Pizza Day !

A very generous lady who owns this restaurant invites kids and volunteers at the Orphanage for a free lunch, which includes not only pizza, but fried chicken, salad, and some Korean food. Last week we took three 3-year-olds who behaved very nicely !



Here is the sweet owner of the restaurant holding a precious little boy who is showing us

with his fingers that he is now 3 years old.

Orphans Visit an International School

A local international school here invited some of the kids from the orphanage to come to their International Day. The kids loved playing on the playground and watching the school children sing. A lot of the school kids were wearing their native costumes.

Changes are coming!

We are in the process of changing the look and feel of our website! I am excited about all of the things going on in the home. This month, we have had many new volunteers join us in the work of caring for these precious little ones! While volunteers can periodically help to ease some of the burden for the full time care givers, we are in need of hiring some new ayis to care for the children in the baby room. These care givers are vital to the growth and development of the children as they provide daily care and interaction for the babies. We are also hoping to help provide trained physical therapists to work in the rehabilitation departments. We are thankful for the collaborative effort we have been given to help give the best level of care for these children. If you feel led to walk alondside us in this effort to care for these children, please contact us for more information. More updates to follow!

Here are some recent pictures taken at a pizza lunch! We are able to rotate children through this special outing and have delicious pizza, kimbap and other tastey treats! It is always a highlight for them (and us!) Fun faces for the camera!

Party at the Adult Facility in Tianjin, China

Last week several of us were able to go to a special event honoring the ones who live at the Adult Facility here in Tianjin. There were songs and dances from the residents, and also special presentations and songs by invited guests ( workers from Samsung, local University students, and officials) Three of us represented ICCO, but thankfully weren't asked to perform. We enjoyed visiting with them afterwards and were warmed by their joy and excited smiles.

May birthdays celebrated.

Mongolian dance.

They sang a song about..."although we have no father or mother, we are happy....."

Medical Intervention: Jing Jing

Sometimes a child needs extra care that requires outside intervention. Surgery costs in China are inflating along with every other expense in modern Chinese society.

Jing Jing is a very special girl at the Tianjin orphanage. At almost 4 years old, she is a funny, stubborn, loveable girl who has captured the hearts of everyone who meets her.

Along with being adorable, tenacious, and sweet, Jing Jing is a very sick little girl. She has a serious heart condition and will need surgery to live.



Over the past week, ICCO volunteers have helped her get to Beijing for medical testing and have stayed with her at the hospital to care for her as she recovered from each procedure.

Jing Jing needs an expensive and difficult heart operation. If you can give toward that operation, please do! If you mail a check, please do not mark on the check as "for Jing Jing" but enclose a slip of paper marking that. (That's for tax purposes!)

If you give via paypal, just mark in the comments that it is for Jing Jing.

Thank you so much! We want to see this little girl thrive and enjoy a long and happy life!

Focus: Caregivers

One of the top priorities of TJICCO is providing salaries for ayis (caregivers) in the baby department. We strongly believe in the importance of nurturing, loving caregivers in the life of a child.

We also believe that having low child-to-ayi ratios is important. Babies deserve the individualized attention they need to reach their highest potential. We're committed to making that happen.

Another Tuesday Pizza Party !

Today about eight of us volunteers were able to take about seven kids, ages 4 - 8, from the orphanage out to Gold's Pizza for a delicious lunch of pizza, vegetable salad, fruit salad, hot chocolate, and spagetti. The generous owner treats us all and we are very grateful for her kindness. These kids were so excited as you can see and most of them ate way more than the adults !

Middle School Volunteers

One of ICCO's roles is to coordinate international volunteers that want to visit the CWI. This week, ICCO coordinated a visit of 16 Tianjin International School middle school students.



The students shared a day of play, games, pizza, crafts, and mutual joy.

It is a beautiful thing to see kids from all backgrounds joining together and sharing the international language of love.

Ways to be Involved: Donate

ICCO provides financial assistance in many areas. We provide the salaries for over 50 caregivers at the Children's Welfare Institute. These caregivers provide daily love and stimulation to the children in their care. Because of ICCO's involvement, the CWI is able to have low child-to-nanny ratios that allow for the best care possible. These caregivers are a fundamental, vital part of the well-being of the children.

As funds allow, we support necessary medical surgeries. Recent surgeries have included cleft lip/palate repair, heart surgery, and eye surgery.

ICCO has provided milk powder to children with special medical needs such as PKU, milk allergies, and lactose intolerance. We also provide for wheelchair repairs, leg braces, and other special medical needs.

Special gifts are given to provide children with coats, warm mittens, hats, and scarves in the winter. This little boy was squealing with joy as he received a new coat last fall.



ICCO also provides financial assistance in the Adult Facility, a separate facility in Tianjin that provides for the care of those who are too old for the CWI and unable to live independently. The adults in the Adult Facility are provided 24-hour care, physical therapy, medical care, and nutritional support.

ICCO operates solely from donations. Without donations, ICCO cannot provide any services for children. 100% of all donations go directly to caring for the children.

Donations can be given via Paypal at the link below. We also have a US mailing address on the right side of the blog if you prefer to donate that way. Thank you for loving the children enough to give!

Ways to be Involved: Volunteer

Are you interested in impacting the lives of Tianjin's precious children at the Children's Welfare Institute (CWI)?



ICCO welcomes volunteers to hold, encourage, feed, teach, and play with the children. Volunteers with specific skills such as office management, nursing, physical therapy, special education, and developmental therapy are strongly encouraged to apply those skills as part of ICCO.

Paid Chinese local staff fulfill the majority of the CWI's caregiving needs, but volunteers provide a crucial role in helping the children achieve their highest potential.



Volunteers are able to work in the orphanage Monday through Friday in the morning and afternoon.

Please contact WeiWei, ICCO's volunteer liaison, for more details and volunteer guidelines.



Please note that the email address above is not 'clickable' in order to prevent spambots. We appreciate your understanding!

Pizza party 3/24

Welcome to the Tianjin ICCO blog! We'll be sharing stories and photos on here of how ICCO is reaching out to the kids at the Tianjin Children's Welfare Institute (CWI) and how you can be involved!

Recently, a local pizza parlor(Gold Pizza) started sponsoring pizza parties for kids at the CWI. ICCO volunteers and our ICCO translator take a group of kids to Gold Pizza and the owner loads us up with delicious pizza, fruit, veggies, and drinks. The kids love the chance to get out and have fun!

Today, this group of 3 handsome young men gobbled up pepperoni pizza and giggled their way through chicken wings and hot cocoa.



They melt your heart, don't they?



A day with these kids is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face!