The "children's house"

By John Towriss
Special to CNN.com

November 14, 2001

In Kazakhstan, an orphanage is called a "children's house," a much kinder term, I think.

Much has been written in the media about the poor health conditions in many orphanages overseas. We've now been in two orphanages in Kazakhstan and nothing could be further from the truth in this country.

The children's house in Astana is the five-star hotel version, with fabulous facilities that include a music room, an indoor swimming pool (only about 2 feet at its deepest), with small shower stalls for children and a program of events that challenge the children to learn.

The walls have lots of pictures of smiling, happy kids, as well as pictures from when the president and first lady of Kazakhstan visited. Staffers at both orphanages we've visited have been obsessed with cleanliness and promoting a germ-free environment. We're not allowed to wear our shoes into the orphanage. And when we see our children, we're asked to wash our hands before we feed them or change their diapers.

The children are organized into "rooms." There are about six or eight babies in each room. Dara and Johnny are in the same room, which is named "the sun room" and has a picture of a bright sun by the door.

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Each "room" is actually a suite that includes a large playroom, a smaller room of cribs for sleeping, a changing and bath room, and finally a small kitchen. The playroom has large cribs and is well-stocked with toys. One really nice touch is heated floors that keep rug rats warm against harsh Kazakh winters.

There are eight workers assigned to Dara and Johnny's room. One is a full-time doctor who does checkups, dispenses medicine and keeps medical records. Then there are the workers trained in handling young children. And finally there are the "babysitters," who seem to be less formally trained but seem to have a great affection for the children.

Most importantly, the caregivers seem to be very committed, loving and compassionate people. You can tell by the way they hold and caress the babies, by the way they sing to them and when they call them little nicknames. It's a great comfort to know these babies have been receiving warm affection from someone for their short lives.


This is an exterior shot of the orphanage, or "children's house," where Johhny and Dara lived prior to their adoption by John and Carole Towriss.


The children's sleeping area is part of a suite of rooms they've occupied in the orphanage.


Carole holds Johnny and John has Dara in a playroom, part of the suite of rooms in which the kids live in the orphanage. CNN's John Towriss reports that the children in the Astana facility receive excellent care.