Today a dream 4 years in the making came true. The Calary Canada-China Friendship Association (of which I am president and Ted treasurer) joined forces with the University Chinese Scholars & Students Association to kick off our Shou La Shou (Hand in Hand) program. Families with an adopted Chinese girl were matched with Chinese nationals studying at the University. It is a win-win program for us all. CCCFA will bear any costs and we have volunteers from both associations helping make it work.
Sheila Power (past president) and I attended a forum in China in 2004 and learned about a similar program in Australia, and were inspired to establish a similar one here.
We held a reception for about 65 families, scholars and volunteers, in a large community room at a local supermarket. The venue was free, a beautiful location, full of light and sun yesterday.
It was a joy for us to see how well they all bonded and shared with one another. Now each matched pair will meet for at least an hour a month. It is a great opportunity for foreign students to extend their networks by helping families keep in touch with their adoptive children's homeland, history and culture.
We made up loot bags of cheese, fruit, chips, juice and lucky red Chinese NY envelopes. The students also made colourful paper table flower arrangements and had a wrapped gift for each child. It was so much fun.
After their bonding and snack time, a local Chinese mandarin teacher led a fun Chinese song and dance session aimed at kids 3 to 93.
So far we've recruited 11 families with 13 kids - a great start.
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