LWB Community

Running Through China: Thoughts Before Boarding

The bags are full to brimming with medical supplies and baby vitamins; we’ve got bubbles and matchbox cars and necklaces and stickers; and just like on my adoption trips…..I have a million different thoughts and emotions running through my mind as I prepare to board the plane to China for our week-long visit with many of the people involved with LWB.
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Jo from Jingzhou

Even older girls love a field trip to the zoo! This photo of 15-year old Jo was taken during the Believe in Me — Jingzhou field trip to the zoo in March. Despite her epilepsy and severe seizures that sometimes disrupt her life, Jo is a very good student who works extremely hard. About a year ago, she had a medical setback and as a result has had to work extra hard to catch up academically. Her character writing is truly lovely. We really admire her perseverance and work ethic!

Jo is one of the children featured in our first annual “Sponsor a Child, Change a Life” program in honor of International Children’s Day. Just $20 a month would cover her school fees for Believe In Me so she can continue in this excellent education program. Please visit our website to learn more about her and other children just waiting for sponsors!
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A Day in the Life: Getting To Know LWB’s Education Volunteers

Joy.  Glee.  Fun!  It seems like every time we see photos like this one from our Believe In Me school in Jinjiang, someone is laughing, playing and having a ball.  What a pleasure it must be for the Education volunteers to be a part of this!  We’d like you to meet two of these Education volunteers as part of our continuing series, “A Day in the Life”.  While these two volunteers work with very different types of educational programs, they both have the opportunity to help individuals learn and reach for potential they never even knew they had.

Marilee Gilmore, Believe In Me –Jinjiang Coordinator: I found LWB on the Internet when searching for a foster child to sponsor in 2005. I had been so blessed by the adoption of my daughter from South Korea in 1984 and wanted to give back a little to another international child. I had researched different foundations and was amazed that this all-volunteer organization could do so much with the money contributed. A year later I joined the Education Team as a volunteer and have been with them ever since. I have been fortunate to be the Coordinator of Believe In Me-Jinjiang since we established the school in 2007.
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Calling All Educators!

Are you an educator or a special educator, or someone who has connections to a school?  Are you a professional who works with children who have special needs?   If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may be able to help us with an important project for our LWB Education program!

Most of the students in our Believe In Me Schools have mild to moderate special needs.  As the population attending our schools grows and changes, we continue to provide our teachers with the essential ongoing support and training that they need.  As part of this training, we are hoping to put together videos of various special education lessons or activities, as well as some general education activities in the areas of art and music, to provide to the teachers at our Believe In Me Schools.
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A Day In the Life of the Ladies of Human Resources

Did you realize that LWB has a Human Resources Department? Managing the 170 volunteers from around the world who make LWB run is one of those behind the scenes operations that most people don’t really consider.   However, without our HR department to recruit, hire and train volunteers…LWB would grind to a halt! Our HR department consists of three amazing women who were kind enough to give us a glimpse into their lives with LWB.

Kristine Fornek, Human Resources Director for LWB: As a new first-time Mom to an incredible six year old son who is taking the world by storm (seen hamming it up in the top photo), I am kept rather busy…my own world has been ROCKED and I’m loving life!  I work full time during the day as a recruiter and spend time after work with my son doing homework, reading, games, etc. After dinner and bedtime stories, it’s time for LWB. I get correspondence from volunteers all over the world. I work with an incredible team of women, and together we do things like process and track new applicants, assist Program Managers with their hiring needs, document job descriptions, etc. No two days are alike, and that is one aspect that makes this role so enjoyable.
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