This January, four teachers from China visited Heartspring to collaborate and learn from Heartspring professionals and inspire all Heartspring staff who interacted with them. The founder and two preschool teachers from The Stars and Rain Education Institute in Beijing, China and the founder/director from The Happy Boat School in Guiyang, China spent 10 days in Wichita to further their education and experience in working with children with autism. This is the fifth year that Heartspring and Stars and Rain have collaborated in this teacher exchange and the first year that another school in China has participated.

Stars and Rain was the first non-governmental organization (NGO) in the People’s Republic of China to address the needs of children with autism. The founder of Stars and Rain, Tian Huiping (Hope) has now taken her mission even further and to date, Stars and Rain has assisted with the establishment of over 100 new schools or NGO’s that serve children with autism all over China.

Since the teacher exchange program with Stars and Rain began in 2005, teachers from China visit Heartspring yearly to learn teaching strategies, receive hands-on training and conduct observations. This is a valuable time for learning and support. Thanks to generous donor support, they are able to spend approximately two weeks on the Heartspring campus, meeting with Heartspring professionals and learning more about therapy equipment and materials. Donations to the program have also made it possible for them to purchase supplies and toys that are not available in China to take back to their school. The teachers from Stars and Rain say that after their time at Heartspring, they have a renewed strength and confidence in the work they do.

As the time came to a close, Hope said, “I don’t feel alone any more, your support since these years makes all teachers in Stars & Rain and more people in China feel that we are never far from each other. You are very close to us; you are a part of us, of our children in China, (and) of our families.”

Gary Singleton, PhD, Heartspring President and CEO said it best when he told the ladies, “You are changing China.” Heartspring is honored to be able to provide a meaningful learning experience to these programs in China, who make such an impact on children with autism. Heartspring truly touches lives all around the world…Heartspring is changing the world, one child, one person at a time.