This journey began in 2003, when Uryadi’s Village Founder Jennifer Crooks, traveled with her husband Mike, and her family (already consisting of five children, Lauren 17, Sean, 15, Catherine 11, Ciara 7, and Hunter, 6) to China to adopt her daughter Sophie (14 months). It was there that Jennifer’s eyes were opened for the first time to the sad plight of orphaned children in developing countries around the world. Walking into that rural orphanage, where the most basic needs of the children were barely being met, Jennifer’s world-view changed in an instant. She was immediately overwhelmed by a burning and heart-felt desire to create change, and to make a real and lasting contribution toward improving the care and quality of life for such vulnerable children worldwide. 

Jennifer  founded Uryadi’s Village in 2014 to help the vulnerable children and families who are struggling to survive in rural Ethiopia.  Many families of the children you see here do not give them up because they are not loved. It is the opposite. They are loved so much that the family would rather their child be placed where they can receive what they need in order to survive. There is also the reality that orphan rates continue to increase with poverty, and disease, both of which are a constant struggle in Ethiopia. Children with special needs are often believed to be cursed and therefore abandoned. This is a belief that Uryadi’s Village is dedicated to change. Each and every child is special and deserves love and care, some just came into this world a little different. However, we believe different is good and beautiful.