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tures/Infant nurture programs in 27 institutions. My how we have grown! About3100 children in these 27 Half the Skyinfant programs have daily interaction withtheir sisters, brothers, mothers and aunts.Janice Cotton and daughter KathrynBABY SISTERS NEWSBy Janice N. CottonInfant Nurture Program Director, Half the SkyI have just finished visiting with the nanniesand children on a cool fall day at the HefeiSocial Welfare Institution. It is dusk and I amstanding outside the infant building watching people of all ages come and go. Olderpeople who live in the institution are takingan evening stroll. Some are sitting in chairstalking with each other or playing a card game.School age children are laughingand playing on the playgroundbuilt by Half the Sky. Others aretalking as they hurry down thesidewalk to their dormitory. Institution personnel are scurryingfrom building to building becausetoday is a very important day.One of their own, a young orphanwho grew up to be a doctor, ishaving a wedding celebrationin the institution that evening. Irealize that what I am seeing ismuch like what I would see in acommunity in the United States.People are going about their everyday lives filled with pleasurable social moments and work,with a special occasion thrown inhere and there to celebrate landmarks in life’s passage. The residents in Hefei are in a sense a family.The children and nannies in each of ourBaby Sisters Infant Nurture Programs arein a sense a family too. We hope that eachwill go to a permanent home through adoption, but for a time, they are in a family-likestructure because of our program. Theyhave a caring and loving “mother” whois their nanny, a “sister” or “brother” whosnatches their toys and laughs with them ata nanny’s silly, but fun game, and “aunts”who know their names and care about them.By April 2006 we will have family struc- During the past year I have been Infantnurture program Director we have takenbeginning steps to create a family amongthe nanny supervisors at each of our InfantNurture Programs. In the spring 2005 newsletter I reported that we were hiring andtraining nanny supervisors for each institution. In April 2005 these women jumpedinto their jobs with enthusiasm and a strongcommitment to do whatever they can toimprove the skills of the nannies and thelives of the children. They are leading thenannies by coaching them on appropriatepractices and praising exemplary practices.They are eager to grow professionally sothey can further enhance their knowledgeand skills and transfer them to the nannies.The 489 nannies in these 27 programs areeager to learn of new and better ways theycan nurture children’s development. Wesupport their growth by sending them professional material that can be used in theirprograms. Our family of nannies will behaving a reunion in June to exchange ideas,learn from each other, and enjoy each other’scompany. There will be lots of conversationand opportunities for them to learn fromeach other and from other professionals.What a dedicated and committed group ofwomen we have working in our institutions!Two field supervisors and I work with ournanny supervisor family continuously to helpmonitor the quality of our programs. Chinabased Li Daoxin and Jeronia Muntaner visitour programs often. We use a standard visitation form to assess program criteria we knoware essential for a successful program. Thesecriteria are grouped into broad categories.For example, some of the criteria assess thenanny’s work with her children. Others look athow the environment is set up and maintainedto support development. We recognize andpraise the institution personnel when we consistently see essential practices in their workand offer suggestions on how to strengthenpractices that could use improvement. Wewant each of our programs to provide thebest care and education possible for the 3100children who are now our privilege to serve.This year, we will continue to strengthen thefamily ties in the institutions and among theinstitutions. Each nanny supervisor will soonhave a computer so she can easily communicate with other nanny supervisors and with Half the Sky’sstaff. This will allow greatersharing of best practices and enable them to assist each other insolving problems they encounter.At last year’s nanny supervisorconference we talked a greatdeal about what we would likethe Infant Nurture Programto look like in 10 years. Webrainstormed and after muchdiscussion and writing we cameup with this vision statement:We will have high quality programs across the country staffedwith loving, committed, andknowledgeable nannies who helpall children grow in every area ofdevelopment. Every child willknow they are loved and havegreater opportunities because ofparticipation in the Infant nurture program.We are making progress in reaching thisvision and will continue to support ourfamilies in this effort. You’ll learn moreabout our growing family on the next page,which includes encouraging reports aboutfour Baby Sisters in Lianyungang and excerpts from our nanny supervisors’ recentreports. The reports will help you understandhow hard our family of nannies is workingto give loving care to the babies and howgratified they are by the babies’ progress.

Progress Reports from LianyungangJiXiang has learned to recognize me. He smiles when he seesme. He likes me to massage hisbody. I put a toy in his handand he can play for a while.JiXiang’s physical condition isnot very good and he catchesillnesses easily. So I help himdo appropriate exercise, suchas lying on his stomach, turning over, and sitting. Now, hecan raise his head high fora long time when lying on histummy. He laughs when I playwith him.Helping New BabiesFeel The Loveof This World.Chenzhou nanny supervisor ZhouDan included this powerful mandate for Halfthe Sky nannies in her recent report: Help newbabies feel the love of this world with yourhands, your eyes, and your voice.Excerpts from other nanny supervisorreports:LianyungangXinMei suffers from serious cerebralpalsy so her limbs were stiff and hermuscles were tight. I stayed with her,I talked to her, massaged all parts ofher body, and patted her stiff limbsgently. After a period of time, shebegan to respond. Now as long as Italk to her and massage her at thesame time, she will smile happily. IfI stop massaging her and talking toher she will cry loudly. She likes meto massage her frequently and alwaysstay with her.ChunNiu can distinguish dozens ofchildren’s name. Every time I say achild’s name, she will run to the childand point to her. She is happiest whenthere is an extra snack. I give hercookies, and she passes them one byone to the other children. She canimitate the gestures of some animals;she puts her hands on the two sidesof her mouth and imitates a kitten’smeows. Whenever a child is unhappy,she will give the child toys and touchher head, just like what adults do.Nannies spend some time each day staying with the children hugging and touchingthem. They talk to the babies for at least 30minutes every day. Nannies understand whatthe children’s crying means and try to satisfytheir needs. The children are very interestedin looking at the nannies’ faces.LuoyangNannies often talk with and touch babies.Nannies call the babies’ names again andagain. Nannies show the babies colorful toys.Nannies place the babies on their stomachs tostrengthen their necks. Nannies distinguishamong the different cries of babies and handlethem by feeding them, touching with tenderness, soothing the babies, letting them expresstheir sadness, hugging them, and giving themwater.HefeiWe talk to children as much as possible,even newborn babies. When talking to children, we talk with a soft voice and in shortsentences. We speak slowly. We tell storiesto elder children and sing songs for youngerbabies. We take children to the open air and tellthem about nature. The children get a beautifuleducation by learning language. Nannies talkto children when feeding them. When childrentry to speak, nannies immediately give themencouragement and praise.ChenXing has learned to stand, sit andeven walk on his own though he cannotyet walk steadily. He is still not willingto speak much, but when he sees thereis some delicious food or snacks in hisnanny’s hands, he will say “mom” andthe pronunciation is quite clear.GaoyouWe hold meetings to emphasize the importance of language. We ask nannies to talk oftenwith children during activities. They shouldtell the children what they are doing and thecolor and shape of toys they are using. Theyshould encourage children when they makeprogress. Nannies sing songs for the childrenand play music. Nannies say hello to the children and say goodbye when leaving.

Family Life At The Gaoyou Foster VillageYou Kuo, 7. Zhang ChunXiang & Wang QiZhong’s oldest son:When Half the Sky began its work providingnurturing care to children in Chinese institutions we always shared photos of the children,nannies, and preschool teachers at our centers.But we never dreamed that one day we wouldbe showing you these wonderful familyphotos. We didn’t foresee the day that lovingChinese parents would make a commitmentto take care of institutionalized children withspecial needs for their entire childhoods.Yet here are the heartwarming family photosand reports from our Gaoyou Foster VillageProject. You see parents waving good-bye totheir children at school and joyously reuniting with them at the end of the day. You seeparents and their children happily playinghide and seek and the goofy eagle and chickengame, and hear about parents lovingly enticing their ailing daughter to eat.This year we are adding four more permanent foster villages for orphaned childrenwith special needs, in Shenzhen, Nanning,and Guangzhou. Three more places whereinstitutionalized children will experience thelove our Foster Project Local Supervisor LiFengZhan found among 6 families and 24children in Gaoyou:“Please take a seat, Mom, and have some rest.”After living in this family for ninemonths, You Kuo has fallen deeplyin love with the whole family and hedoes his best to take good care ofhis parents and younger sisters andbrothers. You Kuo is very sensible,and is very considerate of his family. He always remembers to turn offthe light and shut off the tap to savewater and electricity.This SeptemberYou Kuo was oldenough to go toschool. He wentto Pei Lei kindergarten for preschool classes. Hisparents go to thekindergarten topick him up everyday. You Kuo wasconcerned that hisparents were tootired. He alwaysbrings his mothera chair after theyget home.One day he said to his mom:“Every day you have to go to my kindergarten to pick me up after workingfor a whole day. You must be tired.Please take a seat, Mom, and have somerest.”His mom was so touched by his wordsthat she hugged him tightly and said:“My son is growing up and has become aconsiderate child.”Hide & SeekFamily birthday“The parents from the six families havealready cultivated a deep love for their children,” she writes, “which is not weakenedby their children’s physical defects. On thecontrary, they show more concern for thesechildren. The parents have designed specialdiet plans for the children. They play various games to cultivate their interests. Thesechildren are growing healthily and happily infamilies that are full of care and love.”The Chicken & Eagle Game

Yang WanZhu, 3, daughter ofWei LiHua & Li JianQin:“Our daughter has made hugeprogress and she is very lovely.”Yang WanZhu has been diagnosedwith brain development delay and infantile autism. When she entered thefamily last September Yang WanZhuwas very thin. She only weighed 8kg, was very introverted, and didn’thave any facial expression. She didn’twant to communicate with anyone andshe did not respond to others. Shealways sat in the corner, facing thewall, half lifting her arms in the airwith two hands held in fists and keptsilent for a long time. She had teeth,but wasn’t able to chew. She couldonly swallow fluids or sweet paste.She would not touch salty food orfood with a lot of fiber.WanZhu’s parents were very worriedabout her, and used every possiblemeans to entice her to eat more.When it was meal time, they wouldtake little WanZhu to the table andshow her a full table with a deliciousmeal and let her smell the flavors.Every day they held her in their armswhen she was sleeping and touchedher tenderly.Trying to sit still for Family PortraitsThe family bicycleShopping with MomAfter one month of attentive care,WanZhu started eating a few vegetables and bit of nutritious soup.WanZhu’s parents now believe thatlove changes everything.Now she even eats some soft snacks.She always ask for snacks from herelder sisters, and toys from otherchildren in the preschool. When shesees her mom and dad she opens upher arms and asks to be held.Push me!Teacher visiting children at homeWanZhu’s weight has also gone upfrom 8 kg to 10 kg. WanZhu’s parentsare very happy when people mentionher improvement and they will say:“Our daughter has made huge progress and she is very lovely.”Saying good-bye in the morning.And the joyous reunion at day’s endIf seeing these happy families warms your heart as much as it does ours.why not consider sponsoring a family yourself? See page 11 to find out how.

FeiFei Finds Her Forever HomeWe’ve reported on former Chuzhou Little Sister Fu YuanFei (FeiFei) in previous newslettersbecause she is a remarkable example of thetransformations that can occur when childrenare given the nurturing they need.The Valk family wanted to learn about herearly life so they search for “Half the Moon”(a mistaken Dutch translation). Eventuallythey found a photo on our website of Preschool Program Director Wen Zhao hugging Yuan. From Wen, the family learnedjust how miraculous a gift Yuan was: “OurYuan could not sit, crawl, walk or speakbefore her second year. She was in her bedall day with no hope, no future, and she wascertainly not adoptable. For days we wereso deeply moved by all the new informationthat when we looked at our girl our eyeswould tear up.”When FeiFei entered our program in 2001, shewas two years old, pale, weak, and could notsit up by herself. Our staff in Chuzhou wastold that she suffered from brain disease. Herteachers were very worried: “We were afraidshe wouldn’t live through this quarter,” theywrote in her first progress report.With a heavy heart and enduring patience,our teachers set to work. After six weeks,FeiFei reached her first milestone by sittingup straight. A month later her teachers werethrilled to report that she walked for the firsttime! Slowly, over time, the “introverted, irritable” FeiFei became an outgoing, friendly girlfond of music and dance: ”FeiFei now looksso healthy and lovely. After a year of effort shehas become active and lovely instead of beingconsidered brain-disabled.”By the time the Valk family traveled from TheNetherlands to adopt FeiFei she was flourishing. FeiFei’s Mom Hetty learned when theyvisited the Chuzhou SWI that FeiFei was wellloved by the staff: “Our guide told us that FeiFei was very special to all the staff andwe felt the warmth. The director spoke somekind words and she received a special gift, abottle of earth from the land of her birth.”Once home FeiFei became known as“Yuan.” Yuan learned Dutch at lightningspeed and when she didn’t know a word shecreated her own--like “fireworks of water”for “fountain.” Physically her lopsided gaitdisappeared and she became strong enoughto ski. She was also clear about her needs:“Yuan has a very strong mind of her own.She knows what she wants and is able toexplain it.”Now, at 6.5, “Yuan speaks Dutch withoutan accent; even the “horrible” R is perfect.She rides her bicycle, plays computer games,needs an agenda to keep track of her playdates, and practices all day long for her careeras a singer. She is fond of (pink) clothes andcan’t wait for the time when shoes with highheels and makeup are allowed. She fightsover toys with her brother Roan and argueswho has to feed the rabbits and cats. She refuses to clean up the mess when all her toysare scattered, always asks to stay up longerand hates the fact that she has to brush herteeth. Is there more to wish for happy parents? We don’t think so.”Above, Yuan (FeiFei) at home in the Netherlands;Below FeiFei’s early days as a Little Sister.

BaoBao – New Feet, New Smilesof the surroundings. If other childrentalked to her, touched her face in afriendly way, or touched her toys withinterest she would cry to refuse them.She did not communicate with teachersor other children. She just sat in thetoy car looking around vacantly.BaoBao is the little girl we met whenwe opened our new center at the XinyangCWI – a little girl who had mysteriouslylost both her feet. Last year we told youabout BaoBao’s trip to Beijing where,thanks to the generosity of a special sponsor who is paying for BaoBao’s medicalcare, a team of experts fitted her for artificial feet and she stood up for the first time.Recently BaoBao again traveled to Beijingto be fitted for another pair of artificial feetfor her growing body. As you’ll learn fromher progress reports, BaoBao is growing inother ways as well:Winter 2004-2005When BaoBao entered the LittleSisters program, she was full of fearSummer 2005BaoBao has improved in language. Shecan accurately express her wishes. Shecan sing some songs and likes to leadthe songs. She communicates morewith the other children and they oftenplay games and toys together. Afterbeing fitted with her artificial feet,BaoBao can walk without anysupport. When she sees theother children running, shewill try to run for a few steps.However, when going upstairsand downstairs, she is veryafraid and will stoop down toclimb the stairs with her handson the floor.Fall 2005BaoBao used to draw only somesimple lines. Now she is able todraw circles and the profiles ofapples. BaoBao tells other children whatshe has drawn and sings children’s songswhen reading books. BaoBao is also able totell different colors like red, yellow andgreen. BaoBao’s hands and legs are nimblerthan before. She is able to take off orput on clothes for dolls. Also she bathesthem. She walks much more stably thanbefore. She is never scared of walking upand down stairs. She is even learning toride a bike.Winter 2005-2006In language skills, BaoBao loves to talkand is smiling more and more. Her thinkingis more active. She can discuss with herfriend JinJin how to play a game. She triesto be friendly with other children.She knows how to protect her artificialfeet from getting wet. BaoBao can walksteadily and easily with her artificial feet.When she sees the other children jumpingin the classroom she also tries to jumpwhile holding on to the chair. Now BaoBaocan put on and take off her artifical feetall by herself.

Emily Clarke and friendNOTES FROM THEFUNDRAISING TRAILBy Emily ClarkeDirector of Development, Half the SkyAs I sit to write this column, the sights andsounds of Hong Kong are fresh in my mind.Last week, I left the bustling city just beforeit welcomed the Year of the Dog with lightsand fireworks on the harbor, and wishing treesand mandarin oranges everywhere you look. Ihad come to Hong Kong in part for a specialevent sponsored by FinanceAsia Magazine(www.FinanceAsia.com), where members ofthe city’s banking industry

Half the Sky was incorporated in California in 1998. The foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible. 764 Gilman Street Berkeley, CA 94710 USA (1-510) 525-3377 Fax: (1-510)525-3611 Apartment 7-2-103 Jianguomenwai Diplomatic Compound Chaoyang District, Beijing