Sunday, December 30, 2012

Thank you for 2012........

2012 has been a year of great Teamwork and great Achievements!

And as the year draws to a close, we reflect on the wonderful things that we have been able to achieve together............

...and the wonderful people, events that have enabled us to do all of this.

So many people have done so many things
Little & Large
which have made our work possible!

Firstly, our Hope4China'sChildrenTeam in China
Matthew, Lucy and Helen




partnering with  Xiao Xiao and the Team at Grace and Hope for Children to help orphans.


These are the amazing people who do the work day by day throughout the year.



Hundreds of faithful sponsors by their regular giving month by month
make it all possible......

 .........for us to support  around 68 children in Foster care thro Grace and Hope for Children,



.........help around 400 girls in Education in our Guangxi Girls Education Programme


.........help orphans and several families in the community with children with special needs
by providing therapy, equipment and support.


And to meet extra needs as they arise for any of our children -
either medical help,
furniture for a desperate family,
warm clothes,
music for a blind girl..................








To make this possible friends of Hope4China have :-


Run an incredible series of marathons in the Sahara Desert!
Mia Batty in Marathon des Sables, Morocco.


Children have asked that their Birthday Gifts go to help children in China......





........made cards, sold plants, run stalls







               Ruby Wedding where guests were invited to donate to Hope4China instead of giving gifts



So many Schools where pupils have worked together to raise funds to make a difference for children in China

Buckhaven High School
Canmore Primary School
Mary Russell School
Portree Primary School
Strathaven Academy
Auchmuty High School
Queen Anne High School
Commercial Primary School


We are so proud of them all !!!!

and some of my favourite donors......
The Hope4China Hens!


who lay eggs each week, and the money from the Sales goes to help our children!!!!!!!


Sponsors have run Fairs, Stalls at so many events selling goods for Hope4China



and many faithful friends who share our work on Facebook

and respond to requests for help for individuals in need.

We also have made connections with 
The Woman's Rural Institute.
Henley Business School EBusiness Alumni Group
who are supporting our work.



We are indebted to individuals and organisations, named and anonymous, 
who have helped fund our salaries, office costs, etc in China

Prentice Events
Rotary, Dunfermline
Community Roots, China.
 Two Hearts China


And I haven't even begun to mention the great team of people here who work behind the scenes every day to do the accounts, send the reports, share the news and photos, communicate with sponsors....
but you KNOW who you are!

Without you ALL, 
this work could not be done....
these lives would not be changed.......

We are OVERWHELMED  by your support and kindness 
and we look forward to working and sharing with you all in 2013.

Happy New Year!

With all best wishes for Love, Joy and Happiness in 2013!!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Warmth and Love in Action in Da Mo!


It is always an awesome journey down that road to Da Mo.....
..........but always worth it for the wonderful welcome waiting below!
EMA Eagle Mount Adventures ( Claire and John from the UK, living in Nanning)
come each year to share the Christmas story
The kids LOVE them
and it is so fantastic that they share the story with the kids in Chinese.
There is such an air of joy, happiness and excitement when they are there....
...and all so eager to help!

Santa has arrived!

                                                        As the girls carry all the gifts in..........
                                                            ...the boys  watch :-))))))))

                                         Bubbles never fail to make children smile:-)
                                                              Someone needs to be warm?
                                        So many have no warm jackets, no proper shoes............

This lady has SIX children!
Five girls.....
....and then a BOY!
Her other daughter is 16 and married!!!!!!

This is very common for the Da Mo girls and why we are so proud of the first ever girls to get to High School, thanks to their sponsors in Guangxi Girls and the support our staff have been able to give to them thro their hard times!


                                                                         Bubbles & Balloons
                                                             Some Christmas Songs
                                                         And the telling of the Christmas Story
                                                           Precious words for little ears
                                              And Hats to keep precious ears warm!

                                 Jackets, Hats & Scarves from Shanghai, Community Roots, China
                                                                      Gift Bags made by
                                              Lots and lots of goodies to share for everyone!
                                                       Our Middle School girls collecting their goodies!
                                 Helen handing out Christmas cards to the girls from their Sponsors!
                              While conditions have been improving slightly in Da Mo over the years......
..there are still too many families living in these wooden houses which are so unsafe, 
and provide little protection in the cold weather
And it looks like we have some new Da Molla to add to our collection.
The women of this village make these Miao costumes by hand to sell to try and improve their living conditions. We sell for them £25 /$40 and all of the proceeds go back to help the women!
You can contact us at linda@hope4china.com if you would like to buy a doll and help support Da Mo families
         Ending with some cheery shouts from the Da Mo Children!
Happy Christmas!
And Thank You for helping us to be a little bit warmer!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Warm Winter 2012

It is cold here in Scotland!
It is getting colder in Guangxi...and for many of our girls living in poor homes, some with no proper walls, most with no proper heating...it is not an easy time.

Our Warm Winter Missions were inspired by a letter written to Matthew by one of the girls...
She cried........
...because her hands and feet were so cold and she had nothing to help heat them up.

We set out to raise funds to buy each girl a warm quilt, jacket, gloves, shoes and a hot water bottle! 
Major exercise began and like a Military Operation, Santa Matthew and his team travelled to each area of Guangxi in our Programme to deliver the "warmth"


                                                   This year we hope to do the same.

 Community Roots China have done the wonderful job of preparing the Gift Bags- a huge and wonderful operation in Shanghai!


                                        with the very cute Bags made by Home Sweet Home

We have mobilised to raise the funds to get them to the girls! 
Along with a Christmas card from each of their sponsors

                                              WHAT A TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
                  Thank you SO much to everyone who has donated to help make this possible.


                                The first photos are coming in of Santa Matthew's visit to Yizhou


                                                                            Desheng
                                                                          and Rongshui

                                                                   

He will get to a very special place on December 25th!
Watch this space for more.........


                                   Thank you for helping to make this world a little bit warmer :-)

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Everyone needs to feel Special and that's what Guangxi Girls is all about :-)

This was a Special Day
inspired by a very sad day!



A girl who felt so alone........

It was our job to do something about that..and to try and make a difference!

Life is so short!
Sometimes it is over before we get that chance to make a difference..............


A Team jumped into gear when we heard that a Birthday was coming  and this precious one wanted her new friends to come celebrate with her.

Before knew it, Our Guangxi Girls staff had arranged to visit, donors had given so that we might cover this, buy gifts and help her to celebrate.........
When the team arrived in Desheng to meet her, she was waiting along with her uncle and children from her village. 
She was so excited about it that she had not slept for nights........


She had drawn some pictures to share her love and thanks with us.

When we knew the visit would take place, 
I asked Lucy to call her and ask what she would really, really like?
                             She wondered if it was possible to get a great Big teddy Beat to hug?

                                                 Well, of course it was possible :-)

So Matthew  travelled all the way from Nanning with this huge big Teddy Bear
 to wish her happy Birthday from all of us!



My class at Buckhaven High School wanted to send some joy, 
so they donated for a Birthday cake & sent a Birthday card


                         She went shopping to buy a new warm winter jacket in downtown Desheng

and we were also able to get her a much longed for bike 
to be able to cycle to school like her other friends.....


And so here she was with messages from around the world in

Scotland, Spain, Finland, USA- 

.......all friends wishing her a Happy Birthday
reminding her that she is Special :-)






( More gifts on the way from families.......some didn't arrive in time for this visit! Thanks all who sent!)


It was precious to hear so many sing happy Birthday to her in Chinese and English






                            and poignant as she bowed her head in silence to make a wish......................................

The Silence was soon broken by a huge load of silliness- instigated by our very own & crazy Lucy!"



                                             Guess where that cake is going to end up?





Precious Picture!

We had intended to take her out for dinner, 
but her uncle insisted that they all came to his home, where a chicken was cooked in their honour!

Pile in!!!!!

                                                               Welcome to our Home
                                                              Preparations for dinner.........





                                              Rice and a chicken cooked in honour of the visitors!






                                                 A Hurl with her "adopted" BaBa

A Hug with her Special Teddy from friends around the world

                          And a wonderful Picture to remind her just how beautiful and precious she is!


Guangxi Girls exists to help girls 
who otherwise would struggle, 
to go to and remain at school and in further education.
But in partnership with our Fantastic Staff in China
and our wonderful Hope4China Friends and Sponsors
We can do so much more!!!!!!!

If anyone would like to help us support a girl at school, 
email linda@hope4china.com 

                                                         Happy Birthday to our Guangxi Girl!!!!!
                                                                     Love from Hope4China!