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Click here for the HTS Infant Nurture and Preschool FAQ
Click here for the HTS Yiyang Sponsorship FAQ
This website was created to support Half the Sky (HTS) financially, as well as connect friends and family of Yiyang children. HTS is a charitable organization founded by American adoptive parents that wishes to help assure that all children in Chinese orphanages are nurtured and educated. HTS works directly with CCAA towards that goal. The children living in the two orphanages in Yiyang, Hunan are extremely lucky that HTS chose to implement programs there.
In the summer of 2005, HTS began infant nurture programs in playrooms built by a volunteer crew of adoptive parents at the Yiyang Children's Welfare Institute (CWI) and the Yiyang Social Welfare Institute (SWI).
By the spring of 2007, a Preschool was added at the CWI. In the first three years of operation, over 200 babies were nurtured by HTS nannies before their adoption.
The HTS Yiyang programs are unique in that Yiyang families were committed to providing major financial support even before HTS made the final decision to begin working in Yiyang City. The start up campaign in 2004-2005 was an amazing success. It is hoped that Yiyang families and friends will continue to contribute generously to support the Yiyang program for years to come.
As of December 2007, HTS received over $200,000 specifically for Yiyang programs. By December 2005, $135,000 was donated to pay for start-up costs (e.g., toys, furnishings, equipment, nanny training) and the first year of operating expenses (e.g. documentation costs, HTS nanny salaries). In 2006, HTS received $35,000 from Yiyang supporters to cover ongoing operating costs. In 2007, HTS expenses in Yiyang of $65,000 included the start up costs for the Preschool, in addition to operating costs for the two infant centers and the Preschool.
Operating expenses for 2008 are $40,000 for the two orphanages combined.
HTS Infant Nurture Centers are staffed by nannies who are hired, trained, and paid by HTS. HTS nannies provide special nurture and enrichment to the babies in the center, supplementing the care available from the orphanage staff. In Yiyang, caregivers (ayis) received the same training the nannies received, in part because of the unusual demands of working 24/7 to care for five babies in one room.
The playrooms at Yiyang CWI and SWI were built with the help of a volunteer build crew, mostly members of families who adopted children who used to live there. In June 2005, they joined HTS staff from the Beijing office for a week of hard work cleaning, painting, and assembling furniture. Local contractors installed lights and air-conditioners and finished up construction work.
In Yiyang, the first two HTS Preschool teachers were formerly HTS nannies. They attended teacher training before the Preschool opened with twenty children in April 2007. Most of these children have special needs, including a variety of medical conditions.
We are grateful to HTS, the build volunteers, the committee who spearhead the fundraising, all the parents with kids from both orphanages, and all of their supporters, for all the incredible contributions everyone has made. All of those wonderful children who reside at the SWI and the CWI have happier, more enjoyable lives because of you.
| Half the Sky Yiyang Fund Timeline |
| Sep 2008 |
2009 Yiyang Children's Calendar available |
| Dec 2007 |
$45,000 total raised for Half the Sky |
| Sep 2007 |
2008 Yiyang Children's Calendar available
Yiyang Lifebook package available |
| Aug 2007 |
$4000 donated so far in 2007 |
| Apr 2007 |
HTS opens CWI Preschool |
| Jan 2007 |
Silk handkerchiefs available separately |
| Dec 2006 |
$36,500 total raised for Half the Sky |
| Sep 2006 |
$9,000 added in 2006
2007 Yiyang Children's Calendar available
Embroidered silk handkerchief package available |
| Mar 2006 |
$5,000 added in 2006
Start 2007 calendar fundraiser project |
| Dec 2005 |
$130,000 in Yiyang Fund at Half the Sky |
| Nov 2005 |
$114,000 in Yiyang Fund, surpassing goal of $111,000
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| Sep 2005 |
First Yiyang Children's calendar available for 2006 |
| Jul 2005 |
Over $85,000 in Yiyang Fund at Half the Sky |
| Jun 2005 |
HTS volunteer build crew builds Infant Center at CWI (June 11-16)
HTS completes training for CWI nannies, and CWI caregivers
HTS completes training for SWI caregivers
CWI Infant Nurture Center begins operating with HTS nannies
HTS expands program to include Infant Nurture Center at SWI
HTS volunteer build crew builds Infant Center at SWI, unexpected |
| Mar 2005 |
Wristband fundraiser project begins, red CONNECTED BY LOVE |
| Feb 2005 |
HTS expands Yiyang program to include SWI in limited way
Infant Nurture Center for CWI
Training for CWI caregivers (ayis) in child development (June)
Training for SWI caregivers (ayis) in child development (June)
Arrangements to transfer Yiyang preschoolers to a HTS preschool
Parent fundraising target $111,000 to cover one year for CWI/SWI |
| Jan 2005 |
Over $43,000 in Yiyang Fund, so HTS plans for CWI program |
| Oct 2004 |
Over $14,000 in Yiyang Fund |
| Jun 2004 |
About $4,000 in Yiyang Fund |
| Apr 2004 |
HTS approves Yiyang CWI fundraising plan, no guarantee
$41,000 by December 31, 2004 required for startup
$70,000 afterwards to cover two years CWI operating expenses |
| Mar 2004 |
About $2,000 in Yiyang Fund, no plan for Yiyang program |
| Mar 2003 |
First contact with HTS about possibility of program at Yiyang CWI
No organized fundraising effort |
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