Two Seng Girls say “good-bye” to Shenzhen after 6 months
Time certainly flies. After 6 months of doing vocational development in Captivating’s Shenzhen office, Kalsang Methok and Serr Tso say farewell to Shenzhen and this wonderful community. It has been such a pleasure having them here blending in with so many cultures. We will miss them too much. They arrived in Shenzhen just before the 3rd SGVTS Annual Charity Event October last year, and have remained with us since that time to learn computers, office administration and receive intensive Chinese tutoring. The plan is that they will now return to the Seng Girls Home and be responsible for coordinating the child sponsorship information for donors as well as ongoing updates on progress at the home. They will continue on with their schooling in the meantime as well as provide assistance to the computer class teacher up there (the room is being established this month). With the new skills they have learned we are confident this has opened many doors for future employment when they are ready to move in this direction.
Before coming here both girls did not know how to use a computer. Their progress has been AMAZING and they can now type, use email and MS Office software, upload photos and even do some video editing. Thanks to Google Translate, we can now also enjoy some interesting email exchanges. 
After work, they have learn’t to prepare and cook their own meals, shop for their own groceries within an approved budget, and have been learned how to record all their expenses and balance their cash and spending. Weekends have been spent studying and doing fun activities such as a recent 5hr bike ride with Rita (Captivating volunteer) around Shenzhen Bay.
We have had such a great time with them and now feel like two members of our family are leaving us. Serr Tso and Kalsang Methok – thankyou for being part of our lives in the Shenzhen community.
(pictured top: Girls going on their bike ride – they didn’t know how long this was going to be; Left: girls with their “brother” Tyler; Middle: girls are helping 5 other Seng Girls visiting from Guangzhou how to learn the computer; Right: Serr Tso having fun on a recent trip to the beach).
April 19, 2012
QSI students set up library room at Eden
Students in the se
condary IB class at QSI International School of Shekou participated in a service project to help support the children at Project Eden. The major emphasis of the project was to add on to QSI’s earlier project of creating a recreation room for the children at the home. This time, students designed a library room adjacent to the activity room, they planned and organized many fundraisers in order to buy supplies for their project and went to visit Eden to carry out the makeover. They spent the day painting, assembling furniture, and setting up the room. They even had the opportunity to work with the children at Eden, tutoring them in math and English. The QSI students were also able to provide books, food, and sandals for all of the children at the home, and while there, the group enjoyed hiking through the countryside with some of the girls from the home. While the QSI students were happy to give their time and effort to help the children at Project Eden, they also benefited greatly from the opportunity to get involved and to see their plans come together. The students went home messy, with paint in their hair and mud on their shoes, but with smiles on their faces, having gotten the chance to help out the students at Project Eden. We want to say a huge thank-you to all the students involved in this project. Now the Eden children have a lovely bright room for study, reading and quiet time, all brought about by the kindness of the QSI students and their teachers.
(pictured above – students painting; below – students helping Eden kids learn, enjoying their work and a QSI group photo ).
March 29, 2012
Two Eden boys take up employment
Their lives have changed in many ways from the initial disadvantaged situations from which they were brought into care. It is so wonderful to see how, through education and thoughtful, loving care given, they have grown into fine young adults. This would not have been possible if it wasn’t for their dedicated sponsors who have financially supported them for over 5 years. This is what our work is all about – seeing kids rescued from difficult (impossible) circumstances and given a chance to dream. We wish them every success as they make their first steps towards providing for themselves and becoming young independent adults.
(pictured: Left: Kai Tao when he first started receiving care over 5 years ago . Middle: Kai Tao and Chuang Long (left of photo) in a recent photo with their “brothers” from Eden. Right: Chuang Long when he first came us 4 years ago).
March 28, 2012
THANK YOU to our volunteer translators…
This month, we would like to say a big THANK YOU to all of our volunteer translators. This group of generous people have offered their time, skills and devotion to our projects by translating many many documents from Chinese to English.
The majority of the documents needing translation are annual child progress reports and family progress reports, which we receive from our on the ground field staff at the various locations around China. Once these reports are translated and proofed, they are sent to the sponsor(s) of each child and family, in order for them to receive an update on how they are progressing.
Over 400 progress reports will be translated this year and these volunteers give so many hours of their personal time to this. They are consistently so obliging in taking on this work and no job is ever too big for them. We can’t thank you enough for the huge contribution you make to being that bridge between our sponsors and children. So – Suji, Bobo, Becky, Jenny, Daisy, Angel, Kyle, Daniela, Emily, Anna and Lisa – a HUGE thankyou from us to you. We think your all amazing.
多谢! (Many Thanks)
(pictured: Our longest serving translators, Suji and Bobo).
February 21, 2012
Project Eden- Guangdong Province
Project Eden has really grown this past 6 months. In August more children needing our support joined Eden and in September, as part of our plan to expand the support for the Qinghai girls’ vocational development, another 4 girls came down to attend the local school and to learn intensive Chinese. In total, we now have 17 children being cared for in a safe and caring environment. The children have adjusted really well to life in a new and very different province. The environment at Eden has helped a lot with this adjustment, living in a family and country setting. They are all doing very well at school, getting good reports from the teachers and taking part in sports activities. The girls from Qinghai need help with their homework, as all subjects are taught through Chinese.
The group was also thrilled to receive a second-hand van at Eden. It seats seven people and can also be used to carry goods. Previous to this, we depended on public transport for getting around and had no means to deal with an emergency if it arose. A big thank you to our two very generous sponsors from Australia, who donated funds to purchase the van (see photo!).
We had our first opportunity to sell bracelets made by the girls, at the Treasures of Hope shop birthday celebration in September. The bracelets generated great interest and we plan to continue to develop this as potential for income in the future.
Finally, we want to give special thanks to two new China based project sponsors who have embraced Project Eden. Greg and his team of volunteers who will organize an annual midnight charity race in Shenzhen. Greg’s work covers 50% of the total budget for our foster family program. AWESOME!!! Also Aaron and his team from Treasures of Hope in Dongguan who will be giving part of the monthly profits from his business to Eden every quarter. This is truly wonderful.
OTHER THANK YOU’s
The rest of Eden’s budget is made up of sponsors and donors from around the world who share with us a real desire to help kids. The girls from Qinghai are supported through sponsors and supporters as part of the Seng Girls Home operational budget. If you are one of those who support either Project Eden or these girls, then we thank you for your generosity. Eden is moving from strength to strength and bringing hope to all these kids in incredible ways. They are indeed lucky but, more importantly, are making incredible progress in their confidence and education. It is so encouraging and heartwarming to see the impact your continued support has on the lives of these children. Thank you.
Find out more stories about Project Eden by visiting our blog at http://www.captivating.org/blog/category/project-eden/
February 14, 2012
QSI Lower Elementary Create Activity Room at Eden.
Students and teachers from QSI Lower Elementary school in Shekou have been planning all year to visit project Eden and give the kids a wonderful Christmas! This past December, all the planning became a reality and QSI enabled a food drive to provide much needed non-perishable foods for the children at project Eden. But if that wasn’t enough, the team also planned and carried out a major conversion of one of the old rooms at Eden into an activity room for the children. The room was painted in very bright, exciting colors, and activities were set up including paper crafts, textile crafts and board games along with the main attraction of a ping pong table! The kids were truly surprised and excited over what was done for them and so we want to truly thank you all for the tremendous work and huge generosity of time and donations from Kelsey and the LE community service team. Pictures can only tell the story of the transformation that took place, and we at Captivating can’t thank you enough for how you continue to change the lives of those at Eden. Thank you for taking the time! Thank you for caring!
December 8, 2011
Project Eden- Lychee Trees
We overlooked posting this story last year. Early in 2011, everyone at Project Eden was delighted to have 70 Lychee Trees donated to them by the local landlord. About 30 of these trees were expected to bear fruit in late June/early July. To help generate income for Eden, we offered the trees for individual tree sponsorship and were thrilled with the response we got. Although everything didn’t go quite according to plan with the fruit on the trees ripening much faster than anticipated, many sponsors and friends were still able to come to Eden to pick the fruit to take home and enjoy a fun day out in the country with the children and parents at Eden. Thank you so much to everyone who sponsored a tree and helped to support the home and education for these children.
Dale Picking Lychee
Ripe Lychee at Eden
December 7, 2011
Got 3 minutes – check out this DVD on Shenzhen’s 3rd Annual Midnight Charity Race
This awesome event directly benefits the work of Captivating International – specifically Project Eden in Guangdong Province. It is doubling in size each year thanks to the amazing work of Greg and his team. An incredible RMB113,000 (US$17k) was raised. For more details, go to www.szrace.com