The Beginning

Back in May of 2013, I was asked to be an Assistant Leader for a Motherland Tour to South Korea. It was an incredible experience and I loved every minute of it. One of the 'stops' on the Tour was in the city of Suwon. It was there that we visited an Un-Wed Mothers Shelter and we had the privilege of meeting these incredible women. This particular Shelter held extra meaning to me, as the birth mother of one of my sons had lived there. The facility was older, but it was clean and they went out of their way to provide us with little treats as we all tried our best to answer each others questions through a single translator. 

Tears were shed from both sides and for many different reasons.

My heart hurt that day for those women. Their self esteem is so low. They don't realize how valued they are. Not just because of who they represent to an Adoptee or an Adoptive Parent, but because the ones who decide to parent (which is actually the majority of them) they are the ones who are helping to change the cultural stigmas in their country. It's an amazing, but daunting role - and for that, they have nothing but the greatest respect from me.

From that experience, I knew that I wanted to support Un-Wed Mothers, but it was finding the right avenue. As a Photographer that specializes in Beauty Portraits, I began to daydream about taking their photos. I wanted to give them something tangible to remind them that they are beautiful. No matter what life had throw at them, no matter how they felt about themselves due to their circumstances, I wanted them to be able to look a portrait of themselves and think 'This person is beautiful. She is strong. She can do this.'

In October of 2013 I traveled to Korea with my husband, three kids, and my Parents. We had this trip planned for months and it would be the first time my parents would experience the country of my birth. It was so incredible to watch them take in the sights and sounds, and we also had the amazing fortune of being able to see the place where my sister and I were found, almost 38 years ago.

But it was during that trip that I was introduced to Clover House. I had mentioned to a friend that I was looking for a way to support Un-Wed Mothers and Clover House was suggested. When I found out about the work they do, and the support they provide for Single Mothers, I just knew I had found the right fit for me.

I was able to briefly meet with the Director of Clover House and I asked her what their current needs were. She mentioned that they would appreciate extra funds so they could give the children of Clover House Tols on their First Birthday. Many Adoptive Parents are aware of the cultural significance of the Tol - as we cherish the photos we received of our own children's Tols. I immediately jumped on this, as I knew this would be something that the Adoption Community would embrace. And that is how The Clover House Project was born.

But there is SOOO much work that needs to be done to get this fully launched. It was my initial plan to hold off on publicizing The Clover House Project until I could get everything completed, but on Facebook I noticed that there were several Adoptive Parents who were looking for ways to support Un-Wed Mothers, so I decided to go ahead and launch, and hope that everyone can see my 'vision' for what The Clover House Project is, and what it can become.

So I am headed back to Korea in March, with a small team of people I had put together. While there, we we will be meeting with the Director of Clover House to discuss some final details, and we will also be photographing various locations throughout Seoul that will be turned into products that The Clover House Project will sell - with proceeds going directly to Clover House (think Coffee Table books, note cards, etc).  My original plan was to do all of the shooting during my trip in October, but I quickly found that with 3 kids in tow, you can't take any photos or set up any shots.

And lastly - and what I'm MOST excited about, is that we will have the opportunity to photograph the women of Clover House and their children. Not only that, but we will also be photographing women at the Un-Wed Mothers Shelter. I can't believe that what was once a 'dream' will now be a reality!

If you are interested in making a donation, please contact me at thecloverhouseproject@gmail.com . Any donation of $25 or more will receive a set of our Note Cards that we will be creating. I'm currently looking into various options for taking donations when The Clover House Project goes into full effect, and when I find one that is the most beneficial, I will post more details.

If you have any questions regarding expenses, donations, or the work we will be doing, please do not hesitate to email me at thecloverhouseproject@gmail.com.

We thank you for all your support!
-Rachel