Mama’s Wish - Letters of Gratitude

During the past school year 100 Mama’s Wish students wrote letters to their sponsors. Each of these letters were as and unique as the girls that wrote them. The girls wrote about their families and the poverty of their villages, life at school and their dreams for the future. But the one thing all these amazing letters had in common was each young woman’s undying gratitude for the help she has received.

“When I couldn’t attend school due to my financial difficulties, you, though located so far away, extended a pair of helping and warm hands to me and pulled me out of my difficulties. In my heart, I truly feel happiness. Due to my family’s financial difficulties, I almost had to quit school. It was you that provided me this opportunity to continue studying

Many of the students wrote about the struggles their families face. Most of the girls come from very small, remote villages with little economic opportunity. Their families are struggling to make ends meet with an average income of only $98 a year.

“My family’s financial situation is very bad. Both my father and mother are working. It’s very difficult for us to pass the days. My parents were willing to continue supporting me only because I studied well. Otherwise, I would have been married out very early. It was at this time that you, like a deity, appeared in my life. Only because of your help was I able to regain brightness in my life.” ~ZhaXi

“Everyone in my family is a farmer. Our financial situation isn’t too good. My mom is disabled. We rely on the Chinese caterpillar fungus that my mother and brother dig up and sell in order to pay for our living expenses. My parents have worked hard and been through many difficulties.”~DuoJi

One of the most heartwarming things the girls wrote about was their genuine desire to give back to their communities as a way to repay the gift that has been given to them.

“I will use what you’ve shown me with your selfless and love-filled contribution to go help and protect other people.” ~SangJi

I admire the;" size of your heart. You have inspired me to study hard so I can help someone as you have helped me. I wish you all of the health and prosperity in the world. ~LiMao

To all our wonderful Mama’s Wish sponsors we send,"Ten Thousands and Thousands of thanks to you. Your gift truly is making dreams come true for these amazing young women.

2008-09 Mama’s Wish Sponsorship

Mama’s Wish is currently looking for a few new sponsors for the upcoming 2008-09 school year. Sponsorships for a student to attend high school are just $10 per month. A one year sponsorship covers education fees, with some left over to help support living expenses. As a sponsor you will receive education reports with photos of your student, and you will have the opportunity to send and receive correspondence.

We also have several college students who are in need of sponsorship help for the upcoming school year. These amazing young women have beaten all the odds, passed the entrance exams, and are now attending University. With our help these bright women are on their way to fulfilling their dreams of becoming doctors, teachers, and community leaders. College sponsorships start at $35 a month.

You can learn more about the Mama’s Wish Education program by visiting our website http://www.angelcovers.org/mamawish.html
Photos of the students currently needing sponsorship can be found here: http://www.angelcovers.org/mamawishsponsorship.html

If you are interested in sponsoring a student or have questions about the Mama’s Wish program please contact Karen@angelcovers.org

Karen MacNair- Mama’s Wish Sponsorship Coordinator

Every Mother's Wish

Angel Covers decided to add the Mama's Wish program one year ago. We were not only excited by the opportunity, but were confident we could find sponsors for the 50 or so girls we agreed to send to school. Then something amazing happened. Sponsors came forward for 100 girls (93 high school and 7 college) and all were sent to school. Children who had been told there was no hope of attending high school were suddenly told to pack their bags. Many tears were shed around the world as these girls' lives were changed forever.

One year later, we have the honor of planning for the second year of this program. Three of "our" high school girls have graduated and are now waiting on the results of their college entrance exams while we work on finding sponsors for them for college....with full confidence they will be accepted.

Reports recently sent to sponsors included letters from their girls. All are honored to have the opportunity to attend school, and many feel they are learning first hand how to spread joy and kindness to others. Here is a small part of one young woman's letter.

"I hope to become as kindhearted as you, so starting from this year, I will take the compassion you have shown to me and use it to be just as compassionate to others around me. I helped out one of the girls in our village. Everyone knows about her because last year her father passed away. Afterwards, there was only her mother to help pay for her expenses. They truly are very poor, so I gave them a pair of shoes and a pair of pants. To others, this may not seem like any sort of help, but to a really poor family, getting financial help is as difficult as the sky is vast."

We are thrilled to know that most of the 100 sponsors will be able to continue their sponsorship for the coming year. We are looking for a few new sponsors though, so if you or someone you know is able to help these amazing girls, please contact Karen at karen@angelcovers.org She would be happy to match you with a child, whose life you will completely change.

Our First Visit at TongRen...2007

As we round the turn to enter the school there stood lines of students, teachers, and parents in two long rows to welcome us. We climb out of the car and are greeted with the placement of Heda’s around out neck. Heda's are Tibetan prayer shawls. To see the parents who some have traveled many miles, even days to meet us was a humbling experience. Most do not have transportation and so must walk or they may catch a ride for some of the way, but again, many spent most of their travels on their feet. The love for their children and the appreciation they have for the opportunity of education given to their children is seen in their eyes and faces, but difficult to express in words.

We had lunch with the girls and later on in the evening there was a party where the girls performed with singing and dancing. They had a great amount of talent and enthusiasm. We ended the evening with the exchange of gifts for the college students.

The next day we began taking photos of each of the girls and began the interviews of each of the girls. This process took two wholes days and into the evenings. I learned so much about the girls through these interviews. As sponsors, when you get the reports you will too learn more about the girls you sponsor. What I found most intriguing at the beginning was many had similar answers to the question of if they needed anything. They want composition books and English/Chinese and other translation dictionaries. The most difficult answer that a few of the girls said was to have money to able to go home on the weekends even just once a month. I asked them how much a taxi would cost for the round trip and found that the cost is between 5-7 RMB, yes less than $1! It was very difficult not to reach into my pocket at that moment and give them that wish.

They all spend most of their time studying and all want to go to college when they finish. Most said they want to be a teacher or a doctor and want to come back to Tongren or their home village to help others they way Mama’s Wish is helping them. Almost all the students say that their most favorite activities are singing and dancing, and many said badminton and reading.

When I asked the students to tell me about a favorite memory, some said when they found out that they can go back to school, many said it was the day they graduated from middle school and the teachers took the students to a field for a party to celebrate their completion of middle school. What I found most touching is that some of the girls said that on the weekends that they get to go back to home, their favorite memory is brushing their moms hair and washing their dad’s feet.
Despite the extreme poverty and challenging lives, these girls have hope and a sparkle in their eye. They study very hard because they know that if they succeed in school, it will provide the opportunity to alleviate the poverty for them, their family, and even the village they are from. They are all thankful to their sponsors who have given them the gift they thought was denied…the gift of hop, the gift of education!

Laureen Dorow

Education Director