Hoping for home

"They are learning what a family is and hopefully in the process you fall in love with them and bring them home," said host parent Maria Bardach at a backyard get-together this week in San Jose.

The children are between 7 and 11 years old and have traveled from the Colombian capital of Bogota for a six-week adventure they're told is a summer camp. They stay with host families and attend a number of activities - from beach trips to ice skating. The public is invited to meet the children at events held twice a week in an attempt to find the children homes.

Today the children, along with a group of 12 Russian orphans in the same program, will visit the Bridgepointe Ice Center in San Mateo.

The public is invited to meet the children. In the best-case scenario, all the children find homes. In the worst-case scenario, the children receive a great vacation and the host families do their part to educate people about the plight of Colombian orphans.

This is the first time Kidsave International, a nonprofit organization aimed at ending institutionalization of children, is bringing Colombian children to the Bay Area for their summer program. A Russian summer program has been happening in Benicia for some time, said program organizer Susan Shireman.

Although the children are not told it's an attempt to get them adopted, many are old enough to understand.

Angie, a 10-year-old asked her host Bardach if she will be adopted. It's a complicated response, Bardach said.

The children arrived at San Francisco International Airport July 6 and will return home Aug. 16. If the host families are interested in adopting, it takes at least six months to complete the necessary paper work and home inspections. At least one family is hosting, but isn't necessary looking to adopt.

It's hard to say no when the children are so easy to love, said Bardach who is hosting two girls and has two sons.

"It's incredible how much you can love this child you don't know," Bardach said.

On one of Angie's first nights in San Jose, she whispered to Bardach that she's not allowed to have stuffed animals from where she's from. Now Angie sleeps with Bardach's stuffed animal every night.

Angie, like most of the kids, is most impressed with "la playa" or "the beach." In Columbia, they are in the center of the country and many have never seen the ocean. They also don't have squirrels or San Jose's hot weather, said Rose Garcia, another host parent.

Garcia has been asked if she'll adopt, but she dodges the question because she doesn't want to make any promises she might not be able to keep due to the number of risks related to international adoptions.

Garcia went into the program somewhat timid, but it's clear now that she is a full-fledged supporter.

"We want to bring attention to the children in institutions around the world," she said. "They deserve a home just like everyone else does."

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com