This post was written by a guest writer, Claire Hamilton. Thanks for contributing, Claire! While it has recently been popular for people to occasionally go to an orphanage to visit and play games with the children, the work of Hope Station goes far beyond merely caring for the orphans on a surface level. There may be both advantages and disadvantages to carrying out these occasional visits. However, I have personally learned a lot from observing how deeply Hope Station recognises and prioritises the practical and emotional needs of the children they serve. Hope Station identifies that many of the orphans have special needs which require medical attention, therapy and specialised education. Founder and Director Rebekah Wilder is a qualified behavioural therapist who aims to provide the children served by Hope Station with the special treatment they each require. Of course, the children need love, fun and attention; and yet, Hope Station realises how crucial it is to deliver above and beyond to make a long-term impact on their lives. During my internship I had the privilege of observing Rebekah carry out therapy with a beautiful thirteen-year-old girl called Hannah. Hannah has spent her entire life in the orphanage, and she is now too old to be adopted. Rebekah explained to me how Hannah has marked a great move forward in Hope Station’s journey. Generally, in Chinese culture it takes a long time to build rapport and prove there is trust in a relationship before a favour will be asked from someone; this is known as ‘guanxi.’ Given this cultural understanding that comes with asking a favour, it is incredibly exciting that the orphanage staff asked Rebekah to trial her therapy programme with Hannah. The nannies explained that despite their efforts, Hannah has problems with communicating and they remain unsure how to improve the situation. The fact that they outright requested Rebekah’s help is a great testament to the positive impact that Hope Station has made so far.
By observing this therapy, I have learned how important it is to have the proper expertise to work towards improving the lives of orphans. As an organisation that understands the specific needs each child has and strives to know how best they can serve each child, please support Hope Station in this endeavour. We can all play a role in loving these children. Supporting, praying and giving to a charity with clear priorities in place is a great way to play our part in loving and standing for these children.
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A note from Rebekah...If you've ever wondered what it would be like to start a nonprofit from the ground up, to open a home for ORPHANS with special needs in Asia, you've come to the right place. Archives
August 2019
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