Launchpad🚀 - Meet C.E.

 We wanted to give you a chance to get to know the participants in our Launchpad program.  We interviewed each participant so that they could share their stories, their hopes and how this program is helping to shape their future.

C.E was born with spina bifida and came to the orphanage as an infant.  Another non-profit (similar to ours) arranged his surgeries and cared for him as a child, and he then later returned to the orphanage as a teen.  We only met him three years ago when we began our Launchpad project... he heard about it and was very interested in joining.  He felt the same way as YG, and wanted to explore the idea of a fulfilling life outside the orphanage.    He's now a young adult, navigating an ever changing China as a person who uses a wheelchair.

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Could you please introduce yourself?

My name is C.E., and I am 21 years old. 

How would you describe what you’re doing at the group home and the social work center now? / What does a typical day look like for you?

I come to the social work center during the day, where we have many arrangements. Recently we are training to do a lot of hands-on activities, for example, beading, tie-die, etc. 

I also teach the others here to sing every Monday and Wednesday. Whenever we have a party here, I am involved in planning and directing. 

I love English, and I study English every day. I go home in the evening. Sometimes I cook, and sometimes I tutor kids English; it helps me earn a little money.

 What do you enjoy most about being part of this program?

My favorite part is the movie time every Thursday afternoon. I got to finish all eight movies of Harry Potter!

 What kind of professional skills are you learning or improving right now?

English.

What has been the most valuable thing you’ve learned so far — about the work, living independently, or about yourself?

It’s the cooking. When I was little and lived in a different organization, we were divided into rooms according to our physical conditions. I used a wheelchair and I was the youngest, and so I had never given the chance to even touch anything in the kitchen until I was 20. So now I love cooking! 

I go to meet my “sisters” from the previous organization in their home almost every weekend and I cook! I cook for them and for me, and I just love it!

What motivates you to keep learning or working in this field?

My motivation is that I love learning English. I enjoy thinking and talking, and English is a suitable subject. I take pride in being able to understand English. It also broadens my mind and allows me to read a diverse range of books.

Where do you imagine yourself five years from now? What kind of person or professional would you like to become?

I hope I am able to be completely independent, and feel confident about myself. I hope I can provide for myself. When I first joined the Launchpad, I had a lot of fear, for example, fear of taking the bus by myself. Now I take the bus and the subway all over the city; I have overcome a lot. I still have some things that causes me anxiety, and I hope I will be able to cope. I hope I can be more relaxed.

What message would you like to give to younger youth who are going to start their training?

Life has no limits.

 

Little G

This month we'd like to share about a boy in our family model of care project.  Little G had been left in a baby safehouse as a newborn, and was about 7 months old when his orphanage asked if we could help care for him.  He has no diagnosed medical or developmental issues, but they knew he would thrive under the care of our dedicated nannies.  

When G was three years old, he moved out of the nursery into our family model of care project.  

Since that time, he’s been in a foster family, learning and growing like any other little boy.  

He’s finishing up first grade in school and looking forward to his summer vacation.  

His teachers and foster parents say that he’s remarkably independent and has a mind of his own.  Of course, that doesn’t make it easy for him to follow “the rules”, but he’s very creative and has lots of ideas about how to do things!

Recently a generous donor made it possible for G and some other children from the orphanage to go out for a nice dinner and karaoke.  Everyone enjoyed the lovely meal, but when we offered to let the children start the karaoke they were all too shy.  Suddenly, little G said, “I’ll do it!” and he jumped up and headed for the stage… ready to sing!  His enthusiasm soon inspired the others, and before long all the children were clamoring to hold the microphone and belt out their favorite songs.

We are grateful to all who support out work.  You are helping us to make a difference for children like G.  

While we wish he had never been separated from his birth family, we are honored and privileged to stand in for them and be his family, providing him with nurturing caregivers, a stimulating environment, and abundant opportunities for growth and education.  We can't wait to see what the future holds in store for G!