Program Gives Orphans 6 Week Stay in US

Orphans from Eastern Europe arrived in Atlanta Wednesday evening. The children will live with host families in Atlanta and across the country for the next six weeks.

The children arrived from Ukraine, Latvia and Russia. Many of the children have spent their entire lives in orphanages and for them, it will be the trip of a lifetime.

Thirty children fresh off the plane from Ukraine met the families who will host the children for the next six weeks.

The children, ranging in ages from 8-years-old to 16 will spend the summer with host families, like the Speckers from Cumming.

"We can give her an imprint in our life and give her some hope and allow her to see what its like to be part of America," said Sharon Specker.

A group called New Horizons for Children organizes the trips for the kids. By Thursday evening, 120 children from Eastern Europe will have arrived, and most will stay in Metro Atlanta.

"They get to see the other side of the world. Some of them have never been out of their little town," said Stephanie Shanks of New Horizons for Children.

Some Metro Atlanta families will host more than one child. Robin Moore will take care of three girls.

"Olga, Kristina, Katriana, we're very excited," said Moore.

While all of the children will return to Eastern Europe in six weeks, some may end up calling America home.

Stephanie Higgins adopted Anya after she came to the U.S. to visit in December of 2007.

"She fit in so well with our family, we were sad when she left. So after she left, we thought OK what we need to do to bring her home for good," said Higgins.

Anya Higgins offered to translate for the children when as they arrived in Atlanta.

It costs the families $2,500 to host a child. While the intent is to give the kids a chance to see America, in the majority of cases the kids who wouldn't normally be adopted because of their age end up being adopted by their host families.