Have you ever thought about adopting an older child? How old is too old to be adopted? The answer might surprise you and our guest will challenge you.  

Annie endured a difficult childhood and didn't enter foster care until age 17. This left her with little hope of having a stable family to visit on weekends in college, or holidays, or anytime she just needed it. But against all odds, Annie was adopted at the age of 26!

This podcast will open your eyes to the realities of life for teenagers in the foster care system, and it will show you that there is no age limit for needing the love of a family.

Welcome back to Around the World with The Archibald Project! My name is Whitney and together with my husband Nick, we started our orphan care advocacy organization, The Archibald Project. We've been working hard to tell inspiring stories about vulnerable children ever since and our goal is to ultimately end the global orphan crisis through storytelling! We believe that the more people who see and hear our stories then the more people who will be inspired to get involved and help end the orphan crisis! 

In today's episode, we have an inspiring conversation with former foster youth, Maryssa Vasquez, as she shares with us about her past, growing up in foster care, and how an organization she joined in college has changed the direction of her life! Now, as the president of PUSH, Persevere UNTil Success Happens, Maryssa supports former foster youth by encouraging them and creating a space for them to heal by surrounding them with community. Maryssa is helping these youth overcome the odds and make it through college! Make sure you stick around until the end to hear her advice about how you can help support former foster youth make it through college and empower them to have a voice!

Enjoy our encouraging conversation with Maryssa!