AFICC Newsletter - Spring 2024

NEWSLETTER

Ten

Years of

Love, Hope and Opportunity

03. Xiaoqiang: A Rural Family's Story of Love

& Strength

In 2022, ICC expanded the Family Partners Program to reach rural children with disabilities and their families, many of whom lack access to essential support services...

04. Ten Years of Love, Hope and Opportunity

At the end of 2023, we bid a fond farewell to Karen Lee, an International Volunteer who was ICC’s Vocational Training Project Manager...

06. Yangyang Update

A big thank you to all who made an end of year gift to ICC supporting our mission to keep families together through outreach services...

08. Fang: Music from the heart

Fang, a bright, joyful young man with a visual impairment, is a beloved member of ICC’s Forest Family...

02. CEO Message

07. AFICC Gala Recap

Honouring Karen Lee

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03

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07

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CEO MESSAGE

It is with a strong sense of gratitude and a deep sense of humility that I am writing to you as ICC’s returning CEO. As the Founder of ICC, I have carried a deep and abiding love for ICC’s work with children with disabilities since the day we began. Having previously served as CEO for 24 years, I have had the privilege of seeing ICC’s work grow from a God-given vision into a work that impacts the lives of hundreds of children each and every day!

Stepping back into this role after six years, I would be remiss not to express my deep appreciation and thanks to Peter Maize who has so skillfully led ICC’s work since 2017. Peter’s leadership and passion for the children we serve has enabled ICC’s work to flourish in the midst of China being a changing nation. We wish Peter every blessing as he steps into his next season.

In this newsletter, you will read stories of children’s lives being deeply impacted through your giving. 31 years ago, ICC’s work was focused on reaching children that were suffering in China’s welfare centers. Today, that work continues, but it has expanded to include working with children in families that face desperate circumstances, providing needed support that keeps their children growing and their families together. It is particularly exciting to be able to reach out into rural and impoverished communities where the need is even greater. And, of course, children grow into young men and women, requiring opportunities for learning, training and employment. ICC’s vocational work including our Little Ark Food Trucks provides those opportunities.

Every story of transformation begins with you! It begins with your prayers, and it is made possible through your giving. As we walk through 2024, I, along with ICC’s staff, commit to do all we can to bring the fullness of life to China’s children with disabilities. Please continue to pray for us and give so that even more lives can be transformed.

May 2024 be a year of blessing for each and every one of the children we serve, and for you too!

David Gotts, Chief Executive Officer

Xiaoqiang: A Rural Family’s Story of Love & Strength

In 2022, ICC expanded the Family Partners Program (FPP) to reach rural children with disabilities and their families, many of whom lack access to essential support services. The FPP Rural Outreach Project took a Cross Care Team to an area outside of Ningxiang, where we met a young boy named Xiaoqiang. This lively 12-year-old boy has an intellectual disability and ADHD, and is primarily cared for by his mother.

Xiaoqiang had briefly attended a local school, but had to leave due to health issues. Since then, he has not had access to any educational or rehabilitation services. He is often in motion, and his mother is concerned about his hyperactive behaviors and sleep issues.

When Cross Care Team #4 arrived, Xiaoqiang was both excited and hesitant. After conducting the initial assessment, the team has continued to return for regular home visits. Over time, Social Worker Liu has seen

Xiaoqiang grow in his relationship with the team. “When it was time for me to leave, he held onto my bag tightly. It warmed my heart.”

In addition to providing regular therapy and special education classes through home visits, another goal of the team was to empower Xiaoqiang’s mother to do simple rehabilitation exercises with him at home, primarily to help with his sleep and behavior. Our Therapy Manager, Alison Kennedy, accompanied the team on a home visit in order to help train Xiaoqiang’s mother on some simple but effective rehabilitation exercises. ICC also provided the family with therapy tools such as swings, sensory balls, and massage brushes.

Xiaoqiang means “strong,” and we know that this bright, energetic young boy has the strength in him to reach his full potential. We are partnering with him and his family on every step of their journey. Through your support, we are able to give love, hope and opportunity to countless other rural families just like them.i

ATen Years of Love, Hope and Opportunity:

Honoring Karen Lee

By Kyla Alexander

t the end of 2023, we bid a fond farewell to Karen Lee, an International Volunteer who was ICC’s Vocational Training Project Manager. Karen served ICC’s young people with enthusiasm, compassion and kindness for ten years. While we will greatly miss the energy and inspiration she brought to ICC, we wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate her and the wide-reaching impact she had.

Originally from Singapore, after joining ICC in 2014, she immediately set to work developing comprehensive vocational programs for our young people. Her first project was Flowers in the Desert, which allowed the young people in ICC’s care to participate in meaningful, creative craft work. They designed and assembled a wide range of jewelry, ornaments and handicrafts, and earned money through their sales, even establishing an online store. “I always believed that each of (our young people) is gifted with unique abilities and has something to offer when the right opportunity comes,” Karen shared.

Karen then went on to establish our first Little Ark food truck in 2019. Today, ICC has three Little Arks across Hunan province, with a fourth to open soon. She also oversaw the expansion of our vocational training program to include young people from the community, sharing, “many young people living with their families don’t have the opportunity to learn skills or reach their potential because of a lack of programs.”

“Each of (our young people) is gifted with unique abilities and has something to offer when the right opportunity comes.”

Reflecting on her time with ICC, Karen outlined why she felt vocational training was key for youth with disabilities. “It empowers

them to take responsibility and control of their own futures. By providing or training them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in open employment, we are… giving them the opportunity to pursue their passions and find fulfilling careers.”

On a personal level, Karen said: “I think my time spent in China was the most profitable time of my life… engaging with young adults’ lives, engaging with their ability discoveries, engaging in creative ideas.” Looking towards the future, she hopes ICC’s vocational training work will continue to expand. Although Karen will be back in Singapore, we know the seeds she has planted in China will continue to flourish for years to come. i

Thank You for Supporting Yangyang

Abig thank you to all who made an end of year gift to ICC supporting our mission to keep families together through outreach services. In December, we shared about Yangyang, a rural, 12 year-old boy who is receiving much-needed therapeutic and educational support from ICC.

When we first met Yangyang’s family, his father was desperate for help. He showed us stacks of medical bills and treatments they had sought to help their son. Yangyang was excluded from school due to his intellectual disability, and spent his days isolated at home with his mother.

ICC’s Cross Care Team model is built to reach families in these situations. Each team consists of a Special Education teacher, therapist and social worker who evaluate every child in our program and create a holistic plan to help the child reach milestones and goals. Because of your generosity, children have

access to services that they desperately need but are often unable to access.

We are happy to report that Yangyang is doing well, and developing a strong bond with his Cross Care Team. He and his mother warmly welcome our visits in their home where we provide therapy and educational services. Yangyang is much more engaged now in his classes, and it is a joy to see him actively particpating and concentrating during each session. We have seen great strides in his self-care independence, and improvements in motor skills, coordination and balance.

His parents are in good spirits and delighted with his progress. Future goals include Yangyang participating in more group activities, enabling him to build friendships with his peers. i

Yangyang’s life is changing. His family is stronger - because of you!

30 Years of Compassion

AFICC held our 2nd Annual “Stand for Children” Gala on Sunday, December 10th, 2023 at the Renaissance Hotel in Newport Beach, California. 220 supporters joined us for a night celebrating ICC’s 30th anniversary of bringing love, hope and opportunity to children with disabilities in China. Special guest and entertainment was provided by Keegan Ferrell — China adoptee and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist from The Voice. Part of the celebration included honoring the World Financial Group, and the unveiling of the “WFG Family Center” in Changsha which supports the work of ICC’s Family Partners Program. Thank you to all who gathered to celebrate ICC’s milestone anniversary!

Thanks to our special guests and partners:

Michele Harris - Gala Chair

David Gotts - ICC Founder & CEO

Sarah Wang and Zhentao Li

Wan Yang and Lucy Liu

Miriam Relyea

Siyan Music Academy

Southern California Hunan Association

American Orange County Chinese Federation

FGC Children’s Foundation - Seth Yu and Ling Guan WFG Champions, Ambassadors and Teams

Photos by Sheri Determan

Fang: Music from the Heart

Fang, a bright, joyful young man with a visual impairment, is a beloved member of ICC’s Forest Family. When he was little, Fang once asked his caregiver in frustration, “I can’t see, so I don’t know what red looks like. I don’t know what flowers look like. Am I useless?” Teacher Cai, upon hearing this, said to him, “Although you can’t see, you can learn and enjoy life in other ways. You can have a wonderful life too!”

Fang took these words to heart and approached each challenge in his life with characteristic optimism and grace. He learned to independently bathe and dress himself, cook rice and vegetables, and took on the task of washing the dishes for his brothers. He’s even learned how to fix a standing frame! Fang’s mantra is, “If you need anything, come to me. I’ll help with anything!”

Every time he hears someone enter the room, he will greet them warmly. He can often be found chatting with his caregivers, who affectionately call him “Fang Zai” (Zai means “my child” in Changsha dialect). Throughout his life, his greatest passion has always been music. He has a beautiful voice and a great sense of rhythm, and has learned countless songs over the years, even performing some of them at weddings.

Surrounded by the love and support of his ICC family, Fang has grown into a confident and kind-hearted young man with great hope for the future. Whether on-stage or at home with his brothers, Fang has the ability to light up any room. i