3 & 21. These are important numbers in the world of Down syndrome. Three copies of the twenty-first chromosome. A little bit of extra that makes a child experience the world through the filter of Down syndrome. It is a life full of joy, yes, but it can be difficult. In the United States we have awesome resources for birth families and even adoptive families who are helping their child rock their designer genes. It wasn’t always so…but we’ve come a long way.
In countries like China, children born with that little bit of extra are not welcomed with resources, with hope, with a future…often not even with love. There are no welcome baskets full of information to new parents of a beautiful child with Down syndrome. There are no Birth to Three in home therapies. There are no special education classes or jobs programs. There are however, sides of the road, back alleys and rivers. The lucky ones are found, and until recently were doomed to a life of institutionalization…if they even lived through the lack of medical care. It is a sad and brutal reality for those with Down syndrome in many countries.
The Christian foster care ministry Grace Village's Ava's House, in Zhanjiang, China is acutely aware of these realities and has felt the passionate call to specifically care for orphaned children with Down syndrome. By removing those from the orphanage and gracefully welcoming them into a loving, nurturing foster home children once doomed to essential death are now thriving! They are receiving medical care, developmental therapies, adequate nutrition and most importantly Christ’s love. They are being given LIFE.
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In celebration of World Down Syndrome Day—3/21--Village21 is proud to partner with Grace Village's Ava's House in a fundraising campaign that will help them care for even MORE children with Down syndrome.
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The math is simple: give 3x21 ($63) and the world for a child with Down syndrome in China can be changed. In fact, if we can find 321 people to give 3x21 the six children with Down syndrome currently at the local orphanage can be welcomed into Grace Village and be loved & provided for for the next year. 3x21 ($63). It’s that easy.
Village21 will be taking the next 21 days leading up to World Down Syndrome Day to highlight the beautiful work of Grace Village, the children there awaiting adoption and talking to families who have welcomed their children HOME from Grace Village. It’s powerful. And life changing. And you can be apart of it.
Can you #give3x21 ?
