 |
Families with Children From
China, Northern California
|
|
Home |
Orphanage Assistance News These reports are from the organizations that currently receive funds directly from FCC N. California through our fundraising efforts. FCC N. Calif. funds were directed toward these specific projects and charities by the board of directors because of the high quality of their work in China's orphanages, and their ability to report those activities to us in clear and reportable ways. **A note about names: In order to protect the identity of the children under their care, many charitable organizations working in China choose an English name to use when writing to the child's sponsors. This is not done in order to "Anglicize" the children, but is done for confidentiality's sake.** Altrusa International Foundation/Amity Foundation The following Amity and Altrusa projects were selected by the participants in the Big Kids' Bake Sale and Red Bracelet Sale at the 2008 Between Two New Years party; we have continued our sponsorship through 2009. "Cherie", the baby girl we originally sponsored in foster care, has found her forever family and now lives in Spain! We are now sponsoring "George", a 9-month-old baby boy with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. His foster family reports that he is a good eater and sleeps soundly. He likes to play with his foster mother and pays attention to people's conversations. Unlike here in the U.S., public schools are not free in China. Therefore, without a sponsor, many children in orphanages do not receive even a high school education. FCC - N. Calif. currently sponsors the schooling of a 12-year-old boy. "Freddie" is in the Fifth Grade and lives with a foster family in Jiangxii Province. We are also sponsoring a "Hugging Granny" through the Amity Foundation. Hugging Grannies spend lots of time with special needs children who are unable to live in foster homes, helping them learn to speak, assisting with physical therapy and rehabilitation, and providing a consistent, nurturing presence for the children with whom they work. FCC - N. California is pleased to continue sponsoring two beds in Love Without Boundaries' Anhui Cleft Healing Home (ACHH). The ACHH will be celebrating its two year anniversary in March 2010. Reyce is one of our currently sponsored children. She arrived at the Cleft Healing Home in late July
and had her lip repaired in late October.
She has grown very attached to her nanny and spends most of her day playing with her. As you can see from this photo taken in December (below), Reyce is simply a lovely girl!
Our other sponsored child, Fenn, arrived at the ACHH in late September. Born with a unilateral cleft palate and a small heart defect, he will turn 1 year old this month! He was sick for several weeks in November but has recovered well. He is active, sociable, and playful, and reportedly is ready to take his first steps independently. Isn't he adorable?
To donate directly to Love Without Boundaries to help sponsor surgery for Fenn or another child, go here.
Half The Sky's response to the Sichuan Earthquake in May of 2008 went above and beyond the wonderful support they provide year-round to orphanages throughout China. Within days of the disaster, Half The Sky erected several large tents in affected cities, to serve as activity centers for refugee children, complete with furnishings, toys, computers, areas for art and dramatic play and reading and quiet talk. They also launched, in partnership with China's Ministry of Civil Affairs and the US-based National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement, a grief-counseling program for children traumatized by their experiences during and after the earthquake. The founder of Half The Sky, Jenny Bowen, writes, "A special big thanks to all of you who have contributed to our Children’s Earthquake Fund. The response to help children orphaned and displaced by the quake in Sichuan has just been amazing. Today, I am very pleased to tell you that the Fund is now closed. You have provided sufficient funding to support six Big Tops for children’s disaster relief and healing for the next 3 years! That is our commitment. And you have made it happen." FCC - N. Calif. donated $1000 to the HTS Earthquake Relief Fund, and awarded a special Humanitarian Award to Half The Sky at the Between Two New Years Party on January 31, 2009. updated on January 7, 2010 For more information about these projects, please contact Milinda Lommer, Orphanage Support Coordinator (FCC - N. California). |
