Launchpad🚀 - Meet W.G.

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.

W.G. came to the orphanage when he was five, and we first met him when he was about twelve years old.  His orphanage learned of our family model of care and thought that a foster family might be a good way to help him work though the challenges he was facing at that time.  When we started our Launchpad project, he asked if he might be included.  We were delighted to welcome this gentle and thoughtful young man into the program.

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 Could you please introduce yourself?

I’m WG, 23 years old. 

What does a typical day look like for you?

I come to the social work center on weekdays, and I often stop in on weekends to help care for our classroom pets. I also like riding along the riverside linear park on weekends. 

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

I love every bit of it. 

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

I am focusing on different hands-on activities, for example, learning to become a barista and making mosaics, necklaces, bracelets, and phone straps. I have also learned to do flower arrangement and paper quilling. 

Every Friday afternoon, I work as a teaching assistant at a special needs school, where we teach students there about flower arrangement and quilling, etc. 

How do you handle challenges or things that don’t go as planned in your work or learning?

I listen to music. I also have two friends who give me a lot of support. One of them I met in the social work center, and the other one is an old friend from the orphanage. 

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

I hope I can have really good life in a couple of years. 

What does that look like?

Maybe I live in a rented apartment, have a few cats, have a hands-on job and stable income, and have friends. 

What kind(s) of cats would you like to have?

I like all kinds of cats except the hairless Sphynx cat!

What message would you like to give to those who are just starting this program?

Just keep at it. You'll get there!

Growing up in a family...

This month we would like to introduce you to X. 

His orphanage approached us 6 years ago when we were expanding our family model of care project in his province and asked if he might be able to join us.  He was 8 years old at that time and had a diagnosis of cerebral palsy and hemiplegia.

X has truly blossomed since joining a family.  Despite his physical limitations, he’s a busy young man and joins in every activity that he can.  

X is a good helper around the house, working in the kitchen to make dumplings for holidays and tidy up afterward.  He doesn’t seem to mind other household chores either, and is happy to help with folding laundry, sweeping and watering the plants.  

One of his most impressive accomplishments lately has been his success at school.  He decided to try and earn points for a special reward from his teachers by scoring high on all of his exams.  He got three A’s on his final exams this spring, which was the most of anyone in his class!  

Since he’s been doing so well in his studies, he’s also offered to tutor some of the other children and help them review for tests.  We’re really proud of him!

We are grateful to all who have made it possible to provide X with love, nurturing and a chance to thrive in a family.  Thank you for joining us in in this very important work! 

Launchpad🚀 - Meet Y.J.

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.

YJ holds a special place in our hearts, both because we have known him since he was a tiny infant, but also because it was his plea for help that inspired us to begin our Launchpad program.  YJ's orphanage asked us if we could help him when he was a tiny baby, and he then spent many years in one of our group foster homes.  He's now a thoughtful young man who loves Japanese language and culture.  YJ has been studying Japanese very diligently and is working his way up through the national language skills exam system.

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Could you please introduce yourself?

My name is DYJ, and I am 19 years old. I enjoy Japanese language, Japanese dramas, and music. 

What does a typical day look like for you?

Every day, I come independently by bus to the social work center, do chores, participate in activities, and study Japanese. 

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

My favorite parts of the day are the trips between home and the social work center. I enjoy the view on the bus. When I leave home for the center, I embrace a new day. When I leave for home, I feel relieved because “Finally the day is finished and I can go home now!” See, I enjoy staying at home and at the center, but it wouldn’t be good if I stay in one place for too long, hahaha! 

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

I am studying Japanese. I have passed the N3 test, and the next big challenge is I will go straight at N1. It is very difficult, with long articles for reading comprehension, like academic writing, and novels in Japanese. 

What motivates you to keep learning or working?

It definitely is Japanese. At the beginning, I felt Japanese sounded gentle and soothing. After I started studying Japanese, it became my goal to make a living with the language, you know, make money and live independently. 

What are your personal goals for the next one or two years?

It is to take the N1 level Japanese language test.  I'm working so hard to prepare for this! 

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

Learning to cook, going to doctor’s appointments by myself, My first train ride alone. Also I have learned a lot about interacting with others, what I need to pay attention to. If something happens, I need to avoid extreme and catastrophic thinking. I need to use my reasons and evaluate. 

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

I hope that by that time, I have passed N1 and become a Japanese teacher, or preferably a translator, or receptionist in a Japanese business, or whatever. I hope I can live in Beijing, rent my own apartment, and earns enough money to take care of my own life. I want to build a career before finding a partner for life.  Having a girl friend costs money. However, I do want to have a girlfriend who would eventually marry me. 

If you could describe this journey in one word or short phrase, what would it be — and why?

Keep growing, keep making progress. 

Butterfly Boy

We'd like to share the story of P, who was abandoned 8 years ago in a province in eastern China.  Recognizing that he had a very rare and complex combination of medical issues, his orphanage asked if we could help.  

Little P was diagnosed with EB (epidermolysis bullosa, or “butterfly skin”) as well as a congenital heart defect.  P’s heart surgery was very challenging because of his skin issues, but we were able consult with experts abroad who provided guidance and recommendations, and everything went smoothly.

Because P’s orphanage is unable to provide the high level of special nursing care that he needs on an ongoing basis, they have allowed him to remain in our medical home for the past 8 years.  Unfortunately, it’s not possible for him to attend a regular school.  We have been working hard to provide him with a basic education and diverse opportunities to experience the world as other children do, despite the limitations of his medical issues.  

P loves to go on outings, even very ordinary ones like going to the store and helping with the shopping.  He is a very smart little boy who loves to ask questions and give advice.  

We are blessed to have groups of volunteers visit regularly; P is always delighted to welcome them in and direct the games and craft activities planned for the day.  

One of his favorite things to do is build very tall towers with Duplo’s, and he loves everything Paw Patrol!  

He’s often a bit shy at first, but once he gets to know you, he can be very silly and has a lot to say!  It’s not an exaggeration to say that P has left a mark on the heart of every person who has ever met him.

We are grateful to all who have made it possible for us to provide P with love, nurturing and life-saving medical treatment.  While we don’t know what the future holds for P, we are privileged to be a part of his story.  

Meet H!

 We'd like to introduce you to H!  H was abandoned as a tiny premature infant eleven years ago.  She weighed just 2 lbs. 9 oz (1.17 kg) when her orphanage asked us if we could accept her into our preemie unit.  

H required a high level of special care at first, but with careful monitoring, one-on-one kangaroo care, special attention to feeding, and lots of love she soon grew into a beautiful little girl.  

H now lives in one of our foster families in the northern province where she originally came from.

H is now finishing up third grade and very excited for her summer vacation.  She is very interested in living things, both plants and animals.  She loves to catch frogs and collect tadpoles in the springtime, and enjoys working in the garden.  

H has learned a lot about helping out at home and is becoming efficient at making beds, sweeping floors, doing dishes, and has even been learning how to make dumplings!  

She is very caring and gentle toward the other children.  We recently witnessed a tender moment when a group of children were visiting the sand dunes in Inner Mongolia.  One of the girls was coming down and had a moment of panic; she was afraid to move.  H ran over to her, took her by the hand, and offered encouragement, “It’s OK.  You can do it.  Don’t be afraid, we will go down together!”.  The foster parents and staff were incredibly touched by her compassion.

We truly wish that she might someday have a family of her own.  Until then, we are honored and privileged to be her family, providing her with nurturing caregivers, a stimulating environment, and abundant opportunities for growth and education.

Thank you to all who make our work possible.  You are doing amazing things for H and all of our Little Flowers. You are truly changing lives!

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!