Happenings in Yunnan and a BIG THANK YOU!

Take a look at this darling little boy. We received this photo from Love Without Boundaries (LWB) this week. He is one of the children who will soon be available for sponsorship in Yunnan through the LWB foster care program. Everything is almost in place for this new foster care program to begin in the city of Zhaotong in Yunnan province. Some children in Zhaotong have already been in foster care, and with LWB's assistance, more children will have this opportunity, and overall conditions will be improved. LWB will provide 250 rmb (yuan) per child and the government will provide 150 rmb each month, for a total of 400 rmb per child per month. They hope to have the final contract signed in June, and foster care will start soon after that. This month, LWB facilitators visited Zhaotong and could not say enough good things about the people there. They found the orphanage director and officials to be refreshingly honest and open in their answers to all questions, and Amy Eldridge, director of LWB, said those they met with in Zhaotong are so excited and grateful to be offered assistance with foster care. The director of the Zhaotong SWI said that she feels foster care to be an optimal environment for the children. They have asked LWB to place 26 kids with foster families. The orphanage has accepted 54 children in its care and 11 of these children have been adopted. The SWI is really hoping that by offering excellent quality foster care, that more children can become ready for adoption. They are open to any and all training LWB can offer to improve the lives of these children. LWB was also very fortunate to find a monitor who lives right in Zhaotong who will be visiting all families each month and providing reports for sponsors.

We will let everyone know as soon as the children are listed on the LWB website. Most have minor special needs, a few are perfectly healthy. They are BEAUTIFUL children!!!

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Finally, a BIG THANK YOU to all who bid on the items listed in our YKI "Spring Pig" Auction. Last week, YKI sent a check for $2,000 to Love Without Boundaries, to be used, in part, for the new foster care program in Zhaotong, Yunnan. Some of the funds we raised during the auction, may also cover some of the expense of purchasing physical therapy equipment (special posterior walkers, peanut balls, etc.), for the physical therapy camp that will happen at the Kunming Orphanage this July. As soon as we have more detailed information about the camp in Kunming, we will share it. The important thing to know is that our donation from funds raised during the auction,will absolutely go toward helping children in Yunnan. We cannot thank you enough for joining us in this effort. We so appreciate that Love Without Boundaries has set up their organization to allow for funds from donors to go toward specific projects, if they want this. It will be exciting to see all of the new projects happening in Yunnan, and knowing we are able to take part in making these miracles happen. Stay tuned for more news from and about Yunnan as it unfolds!