Childhood Lost... Cruelty and violence against children had been manifested in every conceivable manner: physical, emotional, neglect, sexual exploitation, child labor, etc… The U.S. Advisory Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect has concluded that our nation faces a child maltreatment "emergency". There are more than 550,000 children in the child welfare system in the U.S. The enormity of the numbers sometimes allow us to forget that these are not just statistics, but real little people who are famished for love, nurturing, and a sense of belonging. Child abuse is not merely a symptom of the individual or family as it affects neighborhoods and communities. It speaks volumes about the human race if we are not conscious enough to protect one of our most precious beings, our children. In a country of abundance, how do we turn a blind eye to the fact that children right in our neighborhoods go to bed hungry and afraid? Emotional neglect and abuse are almost inseparable, as both cause damage to the child's sense of self/identity and interfere with the normal process of separation and individuation. It taks a devastating toll on their physical and emotional well-being and further jeopardizes developmental crisis and impairment. The deficits in self-esteem, sense of identity, security, and interpersonal relationships can all be the consequence of inadequate empathetic care during early development. |
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| Childhood Regained…It is the pledge of every staff member at Project Indigo to provide a safe, loving environment where children are open to feel the pain, scream the anger, cry the tears, and then allow themselves to be loved, comforted, and nurtured. Loss is something children can deal with over time. What they can’t recover from, is feeling alone & invisible. Human beings are born as helpless babies who are dependent for care and protection. We believe that each and every child is born equally, with certain unalienable rights, and that these rights are to be fiercely protected . Just providing the basic necessities for life is not enough. Project Indigo serves as surrogate parents to all children under our protection. It is our goal that these children are never again alone and afraid; that they are given an environment in which to be carefree and happy; to laugh and play; to feel safe and secure; to thrive; to learn; to explore their greatest potentials; to gain life skills that will prepare them for a life of independence. They will be armed with the tools to be an asset to society. They will become children of priviledge, not in terms of material wealth; but rather because they were able to rise above and overcome... 
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