The COAT School of Hope becomes “Place of Hope and Happiness”
In 2002, an Australian businessman gave a donation to employ a teacher to provide activities and teaching to the children in the orphanage.
The Welfare Institution had moved to beautiful facilities where there was sufficient space to make classrooms and a large activities room where therapy and games could happen.
At first we had four staff members who had been ayis, but, with some training in education and therapy, began to make a difference in the lives of children who were too ill and/or disabled to be enabled to gain education and healing to improve their lives and to reach the highest potential possible.
The aim was also to allow these children to be part of China’s future as this great nation takes its place on the world’s stage.
Several organisions came together to donate equipment both for classrooms and the therapy facilities. COAT sponsored all the wages of the staff, the number of which quickly grew to 15. Training of staff took several forms. COAT sponsored training in therapy by sending staff to various courses. The orphanage also sponsored several people to study short courses in various fields.
Teams of foreigners often took part in training of staff as they drew on various fields of expertise. The COAT School of Hope became official in 2003, with the grand opening ceremony attended by various important officials from the Jiaozuo government. The emphasis at this time was on healing and because of the great work done by the staff, many children can now walk and learn to live in more independent ways.
As the name implied, this was a place where “hope” became a reality.
Everyone, from the highest official down to the smallest child, feel “hope” when in the COAT School of Hope.
In 2007, it became law that all employees were entitled to a pension fund, medical insurance, pregnancy insurance and workers’ compensation. This put a huge strain on many companies. COAT made a commitment that all staff in the COAT School of Hope would be given these benefits in spite of the fact that it was going to cost an extra 400Y per employee per month.
So in the process of these improved work related entitlements and other mitigating circumstances, The COAT School of Hope became “A Place of Hope and Happiness”, (which in Chinese is hereafter called “Xi Wang Le Yuan”.)
The reason for we want the school to be called by its Chinese name, even by foreigners, is because the school is in China, attended by Chinese children who will proudly take their place in a brighter future for this emerging world power.
COAT has now employed some teachers with higher qualifications and we intend to raise the educational standard in academic ways as well has promote physical healing. In spite of any disability, every child is important to us so that they all have a chance of hope and happiness in this place we call: Xi Wang Le Yuan.
Linda Shum (Director)
