Escort Update

200 Children from Latvia and the Ukraine!

Margaret Whitehead, Merrily Dickenson and Connie Faberman worked feverishly to coordinate one of the most complicated escorts AAI has ever attempted.    At the end of June 2011, over 22 AAI escorts helped transport 200 orphans from Latvia and the Ukraine to the US for a month.    The young teenagers are coming to the US to stay with foster families all around the country for summer vacation.  The hope is that some of the kids will be adopted. 

Emily Reynolds (pictured right) describes the logistics of the journey as summer began:

The airlift from the Ukraine was a huge undertaking.  I met the children and their escort in Frankfurt, Germany. They only had what they were wearing, no suitcase, toothbrush, comb, etc.  How privileged we are.   Everybody was helpful to me, from the flight attendants on LHR to the custom agents.   We were met by the host families who were wearing the same T-shirts as the children, they had posters of "Welcome" for them, they hugged the children, smiles appeared on the children and Olga.   My prayer is that everything goes well for all of them.   I look forward to seeing them again on the first of August.