UPDATE : We are thrilled to share Rebekah has a forever family! Thank you to all who have advocated for her!
Life for children with HIV in China is hard. Through no fault of their own, they have to live with a stigmatizing disease the shows no outward signs but results in a bleak future. Schools deny education to many Chinese children with HIV. Doctors and hosptitals may refuse to treat them. As they grow up, the situation does not improve. They struggle to find jobs if people know they are HIV+, and landlords can refuse to rent homes to them. Most have to live in secrecy, with the daily fear of someone learning about their HIV status. While China is working towards educating its people more about HIV and how it spreads, most people are still very hesitant to accept anyone who is HIV+.
One child we are advocating for is just months away from facing this grim future. Rebekah (RainbowKid ID # 30571) will age out this November. We need a family to jump in as soon as possible to insure her the chance for a life of fulfillment and acceptance. If now is not the right time for you, please share as it may be the perfect time for someone else to welcome a daughter into their lives!
The following are the words of an adoption advocate who recently spent time with Rebekah:
Last week I was in China hanging out with an amazing group of kids at a children’s HIV home. One of the gals I had the privilege of spending a lot of time with was Rebekah. She is a quiet , sweet spirited, talented and beautiful girl. Her hobbies include riding bikes and roller skating.
She has a servant’s heart and was always in tune with what I was doing and would eagerly help me with whatever I needed. She was a joy to have by my side in China. Such a sweetheart!
I have great hope that some family out there will choose her as their daughter. She is so lovable and desirable. She told me that she wants to move to America and when I asked her why she said, “I want a family.” Will you join me in asking God to give her this desire of her sweet heart?
Rebekah is an HIV carrier and lives in a group home setting with other children who have also tested positive for HIV. She was with her birth family and cared for by the community until she came to the group home at age 4. She attends private school where she is a good student. Rebekah has three friends at school and one friend at the group home, but no best friend. She is also close with a specific caregiver.
Rebekah can be described as a bright, sensitive child who is good at caring for her own needs and very tidy. She interacts well with adults and likes to take care of younger children. Her personality is passive and introverted although she will let you know if she is very angry. She has been observed to be less social than others in her peer group. A few of her favorite activities are playing hackie-sack, skating, bike riding and playing on her cell phone. Holt staff members who met Rebekah noted that she made good eye contact, answered questions readily and often showed off her big, beautiful smile!
She has glasses to correct a vision problem, but doesn’t like to wear them. Photos are on file and are available on request. Rebekah needs a family to move fast in the adoption process and can complete her adoption before she ages in November 2016. After observing Rebekah it is thought she would fit best in a family without children close to her age at home so that she can be showered with the individual attention she needs to develop healthy relationships.
Contact Jessica for inquiries about this child.
The Lily Project is a grassroots organization in China created by expats who want to see the lives of HIV+ children transformed through education, advocacy, foster care and adoption. Please read more about The Lily Project!
