As we reflect on the past year at Open Arms Children’s Foundation, there is much we have to be thankful for. I am including excerpts from a report from our Half the Sky project in Yibin in this newsletter. I hope that as you read about the real progress of one child, J. that you will be encouraged about your support of the Foundation. Please note that in order to protect the child’s privacy we have not shared his name or pictures.

We look forward to your support for our fifth silent and live auction to be held on Saturday April 12 at the St. Lawrence Hall in downtown Toronto. Check out the events section of this web site for all the details. Please consider how you can help. In the lead-up to this exciting event, we welcome your donations, both large and small.

Yibin SWI – Infant Nurture Program Update 9^th January 2008

There are nine nannies and twenty-five children in the Infant Nurture Program in the Yibin Social Welfare Institution. Most nannies look after three children but some of the nannies look after only two children; six of our Yibin children have severe cerebral palsy and need extra nanny care.

The nannies have a close relationship to the children under their care. Each nanny understands the needs of her children’s developmental age. The nine nannies in our program have been working as nannies since the program started, in March 2006. Thus, as the program has been running for almost two years, the nannies are experienced and are good at providing “responsive care” (the leading concept of our HTS training) where the child leads and the nanny follows.

In the Infant Nurture Room there are children of all ages. The nannies often take the smaller babies where they look after them with tender care. As busy as the nannies are they manage to find time to hold the babies on their laps when feeding them their milk bottles.

There are around ten toddlers in the program that have learned to play in a group. In the centre of the Infant Nurture Room the toddlers stay together; they chase the ball, build a tower with the building blocks, push the toy carts or enjoy looking at picture books.

One afternoon we visited the children all sitting around their own nannies, participating in name-calling games. Some older children were able to point at themselves when their names were called.

Child J.

During these past three months J. has developed a strong interest in drawing and handiwork and his ability has greatly improved. When he draws he has his own idea for the picture and he likes to draw in his own way. When he has some trouble with other children he can also listen to the teacher and calm down quickly. Under guidance from the teacher he can also share with other children now.

J. very much likes the tools for making handicrafts. He will carry them though he may not need them at the moment. For example, he will carry scissors and glue, checking everywhere like a worker. He is even more interested in Play Doh and needlework. He can play with them for a really long time.

These days J. has made huge progress in drawing. He not only dares to draw but also he can draw in more ways than before both alone and with other children.

If he has a conflict with other children while playing, he won’t keep fighting as before. After being talked to, he is willing to accept reason and share the toy or take turns with the other children. He can quickly calm down.

J. has made so much progress in these three months. We will continue to help him express himself in the activities and help him to be more interested in studying.