Education for Blind Chinese Orphans

This quarter, Bethel’s educational programs embraced a season of growth and discovery. From hands-on activities that connect children with the natural world to the introduction of new creative and practical subjects like music, arts, and computer skills, our curriculum continues to nurture both the minds and hearts of the children in our care. With strong attendance across all centers and new students joining, Bethel remains committed to providing a well-rounded, inclusive education. Among the many inspiring moments, the journey of Jia, a young Tibetan girl who has overcome immense challenges, stands out as a powerful example of the impact of compassionate support and personalized learning.

Key Highlights

• Total of 104 children under care, including two new students welcomed in Beijing.

• Curriculum expanded with new creative and practical courses for all students.

• Heartwarming progress of Tibetan student Jia completing Braille and independent living skills.

• Tactile storybook launched, enhancing sensory learning for blind children.

• 60 tactile teaching kits distributed nationwide to support early intervention.
  
  

Love is Blind- Bethel School

To welcome a new season of growth, teachers at Bethel’s Zhengzhou Project organized a hands-on sowing activity in April for the 28 children in their care. As the children planted seeds and explored the texture of soil, they also developed important life skills like patience, responsibility, and curiosity.

This spirit of growth extended into the classroom as well. Bethel’s curriculum expanded to include new subjects such as choir, melodica, hulusi flute, arts and crafts, and computer skills—fostering both practical development and creative expression.

Across all Bethel centers, 104 children are currently under care. In June, two new students—Xu and Wang —were warmly welcomed into the Beijing center.

A particularly heartwarming milestone comes from Jia, a young Tibetan girl who lost her sight due to a brain tumor. When she arrived at Bethel in 2023, she was withdrawn and spoke only Tibetan. Over two years, with patient support, she learned Mandarin, Braille, and daily living skills. This April, she completed her time at Bethel and is now preparing to attend the Tibet School for the Blind.

Project Outreach

This quarter, Bethel focused its outreach on expanding access to sensory learning tools, celebrating community milestones, and promoting inclusion through national events. In April, the Beijing team completed a new tactile storybook, The Journey of Yuanyuan, made from materials like wood, cotton, and metal. This hands-on book helps blind children explore textures, build sensory vocabulary, and engage their imaginations through touch.

Beyond the classroom and celebrations, Bethel also engaged with wider national conversations around inclusion and disability awareness. The team participated in key events such as the International Autism Symposium and China’s Eye Care Day on June 6th. Cultural outings, including an art exhibition at the German Embassy and a children’s play at the Poly Theatre, provided further opportunities for the children to experience the world beyond their immediate environments.

One of the most impactful efforts this quarter was Bethel’s nationwide distribution campaign for early intervention tactile teaching aids. Sixty visually impaired children from across China received these specially designed kits. Most applicants were between 7 and 9 years old, and over 60% had little or no vision—demonstrating the growing demand for tools that support early learning through play and touch.

Walk for the World

As children at Bethel explore nature, new skills, and joyful moments through tactile books and celebrations, we’re reminded of the power of steady, compassionate support. One heartwarming story this quarter is Jia, a Tibetan girl who came to Bethel after losing her sight to a brain tumor. Once withdrawn and speaking only Tibetan, she has spent two years learning Mandarin, Braille, and independent living skills—now ready to enter the Tibet School for the Blind with confidence.

This kind of transformation is made possible by the generosity of our donors and the dedication of Bethel’s teachers and staff, whose tireless work lights the way for each child. You can help too—by sponsoring a child, donating toward glasses or learning tools, or simply giving what you can. Every gift, big or small, opens doors to a brighter future. Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we help children grow, learn, and thrive.

Links:

• Support VI children-click to help make a difference!

Dear Friends of Bethel,

As 2025 unfolds, we’re reminded that growth often begins in the smallest moments—braille letters being learned for the first time, a smile on horseback, or a painting made with fingers instead of sight. But the true impact of your support sometimes appears years later, in voices like this one we heard in February:

"I am a child adopted from Bethel China. I recommend Bethel China because the work of the staff and the love of Bethel China’s staff and founders helped me find a family. The passing of time has erased my memory of Bethel China but it is thanks to my late mother that I remember the name of this orphanage and thanks to my older sister, who shared me the website. Bethel China raised me and my sister, who also came from here, until we were adopted. I am now 21 and a college student. Bethel China cares for children. Its mission and its team kickstarted my life."   — [Mr. Lau]

This powerful reflection captures why Bethel exists—and why we are so grateful to have you walking alongside us.

Our Centers at a Glance:

• Beijing (BJ): 18 children
• Zhengzhou (ZZ): 28 children
• Shanxi Rural Center (SR): 53 children
• Jiaozuo (JZ): 10 children (concluded April 2025)
• Nanjing (NJ): 10 children (concluded April 2025)
  
  

January: A Warm Start to the Year

On January 1st, children and staff at our North Center welcomed the New Year with homemade dumplings and celebration. January also brought meaningful visits:

• Jan 10: Lane Crawford employee volunteers visited Beijing Center with New Year gifts.
• January 12 marked a joyful collaboration as students from Self-Reliance volunteered their time to support our children. Their day was filled with laughter, learning, and discovery—from reading tactile books to assisting with craft projects and sensory games. 
• Jan 16–17: At the International Kindergarten of Goodwill, a charity sale of the children’s paintings brought joy and awareness. Teacher Fang taught curious young students how to make braille cards using a braille typewriter.

February: Spring Steps Forward

February marked the Spring Festival, and our children and teachers enjoyed a well-deserved break. Yet even during this quieter time, our mission continued:

• On February 12, Bethel staff were honored to attend a special dinner hosted by Orange Company. We were the only nonprofit organization invited to conduct a charity sale at the event, giving us a unique opportunity to share our work with a new audience. Beyond the evening’s event, Orange continued to support Bethel through its global voice recording project, which creates personalized audio materials for our children, enhancing their learning and connection to the world.
• Through March, our collaboration with ByteDance brought the gift of storytelling to life with a series of seven tactile book workshops. Each session welcomed 13 to 17 dedicated volunteers, who worked alongside us to craft handmade braille storybooks. These books are now in the hands of visually impaired children across China, offering them not just stories, but a tactile connection to literacy and imagination.

March: New Semester, New Steps Forward

With the semester restart, five new students with post-brain-tumor blindness joined Bethel Beijing. These children, who once felt lost after suddenly losing their vision, are now learning braille, using white canes, and regaining their independence.

• On March 7, professional therapists led a healing session for parents to help them manage emotions and support their children’s growth.
• Every Wednesday, our beloved volunteer Ms. Yang brings creative projects that light up the children’s imaginations. Their work will be featured in the "Senses Unleashed" exhibition at the German Embassy from May 15 to July 18.
• March 18: Five children participated in equestrian therapy at HOPE. A new volunteer PE teacher, Mr. Sun, now leads weekly physical education classes on Fridays, bringing energy and fun.
• On March 28, Bethel’s founders brought our second Vision Screener to Western Mumbai, offering vision screenings to children and community members who had never had access before. We’re honored to be part of a global movement to bring light wherever there is need.

Love That Comes Full Circle: A Journey of Impact

Life moves like a path—sometimes straight, sometimes winding, always forward. In April 2025, our partnerships with the Jiaozuo and Nanjing Centers came to a close. Jiaozuo’s new leadership made the decision to end all partnerships with external groups. In Nanjing, a low number of children led the institute to discontinue the program.

These closures mark the end of a chapter, not the story. Bethel remains deeply committed to the children and families in those communities. If support is ever needed, our door stays open. Today, we continue to provide critical services for 99 children—supporting their growth, education, and independence with the same unwavering care that has always defined our mission.

Even more inspiring, new paths are already forming: we’re actively in talks with multiple centers to begin new projects, bringing life-changing support to more children in need.

And in March, life’s journey brought us a powerful reminder of why we do this work—when Michael, Grace, Calliandra and Olivia, now adults, visited Guillaume and Delphine in North Carolina. Years after their first steps at Bethel, they’ve returned—not as students, but as living proof of what’s possible when children are given love, tools, and belief.

A Future Full of Promise

Each child we serve reminds us of why we do this work. We’ve seen what’s possible through stories like Jadon Lau’s—once a student at Bethel, now an inspiring adult walking his own path. Today, we’re walking alongside 99 more children, helping them grow into their futures with confidence and joy.

The journey continues. We’re now working with new partners to open additional centers—bringing care to children who still need it. Your support is the bridge between what is and what could be.

To make these new beginnings possible, we continue to rely on the generosity of people like you. Every donation brings us one step closer to reaching the children still waiting for their chance to thrive.

Thank you for believing in their futures—and in ours.

With gratitude and hope,

The Bethel Team

Links:

• Learn more about Bethel on our website by clicking here.
• To learn more about Bethel, click here to visit our website.