History

Restoring Hope is directed by Stephen & Sue Smith. They began their volunteer work with orphans in 1996 with the Canadian-CIS Friendship Exchange Society. This non-profit group has facilitated the adoption of over 150 orphans by Canadian parents and conducted aid and infrastructure programs in Novosibirsk, Vladivostok, Yekaterinberg and Karaganda, Kazakhstan. Stephen still serves on the CanCIS board of directors.

In 1997 they adopted their eldest son Patrick from Karaganda, Kazakhstan. They returned in 2000 to adopt twins, Noah & Amy.

Over the years they have become increasingly aware of the desperate situation faced by abandoned children in the C.I.S., and the lack of strategic approaches to changing the bleak outcome for the 16 million orphans around the world.

In July 2001, they began working to Educate, Motivate, and Facilitate local churches in Canada and overseas to develop strategies for Restoring Hope to children that the world has thrown away.

Stephen, Sue, Amy, Noah & Patrick