(The children pictured below are of a similar age but they already have families to love them)



My name is Tikili, it's a nickname. The American Auntie says my name sounds like doing something to make people laugh, tickling. This very month, I'll be six years old. I'm a pretty shy little girl. They say I'm really tiny and when I look at the other little children my age, I guess I am. Aunty says she and the lady who runs my present Children's Home were really worried about me for a long time. The first time they saw me I was about six months old and a lot tinier then. The Aunty says that I was “failure to thrive” which in real talk means that I wasn't gaining weight, I was way too small and I was scrawny. The lady from this orphanage gave my caretakers some ideas on how to make me stronger and healthier.

Then they visited me again when I was about three or a bit older and once again they were really worried about me. I was still too tiny and I didn't talk to anyone and didn't react much to them or to my surroundings. I stayed very close to my caretaker and they said I looked kind of sad and distant. I still wasn't gaining weight and wasn't developing and soon after that time I was taken to my present Children's Home so that they could help me do better. I was there for quite a while and I did do better, just like they said I would. I gained a bit of weight and I was developing much better. Everyone adored me (they told me so) and as I was doing so well, I was returned to my first home.

Last January I returned to this Children's Home with six of my friends. We will now be here until our new families are found for us. I'm happy to be back here and once again I'm beginning to get stronger and more outgoing. They say I'm happy almost all the time and I like to smile now. I was able to return to my same caretaker and she was really really happy to have me back with her. She said she missed me a lot. I was happy to see her too but I also miss my other caretaker.

When I first came here this time I stayed by my caretaker or alone. I didn't like to join in with the other children. Now I'm really comfortable and I run and play outside and on the playground with all my friends both old and new. My caretaker says that I'm easy going, affectionate and easy to console when I'm sad. She says I'm friendly and I think she's right.

Just last week I started to attend the school here with my new friends. So far I'm just learning to sit in one place, pay attention and follow rules. That's how we all start. OK, so here is what people are concerned about right now; I don't like to talk. I know and understand everything everyone is saying and I use a few words but I just don't talk much. Since I've been here I'm talking some but still not much. The people here who love me say that they feel I'm smart like the other kids but they don't understand why I won't talk like the others do.

Aunty says I need lots of extra stimulation and individual care. I think my caretaker gives me that, I'm lucky that she loves me so much. Aunty says that I will need a parent or parents who are patient and able to give me some extra help if I need it. She says that I may need special education and speech therapy. I have no idea what she's talking about. By the way, did I mention that I love candy and ice cream?

Children from 2006 articles who are still in need of families:

May 2006: I Am What Little Boys are Made Of – Still Waiting

April 2006: Will We Be Friends Forever? The two older girls are still waiting

June 2006: We're EASY to LOVE even if Our Problem is Difficult to Pronounce!-Both little ones are still waiting-

All inquiries on Tikili or other children waiting with AIAA should go to Moti or Barb at:

248 362-1207 or barb@aiaaadopt.org

Teri L. Bell, LSW , MA

Special Needs Coordinator

Americans for International Aid and Adoption

http://aiaaadopt.org