Meet Niko

http://www.projecthopeful.org/waiting-kids/details/3/154

Niko is a 6 year old boy. He is currently living in an older child internat in Eastern Europe. Close your eyes for a moment and imagine your child at 6 years old, or a child you know around the age of 6. Now imagine Niko who is 6, who doesn't have a mommy or a daddy. He doesn't get to go to the park and have his parents push him on the swings, he doesn't get to smell fresh baked chocolate chip cookies when he gets home from school. He doesn't get to laugh and run carelessly through life without a care in the world.  He doesn't get birthday parties, christmas mornings, easter egg hunts, or anyone to spoil him rotten with love. Who tucks Niko in at night, gets him a drink of water, and reads him a bedtime story? Not mommy or daddy........A nanny in the orphanage who is on rotating shifts. Niko has no concept of having his own room, his own toys, and what the love of a family feels like.
Niko also has a congenital anomaly of the urinary system, as described in Eastern Europe. He has extrophia of the bladder (the doctor says this is operable).  He is cognitively delayed as well and needs special help with speech.
Niko is NOT HIV +.
Niko is very active and physically capable and could really benefit from having surgery.
But what Niko needs IMMEDIATLEY is a FAMILY, the LOVE of a FAMILY.

for more info please visit:
http://reecesrainbow.org/niko56

Pictures of street children in Eastern Europe:

What is Project Hopeful? What is Reeces Rainbow?

"Project Hopeful is not for profit ministry that educates, encourages, and enables families adopting children with HIV/AIDS. Every orphaned child hopes for a family and a home. The reality for many children with HIV/AIDS and other special needs is that the chances of having that dream materialize are slim."* Project Hopeful works to advocate for children with HIV/AIDS and special needs to make that dream a reality for those children.
To learn more about Project Hopeful, please visit:
*  http://www.projecthopeful.org/project-hopeful

Reeces Rainbow is a ministry that advocates for children with downsyndrome and special needs.  They promote international adoption of children with Down syndrome and special needs.
"The primary focus of Reece's Rainbow is to raise grant funds and promote the international adoption and rescue of children with Down syndrome in particular."*
To learn more about Reeces Rainbow, please visit:
*http://reecesrainbow.org/

What is a FIG Advocate?

FIG stands for "Family in the Gap."
Our role as a FIG advocate is to:

• commit to praying regularly for Nikolai to find a forever family
• spread awareness about them and be instrumental in helping locate a family for them
• raise money for Nikolai's adoption fund to help eliminate financial barriers presented by adoption

The FIG program is headed by Project Hopeful  http://www.projecthopeful.org/fig-fund
please contact figs@projecthopeful.org for more information about the FIG program!