When record snow and cold weather started wreaking havoc in south-central China, Half the Sky’s Managing Director of Programs Zhang Zhirong, aka “ZZ,” was in Guangzhou with Executive Director, Jenny Bowen. Guangzhou was the first stop on a trip to visit orphanages in cities where Half the Sky has centers and orphanages where Half the Sky is opening Blue Sky centers this year. Instead, one flight after another was cancelled due to heavy snow. ZZ and Jenny headed back to Beijing.

From ZZ:

“Although everyone was getting ready to leave for the holiday, we decided we must first check on the many orphanages where Half the Sky works, to see if anyone needed our help. We started calling.

“The situation was even more serious than we expected. The roads to some institutions were closed and some had no electricity and were running out of water. While emergency relief is not part of Half the Sky’s regular work, we knew we had to do something. Jenny launched the Little Mouse Emergency Fund and asked for help from our many friends around the world.

“Calling the orphanages where we already work was easy. We have close relationships with all the directors. But soon we knew we must get help to the other institutions in trouble also. How to find out who needed help and how to reach them was not so easy, especially right before the holiday. Most people in China were already heading home.

“I called our friends at the Ministry of Civil Affairs and asked for their help. Everyone did what they could.

“Certainly this was not a traditional New Years Eve any more. I had no time to get my hair cut, clean my house, or cook before the holiday to ensure an auspicious start to the Year of the Mouse. But, even during the emergency, I knew I must go see my family in Tianjin. Chinese New Year is very special for families. It is a time to get together and catch up. So I brought my laptop and phone and kept calling orphanages while I traveled.

“At the first big family feast on the day before New Year’s Eve, we had traditional holiday fare like boiled dumplings, but this year we also had my ringing cell phone at the table!

“Every few minutes either Jenny called or one of the orphanage directors called. Pretty soon we were all laughing at the table.

“My family understood. I’ve been working for Half the Sky for 10 years and they are really proud of me. They only wanted to know what they could do to help.

‘By New Year’s Eve, it was getting harder to make contact with anyone. There was no one left in their offices to help me find the orphanage phone numbers. So I decided to call Director Feng at the Tianjin Children’s Welfare Institution where Half the Sky has a center. I thought she could help me find phone numbers of other orphanages.

“Without any hesitation, she said, ‘Come on over.’ When I got there I found out that Director Feng was organizing a conference for institution directors and she had most of their phone numbers! I thought that was great luck for the New Year!

“At the Tianjin orphanage I found three orphanage staff to help me and I trained them how to make the calls, how to find out how many babies, how many diapers, how much milk they needed.

“They worked so wonderfully, and they even gave up most of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day to help.

“The next day I went back to Beijing to work with the ministry. We wanted to make sure no institutions in the stricken areas—including small, county level orphanages in remote areas--had been missed. I think it’s wonderful that we were able reach those areas where they really needed warm clothes, diapers, coal, or small generators—the supplies were really a help for the children.

“Some of the small institutions had not heard of Half the Sky before this crisis. They were so moved when we explained what Half the Sky does and so grateful for the emergency help.

“When Jenny told me how generous the people all around the world were during this emergency, I was not too surprised. I know Half the Sky has developed into what it is today because of so people who regard those children remaining in the institutions as their own children as well. The difficulties and sufferings of their own family are always directly connected to their hearts. I do understand that true love knows no borders.

'This disaster and the way people joined together to help the children just reminds me how lucky I am to work for Half the Sky. I am lucky I have studied foreign languages, lucky to have so many foreign friends, lucky to be involved in this kind of cross-cultural exchange. I believe it contributes to a harmonious society, which is something Half the Sky is doing all the time, not just during an emergency. I think that in my everyday work I am helping to make great changes in the world."