Friday, November 04, 2005
Lanzhou - SWI - needs
Madam De then took me to another building where I saw something I have never seen in any orphanage in China - a computer lab! There were 20 workstations, which were donations made from a local raffle. When I entered, there were 2 special needs older children playing learning games at the terminals.
Madam De led us to her office, on the way explaining that the orphanage was being refurbished, and that the elderly residents of the SWI were being relocated to a nearby facility, and that this location was to be used exclusively for children. She mentioned that the needs here were great for basic equipment for a growing orphan population.
As we were outside, she pointed to the location where there would be a large library (apparently they had a few books), and where there was a rehabilitation exercise room. I did not visit these rooms.
She showed us around the kitchen and cafeteria rooms, which were very nice and clean. She mentioned that the government provision for every child was clearly not enough to provide for all the basic needs of the children.When we were in her office, I asked her about the basic needs requested for the orphanage. She mentioned that there was a need for a refrigerator (which costs around 1500RMB), and washing machines. She mentioned that several small washing machines were needed, but that if the donation was large enough, a large industrial sized washer would cover the needs for the entire orphanage. Small washers cost around (1,000 RMB - around $130), but a large industrial washer costs 15,000 RMB ($1,875).
She also mentioned that there was a need for Airconditioning units, which are used for heating as well as cooling, which cost around 2,000 to 3,000 RMB ($250 to $375).
She mentioned that the library could use more books, and requested that the books be informative, telling about the outside world, and be educational, rather than just storybooks.
She also mentioned that there were needs for more TVs and DVDs.
We also told her that we represented an organization - Love Without Boundaries, that provided for surgeries for special needs children. Madam De was going to provide a list for Mr. Huo so we could pass this information along to Love Without Boundaries.
She thanked us profusely for our visit, for in a very short time we became welcome friends. I again told her that I hoped that we could do more in the future for the Lanzhou orphanage children.
FYI - I wanted to post the one-sheet description I was given for the Lanzhou SWI:
Here's the English translation:
A Brief Introduction of
Lanzhou Disabled Children Recuperation Center
Lanzhou Social Welfare Institute
Founded in 1950 and located at 336 Baliyao Street, Qi-Li-He District of Lanzhou, Lanzhou Social Welfare Institute serves as a haven for abandoned children and orphans who “have nobody to rely on, have no incomes and are homeless”. Assisted by United Nations Children’s Foundation, approved by the city authority, Lanzhou Disabled Children Recuperation Center was established in 1987. The two organizations actually are operated by the same staff. With 263 children living on the campus and 94 staff working there, the location occupies 7800 square meters with 6346 square meters under roof. It has a capacity of 100 beds for orphans and 40 beds for recuperation. Its major business includes recuperation, education and infant caring.
Last a few years, LSWI focuses on basic facility construction to promote the ability to support recuperate and educate disabled children. The construction job done includes, a new well, a kid’s playground, a multimedia classroom and a library. New equipment bought includes an X-ray machine, an electroencephalogram machine, a ultrasonic B machine and some specific recuperation equipments. LSWI paid equal attention to pre-K and standard education as well as special needs of the children. For nutrition and caring, following the guidance of the government regulation, LSWI divides the children in to groups based on their age and type of disability, puts them into different rooms. The current living standard is RMB 250 Yuan/month/child. The campaign of “Letting kids merge into families and society” started in 2004, up to now; over 60 children have found foster homes. 26 disabled orphans have gotten the chance of surgical operations as the benefit of implementation of “Tomorrow Plan”. Supported by the government, a new site called Datan Children Welfare Institute now is under construction, upon finish, the living standard of the disabled orphans will be much better.
LSWI was awarded by the central government as Advanced Institute in three areas of disabled recuperation. It also dubbed as The First Class welfare Institute by the provincial government of Gansu. It also awarded many times by the local government in various areas.
Lanzhou Disabled Children Recuperation Center
Lanzhou Social Welfare Institute
Founded in 1950 and located at 336 Baliyao Street, Qi-Li-He District of Lanzhou, Lanzhou Social Welfare Institute serves as a haven for abandoned children and orphans who “have nobody to rely on, have no incomes and are homeless”. Assisted by United Nations Children’s Foundation, approved by the city authority, Lanzhou Disabled Children Recuperation Center was established in 1987. The two organizations actually are operated by the same staff. With 263 children living on the campus and 94 staff working there, the location occupies 7800 square meters with 6346 square meters under roof. It has a capacity of 100 beds for orphans and 40 beds for recuperation. Its major business includes recuperation, education and infant caring.
Last a few years, LSWI focuses on basic facility construction to promote the ability to support recuperate and educate disabled children. The construction job done includes, a new well, a kid’s playground, a multimedia classroom and a library. New equipment bought includes an X-ray machine, an electroencephalogram machine, a ultrasonic B machine and some specific recuperation equipments. LSWI paid equal attention to pre-K and standard education as well as special needs of the children. For nutrition and caring, following the guidance of the government regulation, LSWI divides the children in to groups based on their age and type of disability, puts them into different rooms. The current living standard is RMB 250 Yuan/month/child. The campaign of “Letting kids merge into families and society” started in 2004, up to now; over 60 children have found foster homes. 26 disabled orphans have gotten the chance of surgical operations as the benefit of implementation of “Tomorrow Plan”. Supported by the government, a new site called Datan Children Welfare Institute now is under construction, upon finish, the living standard of the disabled orphans will be much better.
LSWI was awarded by the central government as Advanced Institute in three areas of disabled recuperation. It also dubbed as The First Class welfare Institute by the provincial government of Gansu. It also awarded many times by the local government in various areas.
# posted by PoH_to_China_2005 @ 2:53 AM 
