Half the Sky
OVERVIEW
From its small beginnings in the US, Half the Sky has grown into an international community, with charitable entities established in 6 major cities of the world, all dedicated to bringing the love and concern of family to thousands of orphaned children in China who have lost theirs.
Our goal is to ensure that every one of China's orphans has a caring adult in her life.
We provide individual nurture and stimulation for babies, innovative preschools that encourage an early love of learning, personalized learning opportunities for older children, and loving — and most important, permanent — foster homes for children whose special needs will keep them from being adopted. Facts about Half the Sky >>>
To learn more about our beginnings and how far we've come in our effort to reach the thousands of children who wait in China's welfare institutions, read our story.
Half the Sky's board of directors brings together child development experts and professionals from all walks of life, united in their concern for children who have no families to speak for them.
In welfare institutions across China, in offices in Beijing, Hong Kong and the United States, hundreds of Half the Sky staff members work to make certain that each of China's orphans knows that someone cares.
If you'd like to speak to us directly, please contact us.
We have also dreamed, as you know, about creating a new online
community for the rest of us – one that spans the globe and brings
together all who care about China’s once-forgotten orphans – 1 Big Family.
If it succeeds, 1 Big Family will be, in its own way, as
meaningful as the Rainbow Program. At a time when the Chinese
themselves will be running Half the Sky-inspired centers all over the
country, 1Big Family will open up a whole new world of communication, shining a light on the lives of children we all care so much about.
This is something our entire global community wishes for….
When we asked you what you wanted most for our website, you asked for
more stories about the children, more videos, more information, a
closer look into the children’s lives inside welfare institutions.
And when we asked orphanage directors and caregivers what features
they would most like to see in their new online learning community,
their number one request was for connection – with each other,
yes, but also with the children whose lives they once watched over, but
who are now gone away, scattered to parts unknown.
We realize that we are privileged to occupy a pretty special place in
the world. HTS stands in two worlds. We can be the bridge that brings
them together.
1 Big Family, the online community that will be at the heart
of our new website(coming this fall!) will be a gathering place for
people who care about the children living in China’s orphanages. It will
offer news, discussion groups, clubs for adoptive families and clubs
for adopted teens to connect with others from the same hometown. It will
have volunteer opportunities, news, and ways to share your stories,
photos, videos, learn about and – as the Rainbow Program rolls out and
our online community in China begins to include orphanages in more and
more cities and towns – ask questions of caregivers and directors.
Here are some ways you can help us get 1 Big Family started right away, even before its official launch:
StoryBank. An adoption story, a volunteer story, a story about a child
who began life in China, a story about China travels – all stories are
welcome, and a few select tales will appear not only in our StoryBank,
but also will be featured in the news. Your story must be 250 words or less and accompanied by one (or more!) high-resolution photos. Send to me at jenny@halfthesky.org.
will be an ongoing, online brainstorming session. Tell us how we can do
it better. All ideas appreciated. We can’t promise we’ll implement your
idea, but you can be sure we’ll consider it. And, we’ll be sending a
monthly prize to the favorite!
And finally, share this
with everyone you know who is concerned about the welfare of China’s
once-forgotten children. Help us unite our passionate and commited
community of supporters around the world into 1 Big Family. Together, we can really make a difference in children’s lives. Thanks to you, we know that’s true.
With love and gratitude,
Art from the Heart Inspiration
Why an Art-a-Thon?
At Half the Sky, we believe that art is a way of communicating across
every age and distance. That’s one reason we incorporated art
activities and lessons into our programs in China.
Art can also be a wonderful way to express and live out your
dreams. We’re committed to giving the children in our programs the
support they need to fulfill these dreams.
Half the Sky’s Second Annual Art-a-Thon
Art from the Heart 2011: “A Red Thread”
July 1-July 29, 2011
Express your artistic creativity while supporting children who
are living in welfare institutions across China. Celebrate the joy of
human connection, as well as the global community these special
children have inspired.
Half the Sky’s second annual art-a-thon, “Art from the Heart,”
kicks off with a new theme, “A Red Thread.” Throughout the month of
July, create your artwork while soliciting pledges and donations in
honor of your efforts. All of the money you collect will benefit Half
the Sky’s programs in China, and your work of art will be displayed in a
Half the Sky art show in California’s San Francisco Bay Area as well as
in an online gallery on our website.
All participants who raise at least $25 (or for teams, at
least $15 per team member) will receive an Art from the Heart T-shirt
and certificate signed by Half the Sky founder and CEO, Jenny Bowen.
Participation is easy, just follow these simple steps:
1. Register 2. Create and Fundraise 3. Submit Your Art 4. Celebrate
2011 Theme: “A Red Thread”
“An invisible red thread connects those who are destined
to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may
stretch or tangle, but it will never break.” -Chinese proverb
This year, we invite participants to submit work on the theme
“A Red Thread,” You can interpret the theme in any way you like—we
encourage creativity! Pieces may be abstract or realistic, painted,
drawn, sculpted, photographed, or composed with any other medium.
We look forward to seeing your work!
Recipes
intrepid high school fundraisers, Peter and Vivian Li, have come up
with yet another creative way to raise money for orphaned children—a
cookbook chock full of their favorite Chinese Recipes. The book is
geared to busy parents and kids alike—there are lots of time-saving
tips—and all proceeds go to Half the Sky. You can order Peter and
Vivian’s Delightful Chinese Recipes at Amazon. Hao Chi!
Read about Peter and Vivian's Raffle Fundraiser...
Here are a few recipes contributed by grown-up chefs:
Snacks:
Fortune Cookies
Sandi sold hundreds of boxes of her home-made
fortune cookies in a fundraising event called "Fortune to Fortune
Cookies.
Cool Chinese Traditional Summer Dishes:
Dumpling Wrapped in Bamboo Leaves
Shanghai Style Cold Smoked Fish
Noodle Salad in Peanut Butter Sauce
Minced Shrimp in Lettuce Wrap