Little Y returns...

 Little Y was born prematurely and with a heart defect.  He came to our medical home in 2023 as a tiny newborn and received the heart surgery he so desperately needed.  

He then spent nearly a year recovering and growing stronger before he returned to his province.  

We knew that he would need an additional surgery once he was a little older and made it clear to his orphanage that we would be happy to help when the time came.

Little Y’s orphanage reached out to us earlier this year about arranging his next surgery, and we were delighted to have him come back.  

His surgery went smoothly last month and he discharged back to our home to complete his recovery. 

 

We’ve been told that he is healthy now and will not need any additional surgeries… we’re happy about that, but it’s bittersweet knowing that once he leaves this time, we probably won’t have a chance to see him again.  At least we had the chance to celebrate his second birthday together!

We hope and pray that someday little Y will someday be able to join a family of his own.  Until that can happen, we are so thankful that we could help provide him with lifesaving medical care and a loving, nurturing environment so that he can grow physically and emotionally strong and healthy.   

Made for Love - The Value of Meaningful Social and Cultural Experiences

 We believe that children develop through meaningful social interactions and culturally rich experiences. 

However, children growing up in institutional care settings and/or those with special needs often face a significant challenge—a mismatch between what they need for healthy cultural and psychological development and what their surrounding social environment provides. This incongruence can hinder their ability to fully participate in meaningful social and cultural experiences, which can further impact their emotional, cognitive, and social growth. 

For example, a child with autism may thrive in a structured yet flexible setting that incorporates sensory-friendly activities, but if the environment is overstimulating or lacks appropriate social scaffolding, their development may be negatively affected. 

Similarly, institutional care setting often involves standardized routines and structured activities, and so children often miss out on the rich and individualized interactions that families typically provide, leading to gaps in cultural and emotional learning.

We believe that to address this incongruence, the education of children with special needs and those in institutional care should prioritize building a safe, child-friendly, and relaxing environment that provides ample opportunities for the children to participate in different kinds of social and cultural activities for playful interactions and learning. 

So how do we do this?

A safe and nurturing space

Emotional security is foundational to learning. Children need environments where they feel secure, valued, and free to explore without fear of judgment or failure. Building close, trusting relationships with caregivers, teachers, and peers can help children develop confidence and social competence. 

Playful and interactive learning 

Play is central to cognitive and social development. We try to integrate both structured and free play opportunities that allow children to engage in social interactions, problem-solving, imagination and creativity. 

Individualized support for every child

In our early learning classrooms, trained and compassionate teachers are able to recognize each child’s unique needs and ensure that social interactions, cultural engagements, and learning are tailored to their current developmental levels.  

 

Rich cultural and social opportunities

We use every possible opportunity to expose the children to arts, music, storytelling, history, and community events. All these help children learn cultural norms and develop a sense of belonging. 

When we design an environment that aligns with children’s developmental needs, we bridge the gap between their potential and their reality. By building safe, engaging, and socially rich spaces, we create conditions for children in institutional care and those with special needs to thrive.