Our 'Centre of Excellence'

Earlier this year, Martijn Roessingh and Paul Klaassen, volunteers from the Dutch charity, Wereldkinderen (WK), visited Xining Children's Rehabilitation Centre and said they felt it was a 'Centre of Excellence' in China! After sponsoring our foster care programme for nine years, they have begun financing our Community Programme. Eleven-year-old Kai is one little boy whose progress is a living testimony to the need - and the result - of having a Community Programme.

For children like Kai, who have disabilities, access to education and therapy in Qinghai is very limited.  Without therapy and education, disabled children seldom reach their potential.  There’s very little government support, so it’s even less likely that poorer families will get the help their children need. Through Christian Action’s Community Programme poor children can now go to school and have therapy at Xining Children’s Rehabilition Centre.

Kai's family had become increasingly concerned when he didn't reach developmental goals normal for his age. When he was three, they finally discovered he had Down’s syndrome. Kai's Mom told us, "Contrary to the prevailing culture, my parents-in-law accepted Kai’s condition immediately. They all embraced him and I was never blamed for having a disabled child. Kai is a gift from God, we would never abandon him!"

Kai has received the benefit of our subsidies programme, and it has been a joy to see his progress since he started school. He has learnt the basic life skills of looking after himself and life is now far less stressful for his parents.  They are excited because he is also learning to read and write - something they thought he could never do!

The Community Care Programme includes seminars and parent-community support groups. Now families with disabled children can relate to one another in a safe environment. Social workers coordinate the program and offer advice and encouragement as needed.

Wereldkinderen finances twenty families in the programme. Christian Action, the children, and their families are truly blessed! Thank you Wereldkinderen!

PS. You can watch last Saturday night’s ATV clip in Chinese, here!