International China Concern was begun in January 1993 after the current Executive Director, Mr. David J. Gotts, traveled into an orphanage in Southern China to see the conditions that many of China's orphans are living in. At that time it was known that there were few organisations involved in relief work with Chinese orphans and so it was decided that an organisation would be set up to encourage those in the west and those in Asia to support these needy children.
In January 1993, International China Concern was established in the central city of Taichung, Taiwan. In early 1996, International China Concern moved to the strategic location of Hong Kong and was incorporated as a Hong Kong charitable institution in 1996.
International China Concern is governed by an Executive Board, with an International Advisory Board made up of people with specialized skills who advise the Executive Board.
Initially, the main work of ICC was to organize teams of professional people, such as doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists to visit orphanages in China and to be involved in the rehabilitation of handicapped children and also training local workers. This work continues and international teams travel to the orphanages in China every two months. International China Concern also acts as a channel through which finances, medicines, clothing and rehabilitation equipment can be given to China's orphanages. Much has been done in these Welfare Centers by ICC in recent years.
Apart from short term teams, ICC has two main areas of focus. The first area is to provide rehabilitation services to the mentally and physically handicapped orphans in China. In January 1997, Oasis House was established as a joint venture with the a Welfare Center in South East China. This is a residential rehabilitation, nursing and training center providing care for 30 of the most needy orphans within the Welfare Center. International China Concern is approved by the Civil Affairs in South China to open a residential school and vocational training centre for orphans. This centre (Living Stones Village) will be the first of its kind in the province and will give orphan children the opportunity to develop skills to enable them to find employment after graduation. It is expected that this centre will open in February 1999.
The second focus is to provide specialized training for orphanage workers in the province. An agreement has been reached between the Provincial government and ICC to train all such workers within the social welfare system. ICC, through utilizing it's medical contacts and staff, has established a five month residential training program for Orphanage workers that includes training in the following areas: nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, child development, and primary education.
Further projects planned for 1998, including a kindergarten and the expansion of the Chinese worker training program, which includes the construction of a new training center and office have been completed.
Currently, ICC receives most of its support from private overseas donations and sponsorship support, with other backing coming through educational trusts and charities. ICC recognizes the importance of partnerships with other charitable and aid organizations. At this time, ICC is being sponsored by a Netherlands based organization called "Save the Child" and an American Foundation called "Pathfinders", an educational trust. ICC also receives support from Jubilee Action and Childhood Friends, both U.K. based organizations.
The Hong Kong office of ICC is responsible for the total administration and overseeing of development work. This includes fund-raising, communications, relief team organisation, coordination of medical supplies and services, training staff, networking and coorperation with other organisations. It also includes the recruitment of long term staff and the development and maintaining of local government relations. The SAR of Hong Kong, as a major communications, finance and travel hub, is the ideal place for ICC's head office operations. It is our desire that more Hong Kong residents will become involved in the work of ICC because of our Hong Kong base.
Within China today there is a move to work alongside private organisations such as ICC for the good of China's orphans. The current openness with which ICC has been welcomed by the Mainland Chinese government signifies the avenue of opportunity for organisations such as ICC. Looking to the future, ICC will utilize every means possible to raise the awareness of peoples of the world, both in the east and west, to the opportunities to help the disabled, unwanted, and orphaned children in China and the wider Asia region.
