Project Life was inaugurated in 1997. Since then it has brought 136 orphans from the troubled lands of Bosnia, the North Caucasus (Chechnya and Ingushetia), Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka to peaceful western New York State. Project Life is an intensive, volunteer-based program that works to restore the lost childhood of innocent victims of war and natural disasters. These children have suffered hardship and losses, but they are not seeking long-term foster care or adoption in the United States. After a wonderful few months, the children return to their native countries where they live with close family members.
All the Project Life children receive regular medical and dental care and eye exams and are provided prescriptions free of charge. Over the years, a few of the children arrived with undiagnosed health conditions and have remained in Western New York to receive the care they so desperately need.
This year, we are proud to be sponsoring Ahmed, a 9 year old boy from Tunisia who was born with a club foot, has worn braces all his life, is nonverbal, has never received dental care, is developmentally delayed, and has left facial paralysis.
He has come to the United States seeking medical care that was unobtainable in Tunisia. He has never seen a dentist. He has never attended school. He has been isolated and never allowed to associate with other children. Project Life has had the privilege, since they arrive in the United States in January 2023, to support improving his quality of life. We continue to raise funds to support the ongoing needs to improve Ahmed’s quality of life. We are asking for your help to support this initiative as well.