|
Dear Donors and Friends,
We continue to thank you for your love, support and contributions in relation to the School of Light and Love (SLL) – “北京光爱学校”. In the past month, we have really been able to build on the initial efforts that we made with the school/orphanage. Below is the next in our regular series of updates letting you know how things have developed during March and since our last letter.
Operation Heat 'em Up – Visits in March
In the month of March, Faith in Action (see the “About Us” section on our website www.twocoppercoins.org for more info on our group) were able to organise two trips to SLL.
Saturday, March 17th
About 20 volunteers showed up at the orphanage, this time armed with a new strategy to manage the huge increase in number of children at the school (from 24 to 70+) which had caught Sam by surprise on his previous visit. Volunteers included again members of China Radio International, who have pledged some time on their program to raise awareness for the school. This is the first time we had put together a more structured approach to teaching and playing with the children. So that you have a more detailed idea of what happens on a visit, our itinerary for that visit is set out below.
Itinerary:
1:00pm Meet at World Trade Centre Guomao Starbucks or Lido Starbucks
2:00 - 2:45pm Arrive at SLL
1) Newcomer volunteers - tour the school/orphanage with the principal
2) Everyone else - Songs and Activities with the kids (led by Esther /Sam – including a gam of “laoshi shuo”)
2:45 - 3:30pm Indoor Activities (Children split up into four age groups):
i) Watching Cartoons (Led by Allen, assisted by Jilin)
ii) Drawing (Led by Nala assisted by Bowen and Faye)
iii) English Lesson (Colors) (Led by Cam/Ray/Alvin)
iv) Make playdoh (Led by Esther/Dagmar/Judy)
3:30 - 4.50pm Group Games Outside (All children brought back together in the yard): Toilet Roll Dodgeball, Clean up the backyard, Colored Corners”.
4:50 - 5:00pm Say Goodbye
The kids were really excited at these new activities that they were getting to try out and we saw some impressive streaks of creativity coming out in the painting and playdoh groups! In addition, at the end of the day, our feedback from the volunteers was that this structure worked well as this new approach allowed volunteers to really engage the children in the activity, while getting to know them in smaller groups. In particular, one volunteer was really able to spend time with one 12 year old boy who shared with her how he really wanted an older brother or sister and that he wished she could stay and be his sister. Sadly, the young boy also said that he could not see any reason for living. These are the children that we want to reach out to, spend time with and give love to.
Saturday, March 24th
With the success of the previous week, and a fruitful strategy meeting on March 22, all the key members of the steering committee were clear how to move ahead with supporting the SLL. Needless to say, we followed the same successful structure as the previous week! On this second visit, we were happy to see yet more first time volunteers coming to join the trip – this time there were around 25 volunteers. These came from all walks of life – including members of FIA, a group of teenagers from the BICF youth group, more young professionals.
Putting into place more structured activities for our visits has been extremely beneficial. Repeat volunteers know the routine, as do the children. It was also exciting to notice that, in the outside games that we played on this visit, the children had developed their own rules to some of the games that we had taught them on the previous visit. Thus, the loser of “Duck, duck goose” (or “ya ya er” for any of you who know some Mandarin) now has to stand in the middle of the circle and sing a song to the rest of the group.
Key Points coming out of the March visits
1. It had been discussed within the steering committee that there was a lack of clarity as to the amount and type of expenses which Mr Shi is looking to Operation Heat ‘Em Up to pay for together with a lack of information as to what other donors the school/orphanage has. For absolute transparency and to avoid any overlap in donations, members of our steering committee approached Mr. Shi with this issue. It has been decided following this discussion that the Operation Heat ‘Em Up donations will be made in respect of certain specified items (more particularly, rice, flour and oil for each month) so that Mr. Shi is 100% sure what items our donations will take care of (and what receipts he needs to give to us) and can look to other donors to support other areas. Also, we have requested Mr. Shi to submit a written report of spending and new developments at the school/orphanage (e.g. new kids, new donors) to the steering committee together with relevant receipts from the previous month before the next months funds are given to him.
2. Transportation needs to be coordinated better, and alternatives and group pick up and drop off points are going to be clearly communicated to all interested volunteers.
3. We have spent the last couple of visits taking pictures of each and every child at the school/orphanage. For our next visit, we have purchased some wooden photo frames for each child with they are going to decorate with their names and a bible verse. When finished, these will be hung up at the school. We will also keep a copy of these photographs on file. This will help us better identify and recognise each child so volunteers and donors can put faces and names to them.
Fundraising
1. Fundraiser – FIA commits to organizing a big fundraising event in the next 6 months – can get the youth group involved – Esther to take lead
2. Idea – Youth from a local church (BICF) can fundraise money to buy, say clothes, for each orphan. The youth can present the clothes personally to each kid
Upcoming Developments/Next visits
1. A small team of education professionals from Hong Kong (led by the sister of one of the steering committee members) will come to Beijing in the first week of April to assess and provide consultation to Mr Shi in relation to the education curriculum and other ideas to care for the children. They will go to the school/orphanage on April 5th and 7th.
2. On April 7th, a trip is to be organised to the school/orphanage with an Easter theme. It looks like April 7th will be the largest group of volunteers yet.
Your ongoing participation/contributions
For new volunteers wishing to get involved/being put on the mailing list, please fill out this form and send to Judy Cheung (see contact details on the Contacts page):
I would like to participate in Operation Heat 'em Up by:
____Praying
____Coming once in awhile to the school to volunteer (e.g. do chores, teach, play with kids, etc.)
____Coming regularly to the school to volunteer (e.g. do chores, teach, play with kids, etc.)
____ Donating some money to the cause
____Telling my friends/contacts about this cause
____ Being on a committee to give ideas and take ownership of a task or two to move the logistics of the project along
____ I would like to help out in other ways. For example_________________________
Currently, donations should continue to be made through your FIA contact (please ask the person who forwarded this report to you for details). If you would like to donate some money to specific items, feel free to indicate this, and we will direct the funds towards these items (e.g. basic needs, new windows, etc.). Our finance committee will try their best to accommodate your request and to make the process easy and transparent for you.
Warmest regards,
Operation Heat 'em Up Task Force
|
