BIM-Huainan Students Perform

Editing down 22 minutes of video to about 2 minutes (click on the title to view the video) took several hours deciding on which singing groups, which scenes of children eating out of candy bags, which images of children enjoying a holiday party should be used. The more I looked and listened attempting to whittle off seconds of a scene, the more minute details of the Believe In Me education program I noticed. What do we all look at when we attend a school performance?

The students’ joy in performing songs learned, some accompanied by dance steps boosts their pride. A satisfied smile, a shy smile and sometimes a relieved smile for the appreciative applause. The back ground scene of students singing and clapping along even when they were not center stage demonstrates the enthusiastic chorus. The mischievous girl who rushed to pick up a tinsel garland that had fallen off one of the performers and started dancing around with it herself, causing fits of giggles among the children. All small details and many more but similar to the warm details we tend to notice in school performances.

The children in the Believe In Me programs are enjoying their special moments as all children should. Most importantly the children in Believe In Me have that special someone in the audience too that has come just to see them. And that is all the sponsors.

Thank you to each and every sponsor who has made these special moments possible.

Karin Cooper
Believe in Me Huainan Assistant Coordinator

Sports Day

The teachers and manager of Believe in Me Huainan, Anhui held a
“Sports Day” for the children of the program. At our daughters’ schools it would be similar to “Field Day”.

All of the children from the preschool classes, kindergarten-prep class, and the tutoring class participated and, from the pictures and video, everyone had great fun! Here is what our manager reports:

"The sport meeting this afternoon was very successful. The children were doing well and very active under teachers’ instruction. The classroom was filled with laughter. We all felt that since the school was set up, every child has changed a lot and made big progress everyday. These special-need children need more love and patient care. Teachers and aids have devoted so much to our kids. The achievement achieved is the result of the teachers’ persistent hard work. It is a great relief to see these brilliant faces of the children in the photos.

This sports meeting gave a great opportunity for them to learn to be part of a team. Both tug-of-war and parallel walking (three legged race) require close cooperation between kids. We taught the kids “Friendship First, Competition Second”. It is important for them to participate, and in the end every student got the prizes. We taught them to face victory and defeat with a calm mind, and believe that perseverance makes success!"



















Apparently the children enjoyed the tug-of-war activities the best and many also enjoyed jump rope. All of the children were given books and treats for participating. What a fun day for children anyway around the world!



Sandy Hartman, Karin Cooper, & Wendy Thacker
Believe in Me Huainan, Anhui Team

Honor Roll

Just like here in the US, grade cards come home at the end of a term. Three of the tutoring students at Believe in Me Huainan, Anhui received excellent marks! Zoe, Michelle, and Anna received 94 to100s in Chinese and two of the girls received the same scores in math. Personally, I find this an incredible testament to how children living in an institution can overcome significant obstacles. Following is a note on the three girls from our school manager:

"Twinkle, twinkle, little stars
Looking into the sky, a boy is wondering by the window
Moon in the sky
How far are you?
Twinkling stars
How can I count you all?
Floating clouds
How would you become rain?

Right now, Zoe is reading a poem entitled “I Want to be a Scientist”. With one hand supporting her chin, she is devoting all her attention to reading. She likes using her head and likes asking and answering questions.

Michelle is an outgoing girl and ready to smile. She likes all kinds of games and is good at telling interesting stories.

Anna is a very good girl. She is kind hearted. Once she was out with an Ayi on a bus, she saw an aged granny with a crutch trying to get on bus. Seeing this, Anna offered her seat to the granny.”

Zoe, Michelle, & Anna, GREAT JOB and KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! We are so proud of you.

Education is so important and, because of our wonderful sponsors and donors, the gift of education is deeply appreciated.

Sandy Hartman

Believe in Me Huainan, Anhui Coordinator

New Coats

Earlier this winter, LWB purchased coats for the students in the Believe in Me Huainan, Anhui program. Well, it seems like the coats arrived just in time and they are getting lots of use! I am sure the children are thankful to have a coat to help keep them warm on a cold winter’s day. Their smiles sure can warm your heart.

Thanks to the LWB education program sponsors and donors. As you can see, you are making the difference in the lives of these children.

Sandy
Believe in Me Huainan, Anhui Coordinator

Dedication (in heels, no less)

Everyone who follows our blog knows how much we love quality foster care. We absolutely love when a baby who has been lying in a crib most of the time is able to move into a family setting and get loved on all day. We are so excited by our newest program in Huainan, Anhui, because the orphanage staff agreed that we could move some tiny babies into foster care so that they can spend almost their entire time before adoption in a home environment.

Well, the contracts were signed, the families were selected, their health physicals were done, their homes were prepared, the babies were chosen, the day had arrived to meet their new mommas.....and WHAT'S THIS? A snowstorm? Oh my, oh my.

But did snow deter our great new moms and dads? Not one little bit. They showed up to meet their new children and pitched in to carry their new cribs home as well. We were particularly impressed with this photo of them moving a crib through the snow (in high heels.)

Now THAT'S dedication! We knew right then that these parents are excited about their new jobs as we are, and we can't wait to see the progress that each little baby makes in their new home.

New Foster Care Program Begins

Hi all,

I am so excited to share with all of you the opening of our brand new foster care program at the Huainan SWI in the Anhui province. Many of you may recognize the name of this orphanage as being the home to one of our Believe In Me schools. Since our earliest contact with this SWI, we have seen and felt the need for a nurturing foster care program to be in place here. A few months ago, at the urging of several LWB volunteers that were visiting the SWI, the director agreed to begin a program there.

We will be starting the program with 10 of the most adorable little ones you have ever seen! We have 8 girls and 2 boys ... all born in 2007 ... that will be entering foster care sometime this week. They will be placed with foster families that are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to hold and love them. Most of you know how important the role of foster care is in a child's life. This will greatly improve their physical and emotional lives and give them a better opportunity to find their forever families through adoption.

Please look at these beautiful faces and feel free to pass on the news that these little ones are ready to be moved into foster homes. We will be double sponsoring each baby so that we can completely fund their foster care and pay for a local foster care manager to monthly spend quality time with each family. The sponsorships are $35 per month or $70 for a double sponsorship. With your sponsorship, you will receive updated photos each month and an updated development report every other month. Most of all, you will know that your loving contribution is making a HUGE difference in this baby's life.

Because of the website difficulties, potential sponsors may contact our foster care program to get the information to begin their sponsorship. Please email foster@lwbmail.com if you are interested in sponsoring one of these beautiful babies.


Thank you,

Margie Creel
Huainan Foster Care Coordinator
Love Without Boundaries
"Every Child Counts"

New Coats

As it has gotten colder here in the US, it has also gotten colder in Anhui, China. Just in time for the changing weather, every child participating in BIM III are sporting brand new coats to keep them warm. As you can see from the smiles, I think they like them!

Thank you education sponsors for keeping these children comfortable so they can experience the gift of learning. You make it possible!

Sandy Hartman
Believe in Me III Coordinator
Love Without Boundaries
“Every Child Counts”
http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/

Believe in Me III

Believe In Me III is Love Without Boundaries newest school in Anhui Province. BIM III has several classes including tutoring classes for orphans that attend public school, as well as Kindergarten-Prep for those students who will attend public kindergarten next fall. Two LWB volunteers visited this new school just last week. They were delighted with the students willingness to learn! Here’s what Sandy Hartman, Coordinator for the school has had to say:

“We have visited the programs and there is so much to report. First, we met a tutoring class. Those wonderful students are so excited to participate in tutoring. They literally run to class, throw down their book bags, pull out their pencil boxes, and get ready to study. It was so much fun to see the pure joy on their faces and their eagerness to study.

After visiting with the older tutored students, we joined the Kindergarten-Prep class. Like the older kids, these children clearly enjoyed participating in the class. They were very proud to recite some traditional Chinese poems and songs to us with lots of energy and spirit. Today the children were learning different pinyin and they were thrilled to display what they knew!

The Believe in Me III pre-school class was also amazingly enthusiastic. This morning we arrived during exercises and I think the youngest children were even louder than the kindergarten-prep children! They were so proud to demonstrate their exercises. The older children were also thrilled to display their drawings.

Our school monitor tells us that the children have changed so much since starting the programs. She said they cannot wait to arrive at school. These programs are definitely making a measured and positive difference in their lives! Thank you to every person who has supported this school with good thoughts and the funds to make it happen.”

Sandy Hartman, Coordinator for BIM III