On this eve of the Year of the Dragon, how can I begin to thank you for what you have done for China’s orphans?

In China, as the New Year approaches, old debts are forgiven, frayed friendships are mended, homes are scrubbed clean, and families come together from near and far bringing gifts and food – symbols of prosperity for the days to come. You have done this for us.

Not long ago, I wrote to you and shared my worries for the future. I wasn’t certain how Half the Sky was going to be able to keep its promises to the children in the New Year. In these tough economic times, support for our programs, for helping children you will likely never meet, seemed to be fading away.

But WOW! You showed us that Half the Sky is, indeed, one big family. You came together from near and far and you brought gifts – 634 online gifts totaling $235,329.50!! And every single online dollar was matched, thanks to my Purpose Prize and our generous board members.

And another 442 of you sent in gifts via mail or fax or phone. All together, more than 1,000 gifts! In the end, giving was up almost 15% from 2010!

We haven’t yet found a replacement for our lost longtime foundation partner, but after spending the past two weeks in Hong Kong and Beijing talking to our many friends, I am hopeful that we will.

Anyway, thanks to you, our dear Half the Sky family, our programs will survive. Bring on the Dragons!

In just a couple more weeks, with luck before the New Year celebrations are done, we’ll be saying a proper thank you to our HTS family by launching a new website that will be the home of the long-promised 1 Big Family global online community.

1 Big Family will be a gathering place for all of us who care about China’s orphans. Besides news and discussions groups and photo stories about China, 1 Big Family will present clubs – ways to connect both virtually and truly – clubs for adoptive families, adopted teens, local HTS chapters, volunteers, and the China Care Clubs for college and high school students. At 1 Big Family, you can share your stories and photos; you can ask Half the Sky staff and CWI directors questions about life in the orphanage (though not about specific children!); you can watch videos created by the orphanage staff themselves; teens can connect with others from their hometown province; volunteers can organize and participate in events; anyone can share their Bright Ideas and vote on the ideas offered by others.

Click on this 1 Big Family link and you’ll be among the first to have a sneak peek at what is going to be 1 incredible community.

Thank you again for your everlasting love for China’s once-forgotten children. A Chinese proverb tells us to “lift up the heart of a true friend by writing his name on the wings of a dragon.” You have written the children’s names and so we will fly together.

Long Nian Kuai Le! Happy Dragon Year!

Jenny

At the end of each year, as a way of saying thanks, I like to send you stories about children you have helped. Today I was about to do the same. But I feel have to share my worries with you instead.

I don’t need to tell you that it’s been a tough year financially – for a lot of us. And if you’re reading this, you probably don’t need me to tell you that Half the Sky is now supporting programs for children in more than 50 welfare institutions across China.

What I need to share is that, with only two days left until 2011 ends, we are farther than we’ve ever been from having enough money to keep our programs going in the new year. We just lost one of our most important funders – a wonderful foundation that is struggling through hard times like the rest of us. And many of our regular donors have had to step back, simply to keep their families afloat.

I hoped that winning the Purpose Prize would inspire matching donations – and it has, but not enough. I know that many of you are doing everything you can to help, despite hard times. It is not easy for me to write this, but unless magic happens, it looks like we are going to end the year in a very scary place. For the first time in 13 years we may have to look at closing some of our programs down.

I just can’t bring myself to begin considering where we begin. That’s why I’m writing – to ask if there’s anything more you can do this year to help keep Half the Sky programs alive.

A child sponsorship? An extra donation in honor of someone you love? On behalf of the children who are so dear to us and who need so little to thrive, I humbly ask you for some extra help to make that magic happen.

With thanks and sincere good wishes for the New Year,

Jenny

Once upon a time in China (and sadly still, in some places) little children who lost their families spent their holidays — and all of their days — just sitting in little chairs. Waiting. For what, no one could know. Now that is changing.

Only a few weeks ago, on a snowy morning, a bundled-up toddler was found wandering near the gate of an orphanage in China’s far north. When the nannies brought the child inside the warm intake nursery and peeled away many layers of clothing, they discovered he was a tiny boy. Pale and thin.

And there was a note pinned to his innermost shirt. “His father went away. My son is sick. I have no money to help him. He is a good boy.”

The nannies named the boy XiaoShan — ‘Little Mountain’ — in hopes that he would grow up strong.

After he was bathed and fed and warm, Chen Yan, a HTS nanny, brought him to the clinic. The doctor listened to his heart and said she thought that

XiaoShan had a heart problem that would require surgery. When the time comes, he will go to Half the Sky’s China Care Home for treatment and extra-special care.

Now, while he waits to have his heart fixed, and after that, to have a second chance at finding a family who will never leave him, XiaoShan does not have to spend his days sitting on a little chair. Instead, he and Chen Yan snuggle together in a HTS ‘transition’ preschool class, designed for the littlest learners.

Chen Yan says that Xiao Shan is not playing with the other children yet, but he has begun to smile a little, especially when the children put on holiday shows.

In this holiday season, thank you for helping Xiao Shan, and children like him, remember how to smile.

Happy Holidays!

Instead of scrambling to find that last perfect gift or suffering the crowds at decorated downtown department stores, this season give a truly special gift, a gift that transforms the life of a child.

Shop our holiday catalog for gifts that will bring joy to orphaned children in China and a smile to a friend or family member. Your generosity will be commemorated by a beautiful certificate that can be customized for your honoree.

Some great gift ideas:

	For $25, you can provide blocks and bouncy balls for the children in Half the Sky’s Infant Nurture Program in an orphanage in China.
Give the cheer of a rocking horse to the children in Half the Sky’s Infant Nurture Program with a donation of $75.
	What child doesn’t like dressing up?  A chest full of dress up clothes for $100 provides year-round fun for the children in the Half the Sky’s Little Sisters Program.
Shared Sponsorship, $300 a year/$25 a month.  A year of nurturing care for children who have lost the love of family.

There are many more giving/sponshorship options!

And don’t forget, every donation of $10 or more will be doubled through our Campaign for a Million Rainbows! So far, we’ve reached more than $55,000!

Happy Holidays from the whole team at Half the Sky!

When Ma Chunxue became a dad at our Family Village in Changchun, he knew he and his wife had committed to taking care of three children with special needs until adulthood. What he didn’t know was how the children, especially his daughter HuiQiu, would change his life. Says Ma: “I have discovered the real meaning of life through taking care of my children. No matter how fragile a life is, each life includes real and touching emotions. But in order to feel such emotions, you have to give a lot of love!”

HuiQiu required lots of love when she joined Mas’ family. Born with Down’s syndrome, 18-month-old HuiQiu struggled with the simplest tasks, including eating. HuiQiu was unable to chew and refused everything but milk. Ma was determined to figure out a way for HuiQiu to eat normally, so he scoured the Internet where he found experts who told him that he needed to wean HuiQiu from her milk-only diet and feed her liquid food instead. Given HuiQiu’s inability at first to keep even the liquid food down, weaning her from milk took incredible patience. But eventually HuiQiu transitioned to solid food—the first spoonfuls HuiQiu swallowed were so welcome that the food was mixed with her parents’ tears.

Ma rushes home after work to spend time with HuiQiu and her siblings.

One evening, the family was watching North-East “Er-ren-zhuan,” – a television show that features local folk dance and song from Northeast China – HuiQiu started clapping her hands to the music. Ma was very excited to discover this new interest of hers, and clapped along with her. Huiqiu cried when the dance ended so her dad took over, dancing in front of her. HuiQiu’s tears quickly turned to laughter. Now Ma jumps like a frog, pretends he’s a cat catching a mouse, and talks like the baby lion, Simba, from “The Lion King” – all to see HuiQiu smile.

After six months in her family, HuiQiu’s self esteem has grown so much that she cries whenever she makes a mistake and she has also learned how to express her emotions. One night, HuiQiu developed a high fever so her dad rushed her to the hospital. HuiQiu recovered quickly, but Ma collapsed with weariness after their long night. He didn’t wake until he felt a light scratching on his forehead. When he opened his eyes, he saw HuiQiu stroking his head tenderly, imitating her dad stroking her head. HuiQiu’s innocent face lit up when she saw her dad wake up. As for Ma, he burst into tears–tears of joy for the caring daughter HuiQiu has become.

By Half the Sky’s Preschool Teachers in Chengdu

When JuanJuan entered our preschool in Chengdu, she was an outgoing, enthusiastic four year old who loved school. She was always the first student to raise her hand to try to answer in class–whether she knew the answer or not. During recess, JuanJuan played school over and over with her friends and made sure she was always the teacher! As she continued to gain confidence, she also became a star performer in our Children’s Day shows.

But during her second year in our school, JuanJuan suddenly lost her zest for the activities she used to enjoy. At first we couldn’t figure out why JuanJuan seemed unhappy. So we checked with JuanJuan’s foster mom, who told us that she had started taking home materials from her classroom, and that she told her mom her teachers said it was okay.

We were surprised that JuanJuan had been so dishonest, but instead of harshly correcting her, we tried to figure out why her behavior had changed. We realized that all the items she had taken from the classroom were art related: a coloring book based on the four seasons; watercolor pens; and notebooks. We also learned from JuanJuan’s foster mom that every day when she came home from school, JuanJuan would run to her room to draw. Finally, we asked JuanJuan why she had taken art supplies from her classroom. With quiet determination JuanJuan told us: “I just want to draw.”

We realized that during art projects, we had been focusing a great deal on the children who needed extra help and we weren’t recognizing or encouraging JuanJuan’s artistic talent. We also weren’t giving her enough time to finish her painting so it made sense to her that she needed to take her materials back home to finish.

We decided to take special care to nurture JuanJuan’s interest in art and foster her leadership abilities. We asked JuanJuan to use her artistic skills to help other children — she was delighted by her new role as teacher’s aide. We also came up with a special art project for JuanJuan – we had her record the weather and observe the growth of seedlings we had planted by drawing them.

When we gave JuanJuan had the time she needed in class to express herself creatively she began once again to show enthusiasm for our activities and no longer took things from her classroom—she even made it a point to prevent other children from taking things out of the classroom.

JuanJuan became more mature and her sad face started lighting up again with smiles. Recently, we had to say goodbye to JuanJuan because she was adopted. Though we’re thrilled that JuanJuan now has a family of her own, we miss her and will always be grateful to her. With her quietly forceful words, “I just want to draw,” JuanJuan taught us the importance of taking extra care to acknowledge and nurture every child’s unique talents.

On a wet October morning, nearly 125 Half the Sky supporters gathered at Marina Park in San Leandro, California to Step Up for China’s Children.  Our first 2-mile/10K Step Up event drew teams from all over the Bay Area, including the San Francisco Chinatown Rotary Club and Orphanages without Borders.

All the runners and walkers tackled the course that winds through marshlands along San Francisco Bay with aplomb; many, including golden retriever and enthusiastic Half the Sky supporter, Wyatt, extended their mileage by continuing past their turn-around point before heading back.

But the day wasn’t just about athleticism. After the run/walk, the Sigma Omicron Pi Sorority from U.C. Berkeley and the Stanford University China Care Club ran activities, which included paper folding and cutting, traditional Chinese games, hopscotch, face painting and balloon animals.  Draco the Juggler performed as did ventriloquist Julie Ow and her partner Sock, who sang the Star Spangled Banner and gave psychic readings. Door prizes included San Jose Sharks hockey tickets, some nice bottles of wine, toys, Chinese “peasant paintings,” tickets to the Cal Shakespeare Berkeley Repertory Theater and the San Francisco Asian Art Museum.

We owe special thanks to the sponsors who helped make this inaugural event possible:  Safebridge Consultants, Inc., Michael Chan DDS, William Chan DDS, Brian Yang DDS, MD and Tennis for Youth. Says Tennis for Youth founder and high school junior Vivian Li, who did the 10 K run: “I enjoyed every moment – the scenic walking trail on a perfect Sunday afternoon, great entertainment and refreshments, Not only did I have a wonderful time, but I was able to raise money to help the needy children in China.”

We also owe special thanks to our army of Bay Area volunteer s who helped make this event possible and who are already making plans to turn Step Up for China’s Children into an annual fall tradition not only in the Bay Area but other cities as well.  If you’d like to help organize next year’s Bay Area event or a Step Up event in your area, please email us.

Though change can never come fast enough for a child still waiting in a Chinese orphanage, it’s felt like we’ve been moving at warp speed since The Rainbow Program was launched on Children’s Day.

For a couple of hours in June, at the Great Hall of the People, we stood still to celebrate what promises to be a whole new chapter for orphan care in China. We caught our breath. We sang together. And then we dove right in. The tough part is just beginning.

After that lovely celebration came the hard work of determining, with our training partners at CCCWA, the very best course for reaching all of the thousands of caregivers and orphanage staff that make up China’s vast child welfare system. Now we have our action plan in hand and the exciting (and, okay, a little bit daunting) task of training every single child welfare worker in the country is underway.

This week, we are co-training 150 welfare workers in Jiangsu Province, the first of six 2011 trainings. Those 150 Jiangsu workers will go on to begin the process of training the staff in their home institutions. Between now and the end of the year, that story will be repeated in Henan, Zhejiang, Shanxi, Hubei and Guangdong provinces. This is just the first stage.

Early next year, there will be follow-up training for each of these provinces and initial trainings in Beijing, Shanghai, Hunan, Chongqing, Tianjin and Liaoning. Over the next five years, each province will receive two major trainings and begin sharing what they’ve learned at home.

We’re also working hard to prepare orphanage directors to assume full responsibility for their Half the Sky programs. This month we’re holding an orphanage directors’ workshop in Guilin and also starting a peer-support group for directors, so that well-prepared leadership will be in place when it comes time for the transition.

Of course, Half the Sky will be there as long as we are needed to provide ongoing guidance. And while we’re all still a little nervous about the financial support the institutions will need to pull this off and how the government funds will be allocated, we’re really pleased with the enthusiasm of orphanage directors for this new undertaking. Most of them are genuinely excited!

And even that’s just a small part of the story. After each Rainbow training, if funds allow, we’ll be stationing a senior Half the Sky trainer, who has years of experience working with the children in our programs, at the provincial training base so that newly trained caregivers will receive follow up guidance and support.

There’s more!

A while back, I told you about 1 Big Family – a global online community that will connect people who care about the kids in China with each other and with the kids and those who care for them in China. Our sister online community in China will be called Yi Jia Ren (one big family) and will offer learning tools, forums, advice, and a connection with you.

It’s complicated and we’re moving a little slower than we’d hoped but it’s happening. 1 Big Family will launch early next year. 1 Jia Ren will follow soon after.

When I’m working in China and I witness the miraculous changes happening in everyday life at the orphanages our work touches, I often think of the amazing community of supporters that makes it possible. I always wish there was a way to bring you into those rooms with me. To show you what we have done/can do together. Now, in a way, we’re going to make that happen.

Whether you’re part of an adoptive family, an adopted teen, have roots in China, or are simply interested in helping make sure that all children have a chance for a happy childhood, 1 Big Family promises to (virtually!) make you part of the lives of China’s once forgotten children.

Don’t want to wait for the launch next year? If you haven’t done so already, send me your e-mail address, and we’ll send you exclusive sneak-peeks as they become available later this year.

And while you’re at it, please send us your Bright Ideas– especially for 1 Big Family! We can’t promise that we’ll be able to realize everything you come up with, but we’ll take on as much as we can. We want everyone in our 1 Big Family to have a voice.

Here are some of our Bright Ideas, already in the works: 1 Big Family will have….

• The Lobby – A public place for sharing stories and photos, for asking questions, exploring resources, contributing ideas and engaging in discussions about life in China.
• Hometown Families – A password-protected place for adoptive families to ask questions of orphanage directors, meet families, learn about life in their child’s first home.
• My Hometown Friends – A password-protected place for adopted teens to meet other kids from the same province. A club with contests and games, chances to learn about life in your hometown, ways to give a hand to kids in China, and even participate in special adoptee-only summer volunteer programs.
• Clubs for volunteers and clubs for college students. Plenty of videos and photos and stories from China. And lots more to come!!

So this is our plan. This is the Rainbow over China we imagine.

We know it’s not enough to send toys and blankets to orphans. Sending money to China will not, in itself, change lives. But by providing the best we have to offer – proven training and skilled guidance – committed, well-prepared leaders – and a big, caring global community – we believe we can help to ensure that China’s orphans will never be forgotten again.

We find ourselves at a most extraordinary moment in time. If we (all of us together) make the most of it, we can make a real and lasting difference in millions of children’s lives. This Rainbow truly does have a pot of gold at its end.

With love and gratitude,

Jenny

By Wen Zhao, PhD, HTS Senior Professional Development Director

I met 25-year-old Liu Jian at a provincial training in Changsha, Hunan. Jian grew up in the institution, and then worked there as a caregiver, helping feed, change and bathe the young children.

Though she didn’t have a high school diploma, the institution sent Jian to the training so she could become a teacher‘s assistant at the Little Sisters preschool.

During the first few days of the training, Jian was so shy that she avoided eye contact. The few times she did speak, her face turned red. She was self-conscious about her lack of education as well. She asked me not to assign her writing assignments, describing herself as “not good at writing and not well educated.”

Day by day, however, I noticed Jian becoming more active participating in discussions within her group. I started to see a sparkle come into her eye. After she completed her training and returned to the institution, the staff told me that as a teacher’s assistant Jian was responsible, mature, and willing to listen to others. Her peers, who grew up with her at the institution, enjoyed listening to stories about the training.

Because Jian had become so much more positive and confident, I decided to promote her from teacher’s assistant to full-fledged teacher so that she could pass her wisdom on to her little sisters and brothers living in the institution.

When I told Jian about her promotion, she was quiet for a few seconds and then, looking me in the eye, said in a firm, courageous voice: “I will accept the challenge and I won’t give up. I want to help my little sisters and brothers lead a life better than I had when I was at their age. You can trust me.”

The first assignment I gave Jian was to write a reflection on what she had learned about the importance of training and about herself. It took Jian six hours to complete the six-page assignment – she made several drafts, and then for the final draft, copied every word using her best handwriting.

Five months after her promotion, I talked to Jian, who said she was enjoying every minute of her new job.

“The only concern I am having is my weaknesses in teaching writing,” she told me.

I assured her that her teaching skills would grow and improve over time and that her first effort was very moving: “You amaze me when I read your journal entries. You write with deep feeling, and you have a strong sense that you are part of a community that includes the children and your peers that especially touches my heart.”

When I asked Jian the biggest difference between her past experience at the institution and her present position, Jian said it came down to nurturing care.

“I used to take care of my little sisters and brothers only by feeding them, changing them and watching television with them day after day, which was a duty,” she said. “Now I listen to them and observe them in order to better engage them in learning and make the learning fun and happy. I find ways to promote their self confidence. And I enjoy doing all of this in a happy and a trusting environment.”