Why Not Just Send Money?

Although no one has asked this question directly, I wouldn't be surprised if it has been considered. Why are we going to the expense of taking a family of four to China? Wouldn't it make more sense to raise that money and use it to sponsor kids in Eagles Wings or open another home?

I don't know if there is a short answer, but the simplest one is that there are some things that money can't buy and that is particularly true in Henan province, the most populated and one of the poorest provinces in China. Almost all foster home programs, like Eagles Wings, are run by an ex-pat director and a staff of local employees. Chinese Orphans Assistance Team (COAT) has been assisting the Jiaozuo SWI for more than ten years, and opened Eagles Wings four years ago. In all that time the programs have been managed long distance from Australia with only one long-term house manager on site. Not only is this a daunting task for the COAT Director, it also means that training and coaching of the staff happens via Skype and during the Director's twice annual visits. We are so very, very fortunate to have a young couple handling the bulk of the day to day management tasks, but without senior leadership on site, they struggle to learn and grow and improve their skills.

A few organizations are able to use experienced Chinese managers to run their programs. Not only is this far more expensive (but probably worth it), most Chinese staff with adoption experience and good English skills are located in Beijing, or one of the other large metropolitan areas. There is a business school in Jiaozuo, but the top students are looking for a way to move to the bigger cities (funny when you consider Jiaozuo has a population of nearly 3 million!) and out of Henan province.

In addition to mentoring and training of staff, there is a need to develop a program that will draw more volunteers, short and long term, and provide training, direction and continuity for teams and individuals who have the desire to come and share their skills. Having a permanent program director on site will go a long way toward creating the processes to enhance the volunteer experience and ensure that we are attracting and utilizing the types of people that are so desperately needed (educators, medical professionals and child development specialists especially!).

To be honest, it's the kind of job that I would like to work myself out of over time. I'd love to develop the staff and the processes so that eventually it can be run without someone like me. Then I can find another "little" town that needs a foster home program for its institutionalized children...and start all over.

I invite you to use the comments to ask any questions you have about what I am going to be doing, about the opportunities to help (not necessarily in China), or anything else you'd like to know.