EAGLES' WINGS II
Preparation stage
Preparing
Getting underway with the DIY
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Walking through apartments to choose the best value to suit the need, I really just had to shut my eyes and visualise an outside area with toddlers playing in a sandpit, on a swing, climbing on play equipment, scooting around on little trikes, an inside staircase with toddlers climbing backwards down the stairs, children sitting around a low table dropping rice and other food bits on the floor (maybe a puppy that never needs his own bowl of food because food seems to rain on him from the table), babies sleeping in cots and bedrooms full of scaffolding bunks to sleep maybe ten children in a bedroom......
We looked and looked before Eagles’ Wings Two was chosen. The funds were already donated, so the purchase was made. Eagles’ Wings Two is not far from Eagles’ Wings One, but it has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, two living areas, a kitchen, and a safely fenced area on the roof. It is on the fifth and sixth floors, so it still is up there where the Eagles can nest. In China, once a building has more than six floors, it must have a lift. So apartments on the sixth floor are cheaper in buildings where there are no lifts. It simply means that all who live at such heights are healthier than folk who ride up easily in lifts.
While Noel was the resident Ye Ye in Eagles’ Wings One, he spent many hours overseeing and working to get tiles laid, a kitchen installed and more. He sat for many hours and designed a precise and perfect bathroom to cater for between twenty and thirty toddlers, but it could also be used by adults. We have a washing machine, a drier and a fridge.
Once this was done, we ran out of money and work stood still.
We still need bunks, bedding, crockery, cutlery, towels, cupboards, play equipment for the balcony, staff, volunteers, food, clothing, nappies, toilet paper, shoes, funds for electricity, heated water for the heating system, hot water systems for the bathrooms, double glazing, curtains, fans, air conditioners, a couple of tvs, a dvd player and a computer so sponsors can see their children on skype......and other things I haven’t thought of yet.... and then we can start to take in babies.
I am soooo... longing to begin to bring in babies in August. We have offered our empty apartment to house some earthquake victims, but whether this happens or not depends on the authorities who are not keen for any earthquake victims to leave their province. But even if we get no earthquake victims, there are plenty of children longing to come and live in Eagles’ Wings. Eagles’ Wings One and Three are bursting with 12 children in One and 27 children in Three. Every time we think we can fit in another child and we walk through the orphanage rooms, so many little eyes watch us and hope. They stay very quiet, but their eyes are shouting: Pick me! Pick me!
Many local families have begun to take in children too. This is great, but many families have two working parents and it is not easy to take in another child. So we are working with the local authorities to provide for as many as we can. Six new orphanages are being built, but it will be some time before they are finished.
We have enough money to start building the first lot of bunks. Noel and Xiao Guang have put their heads together with Mr Fu (our carpenter) and they think they can fit ten scaffolded bunks in each bedroom. It is estimated that each bunk will cost about 500Y to build and add bedding, so a set of ten will cost 5000Y. We have three bedrooms we want to build these scaffolded beds in. With the scaffolding, small or crippled children can climb from one bed to the next easily, so it is safe to climb up and down. Each bunk is to have a bed head on which to affix a small reading lamp. Reading in bed is greatly encouraged in Eagles’ Wings and happens before midday naps and going to bed each night (so we need little lamps and books). The little lights are also needed if a child is afraid and needs light that doesn’t disturb the other children, or if the child needs to get up and take himself to the toilet without disturbing others. It also makes it easier to find his bed in the dark.
Yes, I say “he” often, because yes, we have a lot of boys too. So if you are able to adopt, it is a mistake to think that only girls are available. If you can’t adopt, but would like to help, consider sponsorship of any kind and you too will be making a difference to making the world a better place and growing up a generation to make us all proud.
to Sponsor an Ayi , a bed or to give
a General Donation to Eagles' Wings II
please click on the appropriate title.
