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All About the Girl The Work of Captivating in China January to June 2020

In this edition... Andrew’s CEO Message ............................................ 4 Vocational School Scholarship Program .................... 6 It’s All About the Girl: The Numbers ......................... 14 My First Job Assistant Chef Program ........................ 17 Husky Energy Tailoring Skills Program for Women ..... 22 Pigs for Poverty Program .......................................... 28 My Health, My Family, Our Safety Program .............. 33 House of Love ............................................................ 39

Andrew’s CEO Message Dear Captivating China supporters and followers,

So, how did we go? This past six months can be summarized with two key statements:

Thank you for taking a few moments to check-in on the work of Captivating in China. If you are reading this as a company or individual who has financially supported and partnered with us over these past 6 months, we say a massive “thank you” to you, and hope you enjoy reading what your support has made possible. Well, so much for 2020 being the year of “Perfect Vision”. Six months ago, I was writing our last update with anticipation for the year ahead, hoping that the CoronaVirus (just impacting China at the time) would be something that would pass over quickly. Since then, the world has changed and ALL of us have been impacted directly in some way. Like most businesses, Captivating and our on-the-ground partners have all been affected and budgets have had to be cut to keep pace with decreased financial support. My thanks to all Captivating staff and our partners for being willing to take salary decreases in order to keep our projects going and continuing to impact those we exist to serve.

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Our projects have, on the whole, continued to achieve the impact we planned. This has been an amazing (and surprising) outcome. As you will read, only one of our projects has been (and continues to be) unable to do it’s work see House of Love (page 39).

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Financially, we have continued to receive amazing support from our donor base. The major decreases we anticipated did not come. We are so humbled by your consistent support. Have we been affected financially? Yes. Our inability to run some of our fundraisers in China is and will continue to affect us through 2020, and we are anticipating a decrease of 20% in funding for the year as a result. But, it could have been much worse. So, we are very grateful.

Andrew and Program Manager, Carrie (second from right) visiting one of the first girls in the VSS program and her single mom. She has now graduated and working as a National handicraft designer.

In total, we are still on track to directly impact the lives of close to 1,000 young women, single moms and their children by the time Dec 31, 2020 comes along. We thank you for your support and partnership. Weâ€™re here for the long run.

Andrew Colquhoun

CEO & CO-FOUNDER | Captivating

Andrew with a baby yak during one of his project audits.

Vocational School Scholarship Program 253

girls were in the Vocational School Scholarship Program in the last 6 months (refer to page 14 for more details), studying hard in the vocational pathway of their choice at the time of update. In just 3 short years, shy and timid girls transform into confident and independent young ladies who have their own career and opportunities that would likely not be open to them. The girls are from various places throughout Qinghai Province and are attending wonderful schools where they are studying: • • • • • • • • • • •

Pre-School Teaching Accounting Business Management Finance Computer Studies Pharmaceutical Studies Nursing Tibetan Medicine Automobile Marketing and Service Mechanical-Electrical Studies Applied Chemical Technology (specialized design and construction of production plants for innovative chemical processes)

Bruce R

Leigh & Donna M

Lumo Tserang, a Tibetan Medicine student

girls in our second cohort of graduates completed their courses in July 2020.

girls are set to begin their internship in December 2020 and will graduate in July 2021.

97 girls have just completed their first year back in school.

Most of these girls were only able to go to school up to grade 9, with many dropping out even earlier. The key reasons being financial difficulty; prejudice on the part of their parents not valuing education for girls, and varying family circumstances. Their dreams of a career and independence were gone. But thanks to the Vocational School Scholarship program, dreams are coming true again.

Itâ€™s thanks to ZURU (who fund 50% of the entire VSS program) that we can impact the many girls that we do and our Captivating Sponsorship Family for sponsoring these girls, and several other companies that get behind this program (see logoâ€™s). All of us working together make it possible for dreams to come true.

Chitsokyid teaching kindergarten students a song and dance

Nurturing Young Lives

“I started my internship in a Kindergarten last December (2019). During the internship, I taught some subjects including Art and Social Health courses. I prepared a lot of teaching aids to make my class easier and effective, and help children better understand the course content. During my internship, I took part in school activities and won prizes. What makes me happy is not that I have won prizes, but that I have been recognized by my colleagues. In the process of internship, I learned a lot of knowledge and gained a lot of experience. Needless to say, there are many teachers and children in kindergartens. I see hope in these children and learn knowledge from teachers. What’s more gratifying is that I have fulfilled my responsibility as an internship teacher. I enjoy this profession and I like this kindergarten.” Because Chitsokyid was the only daughter in a family who was struggling financially, she was the one who had to drop school during middle school. Because of the Vocational School Scholarship program, Chitsokyid has learned an employable skill. She has now graduated and transitioned into the workforce as a confident young woman who will continue improving herself and contributing to nurturing young lives as a teacher.

2020 GRADUATES

“My name is Chitsokyid. With the help of kind people, I returned to school in September 2017. Six semesters have passed since the first day I came here and I have been studying preschool education. I am very grateful to my sponsor who helped me for three years. With your help, I have the opportunity to complete my education. Thank you!”

“My name is Lumo Tserang. With your help, I was able to go back to school and study Tibetan medicine in 2017. At present, I have been studying here for nearly three years, and I’m graduating soon.” “My internship period of seven months is coming to an end. I have tried my best to complete the examination of each department, skill examination, theoretical examination and the system of each department in the hospital. In terms of the assessment of theory and skills, I have got excellent examination results in each department.”

“During the past three years, I have worked hard. Every day and every step, I have to be down-to-earth, do what I can, learn every lesson well, listen carefully, and do things seriously, live every day conscientiously, so that I can grow step by step. Now every assessment in the school has been completed and I am about to bid farewell to the era of campus life and step into the threshold of society. The course of my life will open a new page. My dream of learning medicine is to be able to save the dying and heal the wounded and do my best to bring health to every patient. In the future, these experiences will become precious wealth on the road of life. A thousand-mile trip begins with one step.” Lumo had to drop school during middle school because her family were no longer able to send her. She always wanted to be a doctor and because of the Vocational School Scholarship program, Lumo has now graduated and transitioned into the workforce as a confident young woman who is equipped to be able to contribute to society and help those with health issues.

2020 GRADUATES

A Thousand-Mile Trip

Beginning of a New Life “My name is Pumo and I was able to return to school in 2018 because of your help. At the beginning, I studied preschool education, however, I changed my major last semester to Tibetan Medicine. I have wanted to be a doctor since I was a child.”

2ND YEAR GIRLS

“In school, I study professional knowledge very hard, I also like our school environment and my major. The road to learning is bumpy and not plain sailing. A rough life will have another flavor of color. Learning Tibetan medicine can not only save the dying and heal the wounded, but also inherit the traditional culture of the local people.” “Through more than two years of school life, I have grown a lot. Campus is a big family. Teachers are our elders, so I respect them a lot. Students are like brothers and sisters. We study together, play together, help each other and live in harmony. Collective life has taught me to take the initiative to be considerate and care for others. It also makes me stronger and more independent. I have learned to think calmly and not be impatient. Two years of campus life is a beginning of my life and filled with good memories. I will not forget to look back on these years as I soon step forward into my final year.” Pumo had to drop school during middle school in 2015. Her family was struggling with her father having treatment for liver cancer and her grandmother’s health was rapidly declining. She always wanted to be a doctor and because of the Vocational School Scholarship program, and thanks to Bruce R for sponsoring her, Lumo is now back in school, working hard to make her dreams come true.

Changed Destiny “My name is Deyang. I am studying Tibetan medicine. I started back in school in September 2018 and I am grateful for this support. I had the opportunity during winter vacation to help in a local hospital. I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I learned so much in such a short time. I cherish the remaining two semesters in school, and strive to shape myself into a young girl with a solid professional foundation, perfect knowledge structure, strong adaptability and team spirit. “My biggest change since I went to school is I have become more mature. When I was home I always had my family around me, but now, I have to do cooking and washing clothes by myself. Campus life is far away from my family, but I enjoy life with my roommates.”

2ND YEAR GIRLS

“After two more semesters, my study career will be over. After graduation, I want to find a stable job. If I have the ability, I would like to help children from poor families like me in my hometown to help them realize their dream of going to school. Because I have dropped out of school, I don’t want many children to lose the opportunity to go to school. Without your help, I would be working in the farmland of my hometown. You have changed my destiny and now I can realize my dream in the ocean of knowledge.” Deyang’s father died when she was a young girl and her mother left her. She lives with her uncle who has a large family. They were doing their best to survive but in 2017, Deyang had to drop school. Her dream of finishing school was gone. But thanks to the Vocational School Scholarship prograam and ZURU, Deyang is now back in school, working hard to make her dreams come true.

1ST YEAR GIRLS

A Noble Career for Dokyidtso “My family is very large and our home is located in a remote area which makes it difficult to travel. My parents are able to do odd jobs here and there but we struggle to survive. I dropped school in 2016 after I graduated grade 7 as my parents couldn’t afford me to live on campus and it’s too far to travel every day. I can’t believe I am back in school thanks to the support of my sponsors. I am studying Internet Applied Technology. I enjoy learning computer sciences and as I grow in confidence, I am asking more questions. My dream is to be a computer science teacher. I think this is a noble and respectable profession. I will continue to work hard with this opportunity you have given me.”

Being a Girl in a Boy's World Saitsogal had to drop school after middle school in 2017 because of the rapidly declining health of both her parents. Saitsogal shares her story. “I was sad to drop school. I like to study. I know education can help me change my life, but it seemed this was not to be for me.” “Thanks to your support, I am now back in school majoring in Construction Equipment Engineering in a technical school. I like to ask questions because that’s how I learn. The subject I’m learning is usually for boys but I think girls need to study this subject as well. I am working hard in my studies because I know that this field favors boys. My dream is to stand out and get a good job where I can prove that girls can do whatever they want if they work hard.”

“I live with my mother who has never been to school. I know my mother wanted a better life for me but after graduating grade 7 in 2017 I dropped school to help ease the pressure from my mother. Now I’m back in school and have already finished 1 year of studies. I chose Tibetan Medicine because I want to contribute to society by helping people who are sick. I cherish every chance to learn and get up early every morning to be ready for classes. I graduated 1st year in the top 10 students in my class. Next year I want to do even better. Thank you for supporting me to go back to school. I need to support my mother because there is no one else who will. know I will be able to because of the knowledge and skills I am learning.”

Lhamokua's Dream to Become a Doctor “When I was 13, my father passed away. Now, I live with my mother, younger brother and my grandparents. The burden to provide for all of us is left to my mother. I dropped school after I graduated grade 7 to be able to help my mother to take care of the family. I saw my friends going to school and wished I could keep going. My dream since I was a little girl was to become a doctor. Now, my dream is coming true. I am studying Tibetan Medicine in a vocational school where I am in the top 10 in my class. The first year of my studies is over in a blink of an eye. I love the school environment since I find many places to read and study. Thank you for this priceless opportunity.”

1ST YEAR GIRLS

To Support My Mother and Contribute to Society

It's All About the Girl THE NUMBERS

girls graduated from the Vocational School Scholarship Program in July 2020. We are excited that girls from our 2018 intake will start their internships around December 2020. Every school has a different internship schedule.

60 women started the My First Job Assistant Chef

Program during June 2020 with a further 60 women starting in the coming months. The programs will conclude training and internship before Chinese New Year. We look forward to reporting on the graduating women and their job outcomes.

women graduated the Husky Energy Tailoring Skills for Women Program in 2018. 77% of them have been consistently earning tailoring-based incomes over the past 12 months which we are thrilled to see. graduated in 2019.

Realistically, we have been hoping to see 70% or more girls graduate from all programs, and itâ€™s thrilling to see our % of the VSS program and % graduation rate of the MFJ program. Because we specifically look for girls who have already dropped out of school, both programs will be challenging for some girls because of stress from catching up, and/or family issues to deal with. But this result is exceeding our expectations.

All these girls graduated Tibetan Medicine. Shawu (first girl on left) is working filling prescriptions at a local clinic. Sangmoja (second girl from left) is working in an acupuncture clinic. Shawy Dekyid (fifth from left) is working in a local hospital.

My First Job Assistant Chef Program 120

Four (4) separate My First Job Programs commenced July 2019 where a total of women started their journey towards becoming trained as Assistant Chefs. Most of the women had never been to school and were largely illiterate. During the program, many of them learned to read basic words on a menu as well as various measurements for recipes. This brought a sense of pride and encouragement to these women and reignited their self-worth. During the course of the program 17 women dropped out due to health issues or because a family member (child, parent or grandparent) fell ill and they needed to go home to take care of them.

103 women graduated the My First Job Assistant Chef Program in May/June 2020 after 4 months of training and a 2-month internship in restaurants and cafes. At this point, 91 women (88%) are now in jobs doing what they love with independence while holding their heads high in their communities. These doors of opportunity are available to these women thanks to the My First Job Assistant Chef Program. We will assess their progress again June 2021.

Thank you to ZURU for believing in this project and once again, funding half of the entire program. A special thanks to those who purchased a MFJ bunny at the 11th Annual Charity Auction, the Shenzhen Midnight Charity Run, and our amazing sponsorship family who have helped support this project, bringing confidence and skills to these women.

An Outstanding Student Tserang has never been to school. She spends her days taking care of the family livestock and general household chores. Her dream is to be able to provide her two children with a good education. Tserang joined the My First Job Assistant Chef program in 2019 and is now employed as the chef at a local restaurant. Tserang is an outstanding student, a fast learner and highly motivated to challenge herself. “I am so excited and I know that I am able to do all this because of your support.”

Confidence and Hardwork Tamtintso had to drop school after primary school. She wanted to provide her 2 children with a good future but had limited opportunities. She joined the My First Job Assistant Chef program in 2019 and is now a chef in a local restaurant. She is a very confident woman who worked hard throughout her training. “Thank you so much for the skills training. I have a different life now. My wages are enough to cover my families costs plus more. I really like my job and I plan to work here for a long time.”

A Competition Winning Chef Damo takes care of her aged grandparents and her 3 children. Her husband works in a factory and comes home once a month. Damo has limited job opportunities near her home as she needed to stay close for her family. She joined the My First Job Assistant Chef program in 2019 and was one of the highest performing students. She took part in a chef compeition held by the local governement and won first prize. Damo now works full time as a chef and enjoys earning a regular income. “I feel so lucky to attend the training. It was a great opportunity for many of us and has given us much confidence. Thank you very much.”

A Satisfied Working Mother It has been difficult for Yeshitso and her husband to be able to provide for her aging mother and their 2 children. She joined the My First Job Assistant Chef program in 2019 and now works as the assistant chef in a local restaurant. “I am so happy that I am able to work here and cook so many dishes. It is great to be part of such an educational program. I know the other women are also doing well from the program. Now I am working and increasing my family income as well as I get to stay with the kids at night rather than have to stay in another area to find jobs. This is the life I really dreamed of. Thank you for making all this possible for me.”

Valued Restaurant Chef Tarshitso is one of the lucky ones who was able to complete primary school as a little girl, but due to remote living and having limited education, employment opportunities were few. “Most of the women in the program are illiterate, so I was able to help them learn words. I’m so grateful for this opportunity,” shares Tarshitso. She is now the only chef at a restaurant and the owner is so happy with her culinary skills that he will be giving her a pay rise. “I am so lucky that I get to do my favorite thing – cook Tibetan food”, she says in her quiet yet confident way.

Ready for Employment Garmotso has never been to school and now, as wife and mother of 2 children, she needs to help provide for the family so her children can continue their education. She joined the My First Job Assistant Chef program in November 2019, finished her training and is now completing her internship in a restaurant as a chef’s assistant. She is already earning a regular wage and after her internship (July 2020), the restaurant owner is willing to employ Garmotso as one of his regular chefs.

Single Mom Now Fully Employed Kanzhe is a single mom to her 3-year-old son. As a girl she only had the opportunity to go to school until grade 6. Because of her lack of education, very few opportunities were available to her to support herself and her son. In July 2019, she joined the My First Job Assistant Chef Program and is now fully employed. She is working at a local restaurant as an assistant chef and has a good, steady income. â€œI am employed and so happy to have a sustainable income. Even though my son is young, I know he is grateful for what you have done for us. This is my happiest time. Thank you so much for providing such an opportunity to me and to the other women in the program as well. I know I will be able to give my son a good life.â€?

Husky Energy Tailoring Skills for Women Much planning and preparation has taken place for our 2020 Husky Energy Tailoring Skills Program for Women. women have just started the journey of learning the skill of sewing clothes professionally. They start with the theory which includes measuring, cutting and the different parts of a sewing machine.

Most of these women haven’t been to school and so all these skills are incredibly difficult. Could you imagine using a tape measure effectively if you didn’t know the numbers? Could you imagine using scissors for the first time and coordinating the cut? These are the challenges these women face, but it doesn’t stop them from working hard and learning all they can. They know the things they learn in this program will set them up with opportunities they haven’t had before and they embrace every moment. They practice first by using paper – cutting out patterns, measuring different size garments and fitting different pieces of the garment together. During the three-months of training, the teacher will grow and nurture the women in their skill development so they are confident in themselves to help support and provide a better future for their families and children.

We recently completed a 12-month post-graduation review of our first program graduates who started in 2018. â€˘ â€˘

43 (97%) of the 44 women who started this program graduated, Of these 43 graduates, 77% of them have been consistently earning tailoring-based incomes over the past 12 months.

Amazingly, the average monthly salary has increased from RMB333 (US$47) pre-program to RMB2,085 (US$297) post-program. We (and they) are thrilled. This has exceeded our expectations, as has our desire to see this program continue (and possibly expand). In total, 104 women have started this program since we started it together in 2018. Thank you to Husky Energy for believing in these women and giving them the chance to develop skills which will open doors with new opportunities.

A New Opportunity for Namjyid “When my parents died, I had to provide for my little sister so I dropped school after grade 6. Now I’m a mother of two children. Our family has twenty cows and a small piece of land. One of my children goes to kindergarten, my other child has not yet reached the age of school, my younger sister is now in grade nine, and my husband and I have been supporting her with her schooling. My husband has never been to school so he can’t find a good job with a good salary.”

“I have just started my training in the tailoring program. I am one of a couple of women who can read so I feel that I can help the other women to learn. Even though it has only been a few short weeks, I have learned so much and already gained confidence in my abilities. I am looking forward to having skills and opportunities that I can provide for my family’s future.”

Determination to Support Her Family “As a child, we barely had enough food and clothes and I didn’t get the opportunity to go to school. Now, I am married with one child. We live together with my parents and my brother and his wife. My husband is also illiterate because he never got to go to school either. We have 30 cows on some land and I go out to find work on construction sites while my husband stays home to take care of my mother and brother who are both disabled. Because of no education and being illiterate, job opportunities are few.”

“I am grateful that I can be part of the training program in my area. It is challenging for me as I am learning to read numbers and basic words. I am so proud of the things I have already learned and will work hard to learn as much as I can. I know most of the other women in the class have also had no schooling so we often sit together and go over our lessons. We are determined to be able to make a better future for our children and families who rely on us.”

women successfully graduated from the Husky Energy Tailoring Skills for Women Program in 2019. The majority of these 24 women have secured jobs or started their own businesses. Yedron is one of these women.

Living and Working with Gratitude Yedron, 32, came from a poor family. Now that she’s married and has two children who are both studying, she carries much of the responsibility of providing for the family since her husband cannot work due to health concerns. She used to work as a sanitation worker but had to quit as she had to take care of her husband at home. When she learned about the Husky Energy Tailoring Skills Program for Women in 2019, she was filled with so much hope and eagerness. She wanted to enter the program with the hopes of learning a new skill and start her own business at home. After completing her training and internship, along with 24 other women in 2019, Yedron started to make clothes in her home and sell them. This has now been their primary source of income. She is grateful to have been part of the training, which she said not only taught her technical skills but also helped build her confidence up. “Thank you for changing my life. I now have a job of my own, and can save money for my family’s future. I will work hard, carrying this gratitude in my heart. Thank you,” says Yedron.

Pigs for Poverty 54 families have joined the Pigs for Poverty project so far this year. Most these families

are single mom households, trying to support their children and provide them with a good education. 71 families will join them in the project as the year continues. The aim this year is to bring a sustainable solution to 125 struggling families to run their own small pig breeding businesses. Each family will receive 2 breeding pigs and valuable training on how to raise healthy pigs by learning things such as the best foods to feed them and keeping a vaccination schedule. The biggest challenge so far is that pigs are in short supply due to swine flu in some regions, so pigs are having to be found from multiple small group locations. Our thanks to GPA Global for underwriting this project for yet another year, and also to all the people who sponsored a pig at our 2019 Annual Charity Auction in Shenzhen. Together, we will bring financial independence and hope for a better future to 125 families.

An exciting part of this yearâ€™s project is that we have a new trainer. She is a very special lady to us. She was part of our first pig programs started in 2015. She has worked hard over the years and now has a significant pig breeding business. She is the perfect example of what is possible. Because of her experience and success, the villagers are eager to learn from her and listen to what she has to share. This project not only helps the women in this project by providing an opportunity to increase the family income, but also brings confidence and increased social standing.

A Mother's Strength and Optimism Li Deiji is a strong and optimistic single mother. She has always worked hard to be able to provide for her children. â€œI have always firmly believed that education can change someoneâ€™s future, so I have to be able to provide so my children can finish their education and have a future that I was not able to have. I am grateful to be able to be part of this project. I know that, with this pig breeding opportunity, I will be able to improve my life and increase my income. I am looking forward to learning all about the best ways to breed healthy pigs and when to sell them to make the best profit.â€?

Photo on left page: Li Deiji (right) with Carrie, project manager

My Health, My Family, Our Safety Awareness Program My Health, My Family, Our Safety Awareness Program traveled through Western China with a team of medical professionals. Between July 2019 and February 2020, we were able to visit villages and cater to the health needs of over , women and men. Medical check-ups, medicines, and hygiene products were given to the participants along with important information on how to stay healthy and remain safe from sexually transmitted diseases and other easily transmitted illnesses.

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The attending doctor confirmed that 95% of the 1,929 women who received medical examinations, suffered from gynecological health issues. The doctor believed that much of this could be prevented with knowledge of good hygiene practices and making the health of women in their communities a higher priority. Thank you to the following donors for sponsoring a township presentation: Bennie M, Greg S, Jason L, Lynn V, Nicky Z, Shufang S, Yingji J, Jeff O.

Parents as Good Stewards of Health Tserang grew up in a poor family. Her parents did not receive any education themselves and so they gave little importance to sending their children to school. Tserang and her sister would instead help their parents with housework and farming. Now that she has a family of her own, both Tserang and her husband work hard to send their kids to school. From digging up caterpillar fungus to sell, to working in construction sites, regardless of the weather, they would stay out working all day. This causes Tserang to experience back pain frequently. But because of their unstable income, she wouldn’t dare spend money to go to the hospital and have a health checkup. “I have not been very well since I was young. My condition worsened after I gave birth to our first child. When I experience back and abdominal pains, I usually just warm myself by the fire or take painkillers if I find any at home.” “When our village secretary informed us that you were visiting to conduct health education, I was very happy. The doctors conducted lectures on basic health care, prevention of infectious diseases, and gynecological diseases for women. I felt a little embarrassed but I know that everything we’ve learned is for our own good. We are so busy raising our children that we often neglect our own health. Thank you for making us realize that as parents, we should take good care of our bodies for us to be able to care for our families better. I will share this knowledge to my children and encourage them to take care of their health as they grow into adults. Thanks to the donors and staff who made this project happen. It is your kindness that gives us women the opportunity to learn health knowledge. Thank you very much!”

Healthy Bodies and Grateful Smiles Twenty-five-year-old Tserangtso is one of the villagers who participated in one of our village stops. She shared with us her experience before and after the My Health, My Family, Our Safety awareness program experience.

“This is why I feel very fortunate to have participated in your program. I’m thankful to have met such caring people like you who let me and my co-villagers receive health education and health packages for free. I saw the smiles on the faces of my neighbors when they received the medicines and health products you donated. We are all grateful from the bottom of our hearts. This will help not only me but also my children. I will share with everyone I meet about my new-found health knowledge.”

“Women in remote areas like us have been in poor living conditions since childhood. We tend to ignore minor illnesses and pains, hoping that our bodies’ immune systems would take care of it and the illness would eventually disappear. However, certain illnesses such as gynecological diseases become serious over time if not attended to. Everyone knows this but most of the time, we would rather deceive ourselves and disregard the pain rather than face the reality that we need help. I have never been to the hospital for a routine check-up, even though I feel that my health is no longer in good condition.”

“I would like to thank you for choosing to help our village. Every bit of help you gave shows your deep love for rural women like me!”

Important Mission One of the nurses who was part of this program shared her thoughts and experiences with us. â€œThis is my first time to go to rural areas to do such a meaningful activity. I was with the team for over 20 days and our schedule was very intensive. There were so many difficulties we had to overcome like sudden changes in weather, road conditions, and even the people, but none of us ever drew back. I am so lucky to have experienced all this. I also saw the importance of conducting health training in the rural areas. Most of those living in the rural areas are not well informed on good health practices. I also noticed that some of them were very excited to receive the medical supplies we gave away rather than the actual training. But I am impressed with how patient our doctors are in teaching them and organizing everyone. Thank you so much for this opportunity not only for my learning but for the benefit of rural communities. I am so happy to be of assistance to the doctors in the program.â€?

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“We miss you so much! When will you visit us? Come chat with us. You haven’t taught us to sing songs for a long time.” “The endless questions show me how much they miss me”, explains one of the staff members. “They are like my children, and I miss them too. I’m looking forward to when I can go back and spend time with them again.”

House of Love House of Love continues to provides care, ability training, counseling, and encouraging self-care for orphans and persons with disabilities. The team help with fun activities such as painting, reading, writing, jigsaw puzzles and knotting. They encourage healthy habits and spend time teaching them how to make healthy food. The purpose is to increase the amount of fun in their life, stimulate internal potential, enhance confidence, equip them to help friends who are more restricted with mobility or mental capacity, and help them find the value and significance of their lives. Between January and March, we have underwritten the work on HOL supporting a total of orphans and persons with special needs.

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Thanks to COVID-19, the key work of House of Love had to stop since April. The staff have still been able to connect with these orphans and people with special needs via WeChat and QQ. Technology has been valuable to help keep in contact even in a small way. The House of Love team have also spent time in training on new ways to interact with persons with disabilities and planning new programs and activities for when they are able to once again, visit and spend time with these people who are so dear to their hearts.

May 17 was National Day for Helping the Disabled. The China Disabled Personsâ€™ Federation (CDPF) called for the solid implementation of targeted poverty-relief measures to support the disabled, help them to be self-reliable, and enjoy a better life. This was perfect timing for the House of Love team to issue a WeChat post calling on everyone to care for the disabled. We listed some essential items that the children need in the hot summer, such as clothing, sandals, basketball, badminton, and other sports equipment.

The next day, the team received a call from a lady saying she wanted to donate those items needed by the children. The generous lady said that she was glad to buy some clothes and sports equipment to meet their needs. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the House of Love team were not allowed into the center however they were allowed to drop the supplies at the gate. We know the items are being used and loved until the team can once again visit.

National Day for Helping the Disabled

HOL Director Li Yang delivering food and supplies to the welfare center

Photo by Josh Appel on Unsplash

Complete Turn Around Xiao Yi is a child who has been abandoned because of epilepsy. She was raised by a foster family for several years and has studied for six years. Because of being abandoned, she is an extremely unhealthy child psychologically.

One day in January, a very wonderful thing happened. She was becoming sick and had many blisters in her mouth, which affected her throat. On that day, one of the House of Love staff accompanied her and kindly helped her and talked with her. All of a sudden, she changed and became soft hearted and kind. Xiao Yi is a new person and is now helping others around her who are severely disabled with gentleness and compassion.

The House of Love team accompany groups of children and sing songs with them. They lead various activities with the children, but Xiao Yi would not allow other children to sing, and often used violence against those children. Working with Xiao Yi was tiring but the team always responded with gentle care.

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