Project Life History

Project Life was inaugurated in 1997 when five orphaned boys from Sarajevo, Bosnia, traveled to the United States for the summer program. From 1997 to 2015 Project Life has hosted 136 orphans from the troubled lands of Bosnia, North Caucasus, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka.

Most orphans are refugees or have been displaced from their original homes. All have lost one parent, and many have lost both. All reside with extended family members, not in institutions or orphanages.

Project Life does not permanently place children in the United States. The orphans selected for the program are not seeking long-term foster care or adoption.

Project Life Staff

Project Life is entirely volunteer run, under the control of the Board of Directors of World Life Institute Inc. Project Life's year round voluntary staff includes Linda Redfield Shakoor, Director, and Deborah Wilson, Deputy Director/Finance Manager. Several other veteran volunteers hold key positions during the program season.

You can contact U.S. voluntary staff for further information at plinfo@projectlife-wli.org or go to How To Support PL.

 Summary of Activities Since 1997

Program Year 2015

We are hosting new orphans from Afghanistan as well as providing ongoing support for thalassemia patient Mohammad whom we sponsored in 2014.

Afghanistan: 2002 to 2007, and 2013 to 2014

Project Life has hosted orphans from Jalalabad, Kabul, and Afghan child refugees living in neighboring areas near Peshawar, Pakistan.

North Caucasus: 1998 to 2014

Project Life has hosted orphans living in refugee camps near the border with Ingushetia, as well as children living in Grozny and its outlying towns and villages.

Sri Lanka: 2006 to 2008

Project Life brought orphans who lost their homes and family members in the Asian Tsunami. All of these children were already displaced due to the ongoing civil conflict in the Trincomalee district in the northeast of the island.

Bosnia: 1997 to 2003

Project Life hosted children from Sarajevo, Gorazde, Klujc and orphans of the Srebrenica massacre now living in the villages of Mihatovici, Tinja, and Simin Han, near Tuzla.