Families With Children From Gejiu

Welcome to the Families With Children From Gejiu website. These pages will serve to inform and connect families who's lives have been touched by the adoption of children from the Gejiu Children's Welfare Institute in Gejiu City, Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China.

(photo taken by Larry Douglas when he visited on August 12, 2000)

The Gejiu Children's Welfare Institute pictured above was built in 1998.

We hope as you browse these pages you will enjoy sharing them with your family, especially with the children from Gejiu.

The building and rooms. . .

Up close view of the of a corner of the orphanage.
Bedroom for the older children.
Bedroom for the toddlers.
Classroom for school. Molly MingLi is at the front desk on left.

The people. . .

Group of toddlers. Molly is the 3rd from the left. She is the shorter one with ponytails. The caretakers are also pictured.
Another group of toddlers taken in 1999. Some of the chidlren are identified!!
Outside on the play equipment.
Close-up of children at the play equipment.

Gejiu Orphanage Directors:
1989 - 2005 :Mr. Duan Hong Bin

(Mr. Duan is pictured on the RIGHT with Larry Douglas on left 8/2000)

7/2005 - Present : Mr. Xiong

Surrounding area:

Looking out front. This is the view that you would see if you were standing at a window in the front of the orpahage looking out at the countryside.
Looking out back. Notice the pomegranate trees on the left.
The front gate to the Welfare Institute. The sign reads on the left: Gejiu Children's Welfare Institute and on the right: Gejiu Social Welfare Institute (for the elderly).

Mailing Address:

Go here for the Mailing Address of the Gejiu Orphanage

Feb. 2, 2001: More orphanage pictures!!!!!

Thanks to Sarah, who recently adopted Hua Ming En, we have some more pictures of the Gejiu Orphanage. Click here to see pictures taken of the Gejiu infant areas in April 2000.

Ming Girls

We have learned that all of the children who lived in, or passed through the Gejiu Children's Welfare Institute up to 12/2000 were given the name: "Hua Ming xxx". Example: Hua Ming Li. Thus our girls are commonly know as 'Ming Girls!"

But recently we have learned that the Gejiu Orphanage has changed this policy because the names were getting too repetitive...thus giving way to confusion over who is who. So as of 1/1/2001, all babies born in the year 2001 are being given the surname of Zhao. Next year, it will be something different. We will attempt to keep track of these surnames names and the year to help identify the children.

Surnames of children from Gejiu:

1996 - 2000: Hua Ming

2001: Zhao

2002 Qian

2003 Sun

Meet some Ming Girls!

Jennamarie Ming Ye (Hua Ming Ye) Meet this lovely girl who lives with her mom in Alaksa. Jenna was adopted from Gejiu in January 2000 at the age of 3. There are also lots of pictures of Jenna while she was at the Gejiu orphanage. Many toddler group pictures too.
Molly MingLi (Hua Ming Li) Marvelous Molly World! Molly was adopted in August 2000 at the age of 3.
Ming Qiao (Hua Ming Qiao) Meet a family from the Netherlands who adopted Ming Qiao from Gejiu, in December 1999 at the age of 3 1/2. Great orphanage pictures and travel story!!!

Gejiu Family Networks

Gejiu Adoptive Families Email List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GejiuAdopt
Click on the link above to join the email list. This mailing list is for the purpose of uniting families that have adopted children from Gejiu, Yunnan Province, China, and for those families that will soon be adopting from Gejiu. This list is only open to families that have or will be adopting from Gejiu.

If you want to join this list, please email the list owner : GejiuAdopt-owner@yahoogroups.com
In that email, please include:
- why you are interested in joining
- your email address
- your Yahoo ID
If you do not email the list owner, your subscription will not be approved!
Yunnan Adoption (yunnanadopt) Email List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/yunnanadopt/
Yunnanadopt is a mailing list is for the purpose of uniting families who have adopted from Kunming and other cities in Yunnan province.

Gejiu Reunion - Summer 2002!: http://www.douglas5.com/gejiu/reunion/reunion.htm A reunion of Gejiu families was held in Ohio July 5 - 6 - 7, 2002. What fun we had!!!!!!!!
Gejiu Families Directory 2001/02: A directory was published in February 2002! It has information about the City of Gejiu, history of the Gejiu Orphanage, pictures of the Gejiu Orphanage including the old facility and the new facility built in 1998. There are also pictures and information about the staff at Gejiu, lots of pictures of children adopted from Gejiu and a comprehensive directory of families who have adopted from Gejiu.

Supporters of the Gejiu Orphanage

Important Supporters of the Gejiu Orphanage
information provided by Steve Wadja, & New Hope

Through the past few years, I (Annie Douglas) have learned that the care and financial support provided by Gejiu Orphanage is a collaboration of dedicated orphanage staff and outside support. The information below is a brief description of the organizations that helped provide support to the Gejiu orphanage. The information was provided by Steve Wadja and also information from the New Hope newsletter and the Executive Director of New Hope, Diane Lostrangio.

Steve and Kim Wajda (representing Sunrise Foundation) lived in Gejiu from 2001 - July 2007. They have worked with the Gejiu orphanage supporting the Infant Care Unit as well as many other projects at Gejiu. Steve and Kim have now moved to Kunming, but still support the Gejiu Orphanage as they are able.

For more information you may contact the Wajdas at skwajda@sunrisefoundation.com

New Hope Child and Family Agency

New Hope has also been a very important supporter of the Gejiu Orphanage. New Hope helped set up and staff the new Infant Care Unit at Gejiu in 1998. New Hope Child and Family Agency closed in June 2006. While this is a sad event, we must remember all that New Hope has done for the Gejiu Orphanage and the children that they supported and help place with forever families.

More info on Yunnan

Yunnan Links..LOTS of links to places in Yunnan

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