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!
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.
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