Liming Family facts for kids

Liming Family is a special organization in Hebei Province, China. It's run by a group of Catholic nuns called the Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. This organization helps children who are orphans or have disabilities. It also supports families with members who have special needs.

Liming Family started as a small home for abandoned babies with disabilities. Now, it has grown into a place that offers many services. These include a center for physical therapy, a training center for job skills, and a nursing home.

How Liming Family Started and Grew

The Beginning of Liming Family

The Liming Family began as a Catholic orphanage in Ningjin County, Hebei Province. In the late 1980s, more and more children with disabilities were abandoned. At first, local Christians took turns caring for them. This made it hard for the children to have a stable home or get a good education.

In 1988, a local bishop named Wang Chong Lin helped. He found a small house, about 40 square meters, and turned it into an orphanage. He asked the Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus to run it. In 1998, the orphanage officially got its name: "Liming Family." This name means "the dawn of children with disabilities starts here," showing hope for a new beginning.

How Liming Family Developed

In April 2002, Liming Family started a new program. They began sending some children who were not severely ill or disabled to live with foster families. This helped these children experience a normal family life.

Later in October 2002, a training center for young people was opened. Because of this, Liming Family's work was split into two main parts. One group focused on nursing and helping children with physical needs. The other group focused on teaching job skills. These two groups later became the Rehabilitation Station and the Vocational Training & Rehabilitation Center. Some children who improved enough could even go to regular schools. Those who needed more help received special education at the Liming Family orphanage.

Liming Family's Special Centers

Liming Family Rehabilitation Station

In 2006, Liming Family officially registered a special center. It was called the GaoYi County “Liming Family Rehabilitation Station.” This center helps children improve their physical movement. It's open not only to children from Liming Family but also to other children in the community.

The station helps children with conditions like cerebral palsy with special exercises. It also teaches children with severe needs how to take care of themselves better.

NingJin Vocational Training & Rehabilitation Center

In 2013, Liming Family opened another official center. This one was named the NingJin County “Liming Vocational Training and Rehabilitation Center.” This center helps people with disabilities learn job skills.

It gives young adults who grew up in the orphanage a chance to learn and grow. They get training in different jobs based on what they can do. This center also offers professional training to people with intellectual disabilities from other orphanages and families.

Biancun Liming Family Nursing Department

Also in 2013, Liming Family created the Biancun Liming Family Nursing Department. This department is located in the original orphanage building in Biancun. It provides 24-hour care for young children and orphans with severe physical or mental disabilities.

Over the years, Liming Family has cared for more than 600 abandoned or disabled babies. Some children moved to the Vocational Training & Rehabilitation Center or found new families after getting medical help or therapy. Sadly, some children with very serious illnesses passed away while being cared for by the nuns.

The People Who Help

At first, only a few nuns worked at Liming Family. But with support from the local church, more and more people joined to help. During holidays, many college students and young religious trainees volunteered their time.

Over time, people who were not Catholic also started volunteering. Now, even non-Catholic professionals help manage the organization.

How Liming Family Gets Money

Liming Family mainly gets its money from donations. Most of these donations come from Catholic people. However, some non-Catholics also donate. Sometimes, private companies and factories give supplies or money too.

Liming Family has also received some help from international organizations and government groups. But this help is usually limited. Other than these donations, Liming Family does not have other ways of making money.

|