Mama's Wish - Back To School

As I sent my kids off to their first day of school this morning, I couldn't help thinking of all our Mama's Wish students who are also returning to school. For each of these girls the simple act of going to school is truly a dream come true and would not be possible without the generous support from their sponsors. I am so proud of all of our Mama's Wish students and how far they have come. But my thoughts also turn to all the girls in the very remote, impoverished villages of QingHai province that may never get this opportunity, and how different their futures will be.

"Without your help, it wouldn't be possible to attend school. The only options I would have were to do labor at home or be married out. I am most grateful to you for you have changed my destiny. Thank you for your kind heart." ~Nan

For as little as $11 a month ($130 yr) you too can sponsor a Mama's Wish student and give her the opportunity to attend high school. We have many new girls that currently need sponsors and I'd love to match them ASAP so they too will have the chance to attend school. As a sponsor you will receive letters and photos from your student and have the opportunity to write back to her if you'd like.

As you send your kids back to school, please take moment to consider giving one of these bright girls this same precious opportunity.

"Wishing you every day happy!"

Karen MacNair
Mama's Wish Sponsorship Coordinator
karen@angelcovers.org
http://www.angelcovers.org/mamawish.html

Mama's Wish - Letters from the Heart

It is always such a delight when we receive a big batch of letters and photos from our Mama's Wish students. We are so happy to be able to share these letters with their sponsors. Some of the letters are funny and sweet, while others are quite poignant and moving.

Dear Sponsor,
I grew up in a poor family in a rural nomadic village. Since my family is really poor, our school fees became a big problem and a huge family burden. In order to earn money my grandparents always left home to do temporary work even though they are very old. I told them many times that I want to leave school and help them earn money, but they disagree with me and don't want to damage my life.

Your help is like a lamp in the dark and brought brightness to my life. You have given me courage to try all the things that I'm interested. When I write this letter my heart is full of appreciation. I will always keep your kindness in my heart, study hard and never disappoint you.

Warm regard,
Zheng

Dear respected sponsor,
I am 17 years old and come from a poor rural family. My dream is to become a useful and talented person in the future.

My mother is deaf but she is capable of doing housework. I am really happy that my mother, who has never been educated, wants all her children to go to school. I am very proud of her, but at the same time I feel sorry for her. She is suffering so much because of her children. Being a daughter I want to stay home and help her with everything I can. But she does not allow me to do so. She hopes that we siblings have a happy life. No matter how hard she works, it is so difficult for such a poor family when there is no man who can support the family.

Just when I was not sure if I could continue, your kindness has given me this chance to continue my study and to become a knowledgeable person. Your kind help has given me hope for my future. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Best wishes to you!
Suonan

Thank you to all our wonderful Mama's Wish sponsors who are making these dreams come true.

Karen MacNair
Mama's Wish Education Program
http://www.angelcovers.org/mamawish.html

Empower a Girl with Mama's Wish

We are delighted to welcome several new girls to our Mama's Wish Education Program. These very smart and determined girls have beaten all the odds, and we would love to find new sponsors for them as soon as possible.

These bright girls come from very poor villages in rural QingHai Province in China - where attending school is often just a dream, especially if you are a girl. Without this opportunity for education, most of these girls would have been forced into marriage at a very young age, and work in the fields to support their struggling families. With our help they now aspire to be teachers, scientists and doctors. All of our students are incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and each of them looks forward to giving back to their communities.

For just $130 you can sponsor a high school student for an entire school year, and help give her the tools she needs to succeed. As a Mama's Wish sponsor you will receive letters and photos of your student. You'll also have the opportunity to send her letters if you wish. Our students love to receive letters!

You can learn more about the Mama's Wish Education Program and see photos of our available students here: http://www.angelcovers.org/mamawish.html

"We wish you everyday happy!"

Karen MacNair
Mama's Wish Sponsorship Coordinator

Mama's Wish - Changing Lives Forever

For $11 you could treat yourself to 3 iced lattes, order a pizza, perhaps buy the latest DVD... or you could change a girl's life forever by giving her the gift of education.

For only $11 a month (or $130 a year) you can sponsor a high school student in rural China and give her the tools she needs to make positive changes in her life, and in her community.

These smart, hard working and very determined girls have beaten all the odds, but with an average family income of just $100 a year, a high school education is just a dream. Without the opportunity for education, many of these girls would be forced into marriages at a very early age, and work menial jobs to support their families. With our help they now aspire to be teachers, doctors and scientists, and they look forward to the day they can give back to their communities.

We are currently looking for new sponsors for the girls joining the program this fall. Can you help? As a sponsor you will receive letters and photos of your student, and updates on her progress. You'll also have the opportunity to send letters to her.

Please contact karen@angelcovers.org and we'll be happy to match you with one of these promising new students... and you too can help change a life forever.

Karen MacNair
Mama's Wish Education Program
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58 Dreams Come True

Recently 56 of our Mama's Wish students graduated from high school, and two of our students graduated from university. Truly a dream come true for all of them!

Graduating came as no small feat since each of these students came from incredibly poor, rural areas in China, where attending school is just a dream - especially if you are a girl.

Each of these bright young women have worked incredibly hard and have overcome so many obstacles. We are so very proud of all of them. No matter where the future leads these girls, there is no question their lives have been forever changed by the priceless gift our sponsors have given them. Thank you!

We are very excited to soon welcome a new group of students to the Mama's Wish program for the 2009-'10 school year, and we're currently looking for new sponsors. For as little as $11 a month ($130 yr) you too can help change a girl's life forever by giving her the gift of knowledge. If you are interested in sponsoring a Mama's Wish student please contact karen@angelcovers.org and we'll be happy to match you with one of these new students.

Karen MacNair
Sponsorship Coordinator - Mama's Wish Education Program

Mama's Wish Letters Are Here!

We are delighted to have just received another big batch of letters from our Mama's Wish students. We are so pleased to be able to send these letters to their sponsors. They are wonderful to read and give a small glimpse into the girls' lives. Many of the girls write about their family's traditions during the recent Lunar New Year celebration, including sharing meals with relatives, visiting the local temple and a hair cutting ceremony. I was very touched by how many girls, despite their own hardships, wrote of their concern for their sponsor's well being during these tough economic times. Each of the girls are so incredibly grateful for the opportunity their sponsors are giving them.

We still have several students that need sponsors. I would love to be able to send their letters to their new sponsors. Please visit our website to see their photos. http://www.angelcovers.org/mamawishsponsorship.html
We are hopeful that we can find sponsors for these bright girls.

If you are interested in sponsoring a Mama's Wish student, please contact karen@angelcovers.org

In the words of Mama's Wish student Li Mao - "I wish you everyday happy."

Karen MacNair
Sponsorship Coordinator - Mama's Wish Education Program

Mama’s Wish Sponsors Needed

Over the past year and a half our wonderful Mama’s Wish sponsors have given the amazing gift of knowledge to over 100 bright girls in the rural QingHai Province of China. These young students aspire to be doctors and teachers, scientist and lawyers, and each one dreams of the day she will be able to give back to her community. But without our help these dreams would not be possible. Most of these girls would have been forced into marriage at a very young age, working menial jobs to support their families.

We now have three high school students and one college student who are in need of new sponsors. These are incredibly hard working students that deserve our help.

#7 - Duojie is in her third year of high school. She hopes to become a female politician. Her favorite subjects are geography and politics. She enjoys climbing mountains and singing.

#92 - Wan is in her second year of high school. Her favorite subject is Chinese. She is very motivated and works hard on her school work. In her free time she enjoys being with her friends.

#97 - Li is in her second year of high school. She looks forward to being able to give back to her community and helping other poor children in the future. She is an excellent student and earns very high grades.

#1001 - Gen has beaten all the odds and is now attending college! Her goal is to become a biology teacher in her home town. She works very hard and gets excellent grades. During her vacations, she volunteers her time teaching poor children in the rural countryside.

Can you help these bright girls? For just $120 we can send one student to high school for a year, while $1350 funds a year of college. College fees can easily be split among several donors to keep payments affordable.

If you are interested in sponsoring any of these students, please contact karen@angelcovers.org

More information on the Mama’s Wish Program can be found at our website: http://www.angelcovers.org/mamawish.html

Thank you for giving these girls this priceless gift of knowledge.

Karen MacNair
Sponsorship Coordinator - Mama’s Wish Education Program

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 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.

Sichuan Earthquake

All of us were devastated to hear of the earthquake in China a week ago. The numbers of lives lost and children left orphaned is still unknown. Family members are still searching for each other, and rubble is still being sifted. But, in all the devastation, stories of wonderful acts of kindness are emerging.

I recently received some of the most heartwarming pictures I've ever seen. The Mama's Wish program supports orphaned and severely impoverished girls by providing them with the opportunity to receive a high school and college education. These girls come to school with very little, and completely rely on sponsors for their financial support. Many attend the Tongren school in the Qinghai. We were expecting to hear the worst news about these amazing girls, but were thrilled to learn that all of the Mama's Wish girls and their teachers were safe after the earthquake hit.

What was equally overwhelming to me was the generosity these extremely poor children have shown in the face of the devastation. Students wrote our facilitator in China expressing their concern for her and her family. But more than that, they participated in a fundraiser at their school for victims of the earthquake. At first glance you might not think much about that. But what must be understood is that these girls don't have the $1 US it costs to take the bus home on the weekend. Their families, if they have one, have an average income of less than $100 a year. Many have seen family members die because of untreated, basic illnesses.

And yet, they lined up to help those less fortunate.

I have always said that the kids in our programs are my heroes. They take the worst circumstances and completely change lives....their own and others. I am honored to know them.