Xinxing Newsletter 2012

Xinxing Newsletter 2012Dear Friends of XinXing
2012 has been a busy year for the team at XinXing, we have embraced lots of opportunities and faced many challenges whilst never losing sight of the people that matter the most – the disadvantaged children who are in need of our help. 

We have been doing essential work for the vulnerable children at and out of Xinxing. We would like to share with all of you the highlights from the work that we have done over the past year. 

--- Our work with more than 122 disadvantaged children has continued over the year. From this number 21% are girls, 9% children are under 12 years old, 46% children are between 12 to16 years old.39% children are form Shaanxi province, 61% children are from other province. For 46% children we purchased tickets and assisted them to return home. From these children 37% were taken home by their parents or care givers,9% were accompanied home by Xinxing staff and 11% children are staying and living at the center. 

--- XinXing's early intervention activities (outreach program) continued to expand. We have identified more disadvantaged children in remote mountain areas around and have been able to expand our support and services for these children.With the provision of educational and consistent support to precarious children and their caregivers, we aim to minimize the risks of children dropping out of school or taking to the streets. Xinxing outreached team assisted 154 kids (84 girls and 70 boys) to stay at school. 

--- The summer camp entered its second year in mid-July. This is an activity organized by the Outreach team at Xinxing with the aim of familiarizing the disadvantaged children who live in remote mountain areas with many aspects of life in the city in order to help re-integrate them into the mainstream communities. It also provides an incentive for them to remain at school and study hard. Around 90 children and young people participated in this year’s Summer Camp Program. The summer camp was an action packed program of activities that included Visit movie theatre and watch a 3D movie, going swimming at swimming pool, eating at McDonalds, visiting the Zhougong Temple outside of Baoji and climbing mountain as well as craft and science workshops at the centre. This costly activity is totally funded by the Central Government Finance Support for Social Project. Xinxing acknowledges and appreciates their vital support. 

--- profile: Tiantian(anonymous)is a mental delayed boy who was admitted by xinxing on Nov.26th, 2012. He could not write and hardly talked, and he only said to us he wanted to return home. Xinxing staff Luo Baojun and Wang Weijie took Tiantian to the Gansu province to look for his family and relatives on Nov.28th, 2012. It was very lucky that after social investigation with several village leaders and some local people, they finally found Tiantian's father and mother. Tiantian 's family members were very happy the missing Tiantian could come back and Tiantian was very excited to see his family members. Tiantian now is happily living with his parents at home. 

---Vocational Schools: 
The cooperation between Shanghai Young Baker's training school and XinXing has proved to be a very useful one especially for the disadvantaged young people in Baoji. It should be noted that the two trainees from last year have both found employment in Shanghai and begin their careers soon. This year three of the young people from the rural mountain areas were successful in being admitted to the Shanghai Young Baker’s Training School again. Congratulations to three of them! They have already begun classes and look forward to a year of learning. 

Meanwhile we sent two of the center kids Peng Haitao and Wang Tengpeng, who are over 16 years old to go to the San He Vocational school (a local vocational school in Baoji) learning cooking skills for two years. 

--- Our program advisor Mahmoud Yektaparast went back to Australia after nearly two years dedication and voluntary work in Baoji Xinxing Aid for Street Kids Center. Many thanks to you! Xinxing has welcomed 2 new educators (Dong Bo,Huai Jinyun) and 1 social investigator Wang Yan to our team. We are certain that they will make a very positive contribution to the kids and team at Xinxing. Welcome! 

--- Xinxing welcomed one group of Year 9 students from St. Leonard’s College of Melbourne, Australia on Nov.17th, 2012. The student’s enthusiasm, open-hearted communication, actions and love deeply moved every child and staff of Xinxing Center. The St. Leonard's students and teachers raised AUS$ 5069 for the XinXing team this year. 

---Up coming news and events: 
ChiFan for Charity has approved a generous grant valued at 150000 RMB for the year 2013 for Xinxing. The Global Fund for Children has approved a grant of US$13000 to support the children at Xinxing as well as the outreach program. 

This year a number of companies and organisations have supported us immensely by the variety forms of participation – without their help we could not accomplish the work that we did. 
We would like to espeically thank the following partners and contributors. 
• Australian Volunteers International
• China Charities Aid Foundation for Children
• Right to Play(China)
• The Global Fund for Children
• T he Central Government Finance Support for Social Project
• The Relief Station of Baoji City
• St. Leonard’s College of Melbourne in Australia
• Western Development Foundation
• Shanghai Young Bakers