Project Updates
Over the years COCOA has worked with selected agencies dealing with handpicked orphanages where there is cooperation between the orphanage staff and the people we trust and fund. Some projects are embedded within state orphanages, while others have their own premises but their children still come from the state orphanage.
Grants from COCOA have been used to
- sponsor babies and children in long-term care and children awaiting adoption
- pay for treatment of remediable conditions such club feet, cleft lip and palate, hole in the heart.
- kit out baby rooms and buy necessities such as cots and bedding
- fit out a special therapy room for children with disabilities
- replace the roof of an orphanage destroyed in an earthquake
- train staff
- buy essential winter clothing
- buy specialist equipment such as strollers, physiotherapy tables and custom-made wheelchairs
- fit out and run medical clinics within orphanages
- pay for formula milk for abandoned babies
- provide play and learning equipment
Here are some of the ways COCOA grants have helped improve life for vulnerable orphaned and abandoned children in China.
Medical clinics
A COCOA grant funded a medical clinic within an orphanage in Southern China, paying for diagnostic tests and 3 months' basic care for 84 newly admitted babies who were either newly abandoned or chosen from the orphanage as being in particular need of special attention. Many of the babies treated in this clinic have gone on to be adopted while others who cannot be adopted are in our sponsorship programme.
Another orphanage in North-West China was able to buy medical equipment and medicines for its in-house clinic.
NEW - Henan Infants and Toddler Unit
This newly opened unit provides care and nurture for 29 infants and toddlers. All of the children have disabilities and/or health problems and are in need of increased care, nutrition and support services in order to maximise their potential.
Since the project started in 2010 the staff:children ratio has improved from 1:20 to 1:5 through hiring of new care-giving staff. This has had the immediate effect of improving the level of care provided. The provision of training to all new care-giving staff and the on-going monitoring to ensure implementation of new care giving methods has also made a positive impact on the quality of care given to the children.
A local nursery teacher funded by COCOA is now providing educational support to 14 toddlers and preschoolers. The children are learning colours, shapes, animals and how to socialise with their peers and teachers.
Hunan Young Disabled Children
COCOA’s support has had a profound impact on the lives of 36 children in this unit. The children have medical conditions ranging from visual impairments, cleft lip and palate, heart conditions, Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy and other conditions. We have seen children with mild disabilities or medical conditions who have received corrective surgery or ongoing therapy able to be adopted by local and international families. Other children will continue to receive care long-term.
The focus is on providing for the physical, emotional and social needs of the children and improving their quality of life. The number of children within each care group has been reduced from 8-10 down to 6-8, which has provided each child with the opportunity to receive more individual attention and overall quality of care. The local manager oversees each care group and nutrition for every group is assured through a cook who prepares meals and snacks appropriate for the children.
Fu Fu and Shu
These two little boys were admitted at the end of May. The first photos were taken on the day they came into the unit. The second photos show the difference that love, care and a few pounds has made to them.
Baby Fu Fu has a cleft lip and palate. When admitted he was suffering with severe malnutrition and diarrhoea. Shu had severe malnutrition but has made a full recovery and it is thought he does not actually have any illness or disability.
He will probably be a good candidate for adoption.
The money raised by the Virgin Atlantic on-board appeal provided all the kitchens and airconditioning units for a new home in Henan province. This state-of-the-art home is now providing top quality care to 127 babies.
Foster and play scheme
In Western China a play scheme and therapy centre supported by COCOA backs up a foster programme. The play scheme provides the children with their preschool education and ensures that they can stay with their foster families and not be returned to the orphanage. The children's progress at the play scheme is encouraging orphanage directors to place children in foster care. The foster carers are receiving training in appropriate physical and play therapies for their individual children and the children have access to specialist equipment to improve their mobility.
CHILDREN'S DAY 1st JUNE 2011 at OUR PLAY CENTRE
Every June 1st is Children's day in China and it is a day for celebrating all children. As a centre we take part in a celebration with many foster families.
We meet at a venue and have a Children's day performance and a meal together. Because we have a wide range of children with differing needs we spend a few months gradually preparing.
Our program consisted of singing, choral speaking rhymes and a story - with signing and dancing or moving (depending on if ambulant) with ribbons. The overall effect was very pleasing.
Our singing included a rendition of The Wheels On the Bus - in Chinese of course. Qi che de lunzi zhuang ya zhuang - the wheels on the bus go round and round! Our story was A Walk In the Woods - what do you see what can you hear ... a lion, a monkey, an elephant .. and so on, with signing.
Our choral speaking was Chinese Nursery Rhymes.... It was lots of fun...BUT ... you have to understand that here nothing is quiet - EVER! So as well as performing there is loud chatter off stage and someone even answered their cell phone ON STAGE! All good fun and a real celebration for us, of all that the foster families achieve with these children and the support that the centre can give thanks to the help that COCOA gives us through funding and support - THANK YOU!
Baby milk programmes
The scandals of tainted baby milk in China highlighted the need for a safe supply of good formula powder for vulnerable abandoned babies. The best brands can cost £20 a can. The Chinese Government provides a grant for cow milk for orphans but for under-1s and even some under-2s formula is essential. COCOA is funding baby milk programmes on an ongoing basis to help ensure these most vulnerable children get the nutrition they need.
Li Feng
Li Feng came was found abandoned at 3 days old with the umbilical cord still crudely attached. He was left in secret so we have no way of knowing why his mother felt she could not keep him. He was tiny and hungry and we were able to immediately place him with one of our most experienced foster mothers and supply him with all the feeds he needs.
He is drinking up to 150ml. He has no apparent health problems and is now settled and sleeps well. We expect him to thrive with the care of his wonderful foster mother. Later, he may well be a candidate for adoption.
BUTTERFLY HOME
This is a children's hospice and palliative care service in the South of China. The home treats children with a life expectancy of 6 months or less. The home has rapidly expanded to 9 beds and offers palliative care and comfort to those children who can not be saved, while at the same time offering others a second chance through loving care and appropriate medical treatment. By providing care and support for families, the home aims to help them avoid the pressure to abandon their sick child.
Angel
This little girl came to the Butterfly Home at 3 weeks old and weighing about 5lbs. She was pale, with lots of baggy skin hanging around her thighs, her bottom was very red and sore and her mouth full of thrush. No wonder she was an unhappy little scrap.
The welfare centre doctors said she was too small and might die. The Butterfly Home medical director assessed her problems (prematurity and imperforate anus) and found a surgeon who would operate at once (surgeons at the government hospital would not operate until she was 3 years old).
Angel's surgery was successful and she is now back at the Butterly Home for further treatment. She is meeting all her milestones, she is smiling, babbling and laughing, alert and eating well and her papers are being prepared for adoption.
Ruth
Ruth is a four year old girl dying from kidney failure. Her loving family, who come from a city a four-hour train ride away, have spent 3 years travelling to major cities seeking help for her. They are now out of options for transplant of dialysis and know she is dying.
They found out about the Butterfly Home from an article on the internet. The staff feel privileged to be involved with this caring family.