After months of preparation, our week in China for the 2016 Connect for Kids program flew by all too fast. We had an amazing time with the twelve children entrusted to our group for the week, and we were fortunate to have a stellar bunch of U.S. volunteers who gave their all to laying the foundation for some powerful advocacy work we’re kicking off this month.
There was never a dull moment during our time together—from dumpling-making (and eating!) in the cafeteria to a trip to the beautiful Hangzhou zoo (where the giraffe wanted to get to know us better), we had a blast getting to know this group of delightful children. Whether it was a scavenger hunt on the orphanage grounds or time spent on craft activities, our week was full of diverse settings that opened new windows to learning about the many abilities and personalities of these twelve boys and girls.
Making tasty dumplings!
A key component of our advocacy work is built on the daily journaling and notes from our volunteers. With the help of our trusty team of interpreters, we built up a rapport with these youngsters, all of whom are eligible for international adoption and in need of families. Firsthand notes and observations coupled with photos and video will go a long way to helping prospective parents see the child behind his or her paperwork.
One of our volunteers shared “Connect for Kids was an amazing experience…truly life-changing. I would do it again in a heartbeat… The kids are so much more than what is on their referrals. I am very excited to be able to share this knowledge with prospective families and hopefully help these kids to find their forever homes.”
Stay tuned for blog posts on the children we met and watch our recorded webinar to hear from volunteers about each child who took part in our 2016 Connect for Kids!
Watch the recorded webinar to hear from volunteers who met children during Connect for Kids
