GeJiu Service Trip-Part 1: The Children

 The Kunming International Academy annual spring service trip, a chance for our high school students to obtain service hours (a requirement for graduation), took us to an orphanage outside the city of GeJiu, about a five-hour bus ride south-southeast of Kunming.  This is the first installment in a series of picture about that trip.  This particular set of photos looks at the children of the orphanage and how KIA's students served them during our trip.

 When I saw this young boy's sweatshirt, I could not help but add him to the photo album.  Because I was born and raised in Nebraska, I naturally loved seeing this Big Red hoodie.  In this photo, Nathan (grade 10, USA) tumbles with one of the orphanage's special needs children.  Looking on is Lexi (grade 12, USA) who also helped in the special needs ward. 

 Anna (grade 9, USA) has her hands full taking care of three young ones at the orphanage.  The staff at this facility is gentle and caring, but there is only so much a limited number of hands can do to provide these children with the personal time they need to develop.  KIA's students provided relief to the staff members and time for the children; it may have only been for four days, but everyone seemed to enjoy the change of atmosphere.

 Marie (grade 12, Austria) helps during bath time.  Having a younger sister of her own, Marie is particularly adept at taking care of little ones.  Her smile and tender voice calmed the children before, during, and after their baths.

 One thing that seems to be universal is that children love music.  The children at the orphanage in GeJiu are no different.  Hanmi (grade 10, Korea) and Tasha (grade 12, Singapore) sing songs with the toddlers from the children's ward.  As is the case with children around the world, the music had a way of calming down the little ones at the orphanage.

Outdoor play is something that is made so much easier when many more hands are present.  The staff at the orphanage provide time for the children to play inside and outside, but with the difference between the number of children and the number of staff being so great, sometimes the children do not receive personal attention.  In this photo, Tim (grade 12, USA) helps a daring boy ride his scooter down a decline.  Having one high school student to himself, this boy proceeded to ride the slope many times over.

No orphanage is an ideal place; the mere fact that orphanages exist is sad.  However, based on the number of horror stories circulating about orphanages around the world, this particular facility is idyllic in its cleanliness and in the way its staff cares for the children.  And while our students received the opportunity to serve the staff and children of this facility, there is little doubt that the joy of both groups ultimately served one another.