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!