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“All the children who are held and loved will know how to love others….. Spread these virtues in the world. Nothing more need be done.”- Meng Zi, c. 300 B.C.
Our Mission Statement
Half the Sky was created in order to enrich the lives of orphaned children in China. We provide model programs and caregiver training designed to offer loving, family-like care to children of all ages and abilities. It is our goal to ensure that every orphaned child has a caring adult in her life and a chance at a bright future.
No child should be alone in the world.
Children belong in families. The experience of forming emotional bonds with a caring adult is essential for a child’s healthy development.
A small child’s experiences dictate how her brain is wired. Each stimulus – each kiss, each story, each sunset, each smile – promotes the development of brain cells (neurons.) Holding and stroking an infant stimulates the brain to release growth hormones. A child who lacks connection with a caring adults will often fail to thrive.
Still – such a life can be turned around. If we begin early enough, it is easy.
Half the Sky exists to provide the love of family to children who, for whatever reason, have lost what should be every child’s birthright – somebody who cares.
How do we do it?
Half the Sky’s responsive, child-centered approach focuses on nurturing the whole child. It draws from the Western Reggio Emilia approach to enhancing each individual child’s development and from the Chinese educational mandate that children learn about the arts, the sciences, language, social development and health.
The goal is to prepare children to enter society at an intellectual and social level with their peers while surrounding them with a stimulating, healthy emotional environment.
Half the Sky's approach, adapted to each developmental stage, offers continuity of nurturing care, from birth to young adulthood.
Happily, that approach is now being shared with child welfare workers across China.
