Humanitarian Aid in China - National Orphanage Programs

WHFC works closely with the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) to identify new national and local humanitarian aid projects in China. CCAA has recently expanded their work with the addition of a Child Raising Department. This group is responsible for ensuring that the needs of children in orphanages are being met through local child welfare programs and international humanitarian aid endeavors. Currently, WHFC is helping to fund two ongoing national projects in conjunction with CCAA: orphanage caretaker trainings and the Tomorrow Plan.

Orphanage Caretaker Training

CCAA, in partnership with the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China, has instituted a Social Welfare Institute Staff Training Program to build capacity for caretakers in orphanages throughout China. This training program was instituted in 2006 to address the staffing shortages and professional skills limitations that are pervasive problems in China's orphanages. WHFC is currently funding the Nutritionist Training. This training lasts for 13 days and provides 50 orphanage caretakers with knowledge and skills focused on children's nutritional needs and how to provide the orphans in their care with a well-balanced diet.

Other trainings that are provided through this program include a Director Training, Trainings on Post-Operational Rehabilitation for Children with Special Needs, Psychologist Training, and a general Caretaker Training.

 

The Tomorrow Plan

In May of 2005, CCAA implemented their Tomorrow Plan. The goal of the project was to provide 30,000 orthopedic surgeries and rehabilitation treatments for severely handicapped and deformed orphans over three years.

WHFC has been a leading donor to this effort, having contributed almost $100,000 to date. The Tomorrow Plan has already reached its goal for surgeries, and is now focusing their efforts on rehabilitative services for these children.