Zhengzhou Visit

Colin lived at Zhenghzhou SWI (Social Welfare Institute). He spent the first eight months of his life in the Lily Orphan Care Center section of ZZ SWI that is sponsored by our agency. We were able to visit with the ayis that work there who all appeared to love him. This was the first stop on the eating snacks around ZZ SWI tour! Colin enjoys a good snack and these ladies were happy to hook him up. We also visited the therapy floor which consists of PT, OT, acupuncture, traditional medicine and a few other rooms I wasn't sure what happened in. Colin ran from room to room and was scooped up by many of the staff. Once again he seemed to be very loved. They, of course, filled him up with more snacks. At the end we were able to meet his foster family. They have cared for him since he was eight months old in their home. ZZ SWI has between 600-700 children at any given time. Once section of the property is for foster apartments where 3-6 children live in a home with a mother and father. He has been with the same family the entire time in foster care. He walked right in the apartment and immediately requested a snack! His foster mother quickly provided him, and us, fruit. She seem so kind.

We were able to visit AnYang SWI in 2013 which is said to be one of the poorest orphanages in Henan province. It was...it was a hard thing to experience. ZZ SWI was much different. Our guide reports that it in one of the best in Henan. There are classrooms, therapy rooms, playgrounds, outdoor space and activities. I think the thing that stood out the most was the number of adults involved in care taking and that they seemed happy to be there serving the children. We were happy we were able to spend time in his home of 23 months.

His foster family in their apartment.

ZZ SWI outside, play area and his apartment building

The Lily Orphan Care Center

The therapy rooms and two of his therapist

For my PT/OT people they had BWSTT, tiny little arm bikes, gait trainers, standers, mat table, tiny stair climbers and more!

Colin was happy to be scooped up by all of his friends from ZZ but at the end of the day wanted to go with us. That makes me happy and sad all at the same time.