Recently one of our littlest girls found herself in a predicament that is not uncommon for girls her age. She got her hair hopelessly tangled into a comb. When careful pulling and gentle tugging weren’t enough to free her locks, her caregiver’s assistant lost no time in finding a dignified solution to the problem. She broke the comb, not the child.
Recognizing the value of a good haircut in the delicate development and restoration of a 7-year-old’s self-esteem, Adriana wisely discerned that, while a new comb would cost less than a dollar, rebuilding Sila’s confidence could take weeks - possibly even months - because each glance in the mirror at poorly cut bangs could be a constant reminder of an innocent childhood mistake.
At just 20 years old, Adriana possesses empathetic insight beyond her years. She has been in Sila’s shoes, having grown up under the hands of caregivers in orphanages herself. While no parent or caregiver is perfect, thankfully Adriana has picked up on the message our trauma informed environment strives to send: When problems arise, we attack the problem, not the person.
Adriana came to live at Haven of Hope when she was 9 years old. She graduated high school top of her class in 2023 and has successfully completed an English certification program. Adriana is currently living at Haven of Hope’s Transition Home. She enjoys photography and singing. Helping with translation and interpretation at Haven of Hope has given her opportunity to practice her English skills, which she continues to hone as she studies for a B.A. in Modern Foreign Languages at the local state university. She works part-time at Haven of Hope as the assistant caregiver for our youngest girls as she continues on the path of transition to independent living. Her dream is to use her language and photography skills to travel the world and make a lasting impact on those around her.
