In 1994, as a teenager, I heard about the genocide in Rwanda and it cut me to the core. I realised that there were millions of children around the world without homes, without families to love them, some who were suffering unimaginable cruelties. This is the orphan crisis. 

Today it is estimated that 153 million children in the world live without families to care for them. 168 million children are estimated to be engaged as child labourers. 263 million children are missing out on an education, 69 million suffer from malnutrition, the list goes on. Not all of these children are necessarily orphaned, but all of them deserve to live in a world where they can grow up as children, with families who love and support them in their corner. No child should ever have to fend for themselves, alone. Those numbers, and what they represent, are truly staggering if you stop to think about them for a moment. The scale seems insurmountable, what can we possibly do? 

Brooke Fraser wrote a song about her time spent in Rwanda. She speaks of meeting a young girl named Albertine, orphaned by the 1994 genocide, and her desire to share Albertine's story. Listening to this song had a big impact on me as we began our own journey into adoption. 

Ever since 1994 adoption has been on my heart. Finally, after a lot of waiting, paperwork, joy and tears we were able to travel 'across a distant sea' to bring home our little miracle from the Philippines in 2016. Our journey hasn't always been smooth sailing, far from it, but it has been one of the greatest joys of my life. 

Adopting our daughter has not solved the orphan crisis. But today we are ever so thankful there is now 153 million minus one. She has changed our lives for the better.

I began my business initially to help cover the costs of the airfares to get us to our daughter but now I'm hopeful that, together, we can continue to do more. 

There are many children's homes in the Philippines doing amazing work, with orphaned children, with street kids, with children who are facing unimaginable terminal illnesses who have no-one to care for them. 

A portion of my business profits every year is donated specifically to two different children's homes doing this amazing work. There are lots of charities we can choose to support, but these are two that are close to my heart.

By supporting my business, booking your Wedding with me, a Real-Life session, a Fresh 48/ Newborn or a Family Film you will also be supporting these beautiful people and the amazing work they are doing caring for these precious children as 'sons and daughters'.

I really am so very grateful for your support. You really are helping to make a difference and I thank you, from the bottom of my heart. 




  

Across a distant Sea

xo Liz