Hello, my name is Linda Karlson. I am the founder of The Pearl Foundation. My wonderful journey surrounding the Ethiopian people began when I was asked to set up and run a clinical study for AIDS children in an established orphanage, in 2005. At that time, I saw many poorly run establishments with sick and hungry children, and others who were left to fend for their own; being alienated from society with no hope for adoption or a better life. I concluded that a community centered, holistic health approach would create the long term physical, emotional and spiritual healing that these orphans and the surrounding people needed to become happy, productive and fulfilled citizens.
The focus would be upon proven treatments and prevention through optimal nutrition, along with wellness education, and various programs to build life long family structures. Because I fell in love with these beautiful, resillient people, I was determined to return and establish this vision in the rural township of Ambo.
The Foundation's purpose is to build special types of community centered orphanages called Spark of Light Villages to be placed in needy areas throughout the world. Our goal in creating these uniquely designed "villages" is to carry a variety of programs and services that will empower orphaned children and their local community with the knowledge and skills needed to enable them to grow towards their birthright of joy, wellness and a purpose-filled life.
Whenever possible, state of the art science and technology will be used. We believe that once we interact with the community, incredible benefits will compound as opportunities for growth and development. The abundant returns will ripple throughout the surrounding areas and the world. The key lies in community involvement.
The children who come to us will arrive from a wide variety of backgrounds and needs. We will assess what the best way would be to care for them as individuals. For instance, some children will arrive as double orphans (both parents dead), others will be single orphaned, or may come to us abandoned, abused, or neglected. The various scenarios are too numerous to describe here.
Once we determine the child's needs (physically, emotionally and spiritually); we will place them within the program that will best serve them, their family, and the community. Our goal is to heal, re-unite, and establish family bonds. Some children after counseling will be able to return to their own homes. Others will be adopted into families, while still others will be united with foster families.
The community plays a key roll in partnering with us in the successful growth and development of the children. In doing so, our programs will be extending into the township, affecting the population in very positive and exciting ways. From community outreach and education, to advanced agriculture, to environmentalism, to health education and wellness clinics, we will impact the whole area and the people living there. This is what I mean when I say that these efforts can bring about empowerment and growth for all.
