TEAMworks International: Meet Ukraine!

TEAMworks International began in Ukraine with the story of an adoption...

Keep reading to see how it began, what we were able to do there, and how it impacted our TEAM! 

TEAMworks International began in Ukraine with the story of an adoption...

In 2001, Jimmie and Amanda Clark of Bentonville, AR had decided to adopt from Ukraine.  After meeting an Ozark couple who had adopted a couple of children from Ukraine, including one with special needs, the Clark's decided to keep their hearts open to children who had special needs.  So in May 2002, when they traveled to Ukraine to adopt, Amanda shared, “We didn’t have our minds set on healthy or special needs.  We kept our hearts open.”

Into those open hearts “leaped” Dimitri and Aleksei, who both have cerebral palsy. Before the Clarks took the boys home to Arkansas, they fell in love with a third child with cerebral palsy, a little girl named Elena. They vowed to find her a family, as well. When then Clarks were unable to find a family for Elena they went back to Ukraine to adopt her themselves.

“When we adopted our daughter,” Amanda said, “we showed the caretakers at the orphanage photos of our other kids. The caretakers were amazed when they saw two healthy boys.” They showered Amanda with questions.

Amanda started sending the orphanage therapy information from Children’s Therapy T.E.A.M., the clinic that continues to treat and help Dimitri, Leks, and Elena. Amanda’s efforts got the attention of the clinic’s owner, Physical Therapist Kym Hannah.  Soon, Amanda was on her way back to Ukraine with an entourage of therapists from the clinic. They took educational materials with them to teach caretakers at the orphanage how to provide various kinds of therapies for children with special needs.

Amanda calls the trips a “grassroots effort” to get help for kids with special needs who end up in orphanages because there is no organized support system for them there. “Our main goal,” she said, “is to keep them out of the [institution]. It’s a horrible, horrible place where kids lie in beds 24 hours. Their diapers don’t get changed. Nobody touches them. We’re trying to help kids be more adoptable. We can rehabilitate these kids.”

[The] team has been back to Ukraine over [ten] times now, and expanded each visit to include additional orphanages and communities; assisting parents and caretakers to find that special potential in each child they see. During each visit they expand to take more information, more therapy equipment and more toys than previous trips. Over the years, TEAMworks has grown and developed from Ukraine trips, into a non-profit organization that serves in over 4 different countries internationally, and also includes involvement to the local community in Northwest Arkansas. The goal and mission of TEAMworks is to assist and serve children with special needs by improving family education, community involvement,  and quality of life.

Unfortunately, war in Ukraine has kept theTEAM from physically traveling back; however, TEAMworks is dedicated to continuing to help in anyway possible! TEAMworks continues to be in contact with our team of in country translators and have made new relationships to help support the country that began the mission that is now TEAMworks International!

To help you better understand why the TEAMworks mission and fundraising is so important, we asked some of our TEAMworks Ukrainers to share their experience with you!

Amy Smith is a speech-language pathologist from Children's Therapy TEAM who travelled to Ukraine in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Here is what she said about her experience in Ukraine.

 

Describe your TEAMworks experience in 3-5 words?

There is only one phrase that describes my experience in Ukraine. Life Changing

Was there a child that most "pulled your heartstrings"? If so, please describe meeting the child for the first time...

I can't name just one.  There are too many.  It is such a privilege to know their names, a little of their stories, and no matter where they ended up... with a family... or not, they are remembered by us, and loved by a God who made them.  Daniel. Lena. Olga. Lera. Nastia. Kiril. Constantine. Pavel. Johnna. Paulina.  The list is long.  And we take joy in remembering them. 

How has TEAMworks outreach made an impact on the child's life?

Through TEAMworks ministry in Ukraine, some local families were introduced to their sons and daughters. It is such a privilege and blessing to see these children thriving in a loving home and to be even a small part of their continued journey and God's continued plan for their lives.  

How has your involvement in the TEAMworks outreach impacted you?

TEAMworks changes your perspective. The work we do as therapists here is something easily accessed by all. Support for families and children with special needs is something that I think I took for granted before these trips. Personally, I know that if my son needed something, I could get it. Children in Ukraine don’t have easy access to things that are almost basic here. Life changing things.  Early intervention. Wheelchairs. Alternative ways to communicate. Someone who sees your child for their potential, not for what they can not do.

 

Kelly Yates is an Occupational Therapist at Children's Therapy T.E.A.M. who travelled to Ukraine in 2011 and 2012. Here is what she had to say about her experience in Ukraine.

Describe your TEAMworks experience in 3-5 words?

Well, I guess since Amy took life changing…I can go with Transformative!

Was there a child that most "pulled your heartstrings"? If so, please describe meeting the child for the first time...

There are so many names, but one sweet boy always comes to mind first. His name was Vanya. He was the first child I laid eyes on during my first service trip to Ukraine. He is easily the reason my husband and I opened our hearts to adoption as we considered adopting him before his transfer to an institution. God had other plans for him and he is now the son of a sweet family in Alabama, but he will forever be the child that changed my life and perspective about family.

How has TEAMworks outreach made an impact on the child's life?

My hope is that our work in Ukraine brought enlightenment about the value of children with special needs, their potential, and their worth. That their “limitations” are only as limiting as you make them and through love, caring, and a few resources here and there, they can thrive!

How has your involvement in the TEAMworks outreach impacted you?

I don’t think there is a single statement that I can make regarding how much TEAMworks has impacted me. It has truly changed the way I see my life. It has made me more compassionate, more open-minded, more selfless, more grateful, more hopeful… just more. It has made my life MORE.

I should also mention my husband and I did end up adopting and are now the blessed parents of Stella (age 5, adopted from China in 2015) and Ford (age 5, adopted from China in 2017).

If you feel led to support TEAMworks, please click below to purchase our TEAMworks 2018 Fundraising T-Shirt! 100% of the proceeds go to TEAMworks!

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