The Star Tribune, a newspaper based in Minnesota, USA, reports on a program designed to match older “orphans” from Colombia to adoptive families in Minnesota through a week-long camp which allows for in-person introductions and interactions. This program, called the “Camp of Dreams” is run by the Friends of FANA, an orphanage in Colombia which arranges the trip to Minnesota. The orphanage selects the children based on assessments from psychologists that these are the children with the “best chance to do well in this country.” The orphanage tells the children that they are going on “vacation” so as “to avoid having hopes dashed if they aren’t adopted.”
According to the article, 11 children participated in the camp and all were adopted from this program in 2013. This year, at the time of writing, there were 12 children in the camp and it was as yet uncertain which, if any, would be adopted. If they are not adopted, the children will return to their orphanages and foster homes in Colombia. In the meantime, the children visit local sites and play with local volunteers who come to the camp.