Creating a New Neighborhood at NanChang SWI

We’ve been working with the NanChang SWI, Holt International and Childhood Friends on an exciting new project!  Holt, together with the orphanage, which is providing the space and the construction of the building, has overseen the planning of a group home complex and will cooperate in managing it.  The apartment building will house 36 slightly older orphanage children and youth (below), overseen by 6 house-parent couples in 6 apartment homes.  The home is on orphanage property, but will give these young residents a much more natural and healthy home-like atmosphere.   

We believe strongly in this project.  This gives us yet another way to create a neighborhood atmosphere on the orphanage grounds.  With your help, we’ve  raised a good share of the necessary funds to furnish the apartments.  Additional furnishings and household supplies will be needed as time goes along and we need to provide ongoing sponsorships (i.e. – basic living expenses) for the children who will join their new families there.  

Contributions to the Group Home Complex are welcome in any amount.  You can sponsor a child to cover basic living expenses  for US $420 annually per child.

Update 4/28/05:

Thank you, thank you!  So far, we've received funding and Holt International has purchased the following:

6 solar water heating systems @ $484 each (US $2906)

6 dish sterilizers (US $450)

6 refrigerators (US $1800)

6 sets of dinnerware and cookware (US $300)

Lisle Veach, of Holt International reports...

"The kids are starting the process of moving in and Jian says they're so excited that they're about to jump out of their skins.  Some of them grabbed our CEO by the arm and towed him around all over to show off their bedrooms to him.  I heard some of the kids got to decide the colors to paint the apartment rooms themselves.  (One kitchen is now apparently a fiery flourescent orange.) 

More information and photos will be posted to this page, as the project progresses.

At least 300 couples applied for the six house parent positions.  Initial screening narrowed down the applicants to fifteen couples, who then attended a seminar (below).  The focus of the seminar was on the needs of children who have been institutionalized and issues surrounding the parenting of older children and youth.  Further screening narrowed down the search to six couples, who each became house parents to the six children in each group, forming a family.

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