History
Hope House has finally become a reality, more than two years after it was first envisioned.  In 1997 ICC was given money to renovate the main orphanage playroom and to provide an educational program for the kindergarten children. At that time it was planned to commence building a Hope House in early 1998 but for many reasons it didn’t occur; the major one being the welfare centre director’s tentative plans to later demolish the building we expected to use.

Instead, Gertrud Schweizer, an ICC staff member, began to work in the orphanage. She recruited and supervised a number of new Chinese workers, who worked throughout the orphanage.  About Autumn 1998, the orphanage director suggested that ICC withdraw its workers from one of the departments and take over total control of the other.  We agreed to take care of the younger children with disabilities.

ICC commenced minor renovations to Hope House at the beginning of March this year and on April 15^th we were able to move 28 babies with disabilities and 11 kindergarten children into their new home.  Since then, at least ten more babies have been moved in.   With new arrivals about once a month and the adoption of some of the children, the number fluctuates between fifty and fifty-five.

Room of Joy
The Room of Joy is home to 10 children who range in age from three to eight years.   Attached to the Room of Joy is a living room, which is used as both a dining room and a playroom.  There are plans to build a doll’s corner and to buy more toys, when time permits. The Room of Joy was recently fitted out with lovely custom-made bunk beds and small cupboards, enabling each child to have his own space for the first time.  We employ four caregivers to look after these children 24 hours a day. The Room of Joy also has a classroom, as well as a little area for hand and face washing and teeth cleaning.  For bathing and toileting they use the communal orphanage facilities. 

All of the children in the Room of Joy attend a kindergarten class, which they really enjoy. We employ two teachers and the children are in class from 8.30 until 11.00 in the morning and 2.00 until 4.00 in the afternoon.  We have painted their schoolroom and have bought nice desks and chairs. The children usually have some gymnastics at the beginning of school. They do maths, writing and reading, learn poems and have music lessons.

Room of Glory
In the Room of Glory there are about 15 toddlers and small children.  All of the children in the Room of Glory have disabilities; some quite minor and some very severe.   They are looked after 24 hours a day, by eleven caregivers who work in shifts.  Since the Room of Glory is located next to the babies’ playroom, these children make most use of it.  At present, due to a large number of babies arriving during the middle of the year, half of the playroom has been converted into a bedroom for five children.

Room of Grace
Thirteen toddlers and small children live in this room.  All of them are quite disabled.  They are looked after 24 hours a day, by 9 caregivers who work in shifts.   This room, along with the room of Glory and Love, was fitted out with baby changing facilities and a milk formula preparation area, complete with a microwave oven.  The improvements brought about in this room, as well as all of the others in Hope House are truly remarkable.

Room of Love
The youngest children live in the Room of Love - the majority are children aged from a few days old up to one year, with a couple about eighteen months old.  This is the room where we welcome the incoming children. At the moment we have 13 children living there.  Most of these children are physically disabled and a few are intellectually disabled.   Nine caregivers work in this room, covering the full 24 hours, in shifts.

Progress
With the higher standard of care available, due to a much higher ratio of workers to children, we are seeing major progress with many of our Hope House children.  They are all cleaner, better nourished and the older children are better behaved, now that they have a more structured day, with interesting things to do.  Many who were withdrawn have responded wonderfully to the love they receive and are communicating both with other children and the workers.  It is a joy to see what God has enabled us to accomplish, in partnership with people overseas, who have generously supported our work.

About ICC | Hand in Hand | Oasis House | Hope House
Living Stones Village | Opportunities | Contact | Cards