Our Mission
We help disadvantaged children living in extreme need by sending aid (food, medicine, books, school supplies, diapers, clothing, etc) to orphanages throughout the world; initially focusing on the Philippines and Ukraine and responding to international emergencies as they arise. We strive to give hope and love to each child, to nurture a strong foundation for a brighter future.
“In 2007, I lost my mom unexpectedly. It made me realize that life’s short and if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans, because you never know what tomorrow brings.
I hated myself for being an ungrateful brat and taking her for granted, because I realized after she was gone how much she loved me. She taught me what it meant to be loved unconditionally. And after she was gone… there was no way I could ever tell her Thank You.
One day, I saw a cranky girl on the subway and, after making her laugh, something clicked: I decided to spend Christmas with children who also didn’t have a mom. I felt incredibly empty and lonely at that time, but I thought… hey, at least I knew what it was like to have a mom. I figured maybe I could share the love with children who didn’t. I later met poor children in villages who stared at me blankly when I asked them about their hopes and dreams… like it was the strangest question in the world. I wanted to show them they’re special and have value, like my mom did for me.
If you’re wondering why I do this… I think it’s simply because I feel these children’s pain. I remember I was with a little girl Kyla back in 2008 and I started to cry one night when I realized no one kisses her goodnight. It really got to me. And when we were at parties, Kyla would dance for me and I would cheer her on. I made sure she felt like a superstar. I would say, she is THE original superstar. That’s why I call my kids superstars. Because education isn’t the only thing that changes lives… love and confidence can change a child’s life.
Mother Teresa said – “one of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody.” To me, these children are somebodys. I believe in each of them, even if no one tells them they are. To me, they are superstars.
I’m an advocate of malnourished, abandoned and abused children, and I love children who have disabilities of all types. I find that children with special needs are so resilient and are often very happy. They sure taught me a lot about life. :)
Our mission at Maya’s Hope is to send aid and love to these children, especially those who never experienced a mother’s love. The two countries Maya’s Hope serves today (Philippines and Ukraine) just so happens to be my parents’ home countries.”
– Maya Rowencak, Founder
What’s special about Maya’s Hope?
We are a close-knit organization of volunteers. We consider the children and everyone involved in our mission our family (rather than numbers and names). We are transparent in all we do and we send 100% of any contribution meant for the children directly to the children.
What is Maya’s Hope?
SEE: Through direct visits to institutions abroad that do not provide enough for the needs of orphaned and disadvantaged children, we observe the conditions of institutions, the standards of care and education, and the integrity / behavior of careworkers, social workers and staff. We then evaluate the needs of the institutions or individual children.
BUILD: We build relationships with administrators and individuals concerned about disadvantaged children.
GIVE: We raise awareness for disadvantaged children around the world, raise funds, and find corporate and individual sponsors. We ship humanitarian aid including medicines, clothing, dental products.
HOPE: After receiving aid, the institutions send letters, photos, and updates about the children and their progress.
LOVE: We maintain relationships with administrators providing continuous aid and awareness. We try to not only bring aid and hope to children in need, but also LOVE.
Where we help
Currently, we focus on sending aid to orphanages and institutions for children in the Philippines and Ukraine. The following orphanages are recipients of aid from Maya’s Hope:
Bethlehem House of Bread
Little Baguio, Baliuag
3006 Bulacan, Philippines
Visit BHB on Facebook
Hospicio de San Jose
Ayala Bridge, 1099 Manila
Karitas Kiev
“Карітас-Київ”
Київ, вул.Микитенка, 7-Б
тел./факс: (044) 512 00 85
www.caritas-kiev.org.ua
Львівський дитячий будинок №1
для дітей-сиріт
м. Львів, вул. Таджицька, 23
79045
Україна
Lviv Orphanage # 1
Tadzhitska St, 23
Lviv, Ukraine 79045
ЧЕРНИГОВСКИЙ ДЕТСКИЙ ДОМ-ИНТЕРНАТ
(С. КАЛИНОВКА)
Украина, Запорожская область,
Черниговский район, с. Калиновка
Chernigovsliy Orphanage (Kalinovka Village)
Ukraine, Zaporizhie region, Chernigivskiy district, village Kalinovka
Our Logo
The Lotus flower grows out of murky waters and mossy swamps, but blooms into a bright and beautiful flower, unstained and pure.
We believe that the children have roots like this flower – they may not grow up in the best conditions, but the end result is vibrant and ready for the world.
Contact
Maya’s Hope Foundation
P.O. Box 7439
New York, NY 10116
info@mayashope.org
(347) 699-MAYA (6292)
Maya’s Hope Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All gifts to Maya’s Hope are tax-deductible to the full extent allowable under IRS regulations.