​Bird Home: July Project Progress Report

The Jingjieniao Home is in Xi’an, Shan’xi province. It provides services for the mentally handicapped from poverty-stricken families. The organization is dedicated to improving their spirit and living standards and advocating for every disabled individual to have adequate access to social resources.
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In July, Bird Home hosted many activities. The children not only got to receive donations from kind-hearted people across many different fields, but also began a meaningful summer camp activity.

1. On July 1st, 2015, our home welcomed a group of American high school students. They had uniforms and enthusiastic smiles on their faces. With their gifts of kindness, the students visited children at Jingjienaio Home who are of the same age but under completely different circumstances as themselves.
2. On July 6th, 2015, at 9 in the morning, 40 fashionable-dressed students speaking Cantonese from Yuehua Middle School in Macau came to Jingjieniao Home to begin their fifth day in the Learning about the Motherland and Loving China – Visiting Shaanxi and Central Plains Culture Camp. They brought coloring books, markers, and other stationary supplies for children who are of the same age but under completely different circumstances as themselves.
3. Out to the circus! On the afternoon of July 15th, teachers from our home and volunteers from Anhui Normal University took each child to Qingxing Park for a circus show, so the children can enjoy the lively Five Continents Circus Performance. We came early to Qingxing Park so the children can enjoy their day out to the fullest extent. To ease the heat, the Home even brought watermelons for cooling off. It was near 10 p.m. when the circus ended. Our home rented a bus to take the children back. Although the children were still naughty, and the teachers and volunteers were still tired, but seeing how much fun the children had, the teachers and volunteers were very happy and had a sense of accomplishment.
4. On the morning of 17th of July, 2015, teachers from our home and volunteers from Anhui Normal University took the children to the beautiful Nanhu Playground, giving the children a special outdoor physical education class. The volunteers each took one child on the car and playing. For this activity, we really wanted to thank Yangyang’s mother, who gave the children two boxes of Wanglaoji beverages. In nature, breathing the fresh air and seeing the beautiful scenery, we were truly enjoying the joy of living! The special entertainment facilities added some fun to the physical education course, making the children excited about the class. 
5. This afternoon is also the time for the international volunteers to leave the Home. During the few weeks of their program, they formed great relationships with the children. Let our group photo commemorate this period of time we will miss in the future. Thank you for all your continued altruism and we welcome you to visit our home again．
6. Jingjieniao Summer Camp 2015:　Xi’an entered “sauna mode” these past two days. The children in the Home can only go to class in the air-conditioned rooms and watch TV. They were very board. Although it is cool indoors, our “mother birds” want to let the children enjoy the summer fun without the torturous heat, so they organized this summer camp activity. On July 28th, everyone in the Home took a comfortable bus ride to the mountains. The children got to play in the creeks. The teachers carried students with mobility problems around the forest and creeks. We also tasted unique farm food．The heat could not stop our traveling footsteps. The Tang Dynasty Town left a lasting impression on us. These two days of summer camp allowed the children to experience both rural and metropolitan environments and to expand their knowledge and worldview.  

Original article written by Zhaohao Feng, translated and edited by Allison Zhang