizations that have parallel goals. If an orphanage is having trouble feeding the children, we will search for a partner organization with the goal of feeding hungry children. If an orphanage is having facility problems, we will search for a partner organization that can rebuild facilities.
Circumstances may arise that Orphan’s Bridge cannot find a partner organization to fill a need. If funding allows, Orphan’s Bridge may supply goods and services until a more permanent solution can be found. |
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Life Skills
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During the above activities, when practical, children could be taught life skills and trade skills. As an example during a construction project teens could be taught construction skills. If we are repairing a water system, children could be taught plumbing skills. If we build picnic tables, children could be taught wood working skills.
Through improving food preparation equipment, we can teach about preventing the spread of disease and illness. These small skills can open doors to future skills. A child exposed to multiple skills and career choices can be motivated toward further education and to setting career goals.
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