Hengfeng SWI - Maya's Orphanage

This is the main building at Hengfeng Social Welfare Instsitute (SWI). Maya is in foster care, and lives with her foster family. We don't know at this point if she has ever physically been in the orphanage.

The following is an excerpt from a site called www.gurrad.com written by a family who adopted a child from Hengfeng in 2003 :


2004-09 - My husband and I adopted our daughter from the HengFeng SWI on January 7, 2003. She was born April 3, 2002. She was and is very healthy and developmentally on target in all areas. The only puzzling item that our group of 5 families encountered is that all the girls had an elevated level of lead detected when having their first exam back in the States. It doesn't seem to have affected any of them.

Cen Qi was her name upon referral. We have named her Anna - she is terrific.

We did visit the HengFeng SWI. The orphanage was in a separate building from the retirement home. We were happily surprised to find the building clean and cheerful. The director held a ceremony for us and presented all five girls with tiny silver bracelets. All the former caretakers were very emotional during the visit and had to touch and talk to all the babies. (Most of the caretakers were crying) The girls had only been away from them for a few days at that point.

We only saw the first floor of the orphanage. There was a main, large play area. On each side of the play area was a nursery with 4 cribs and a cot for a caretaker. I was originally against going to the Heng Feng SWI, afraid of what I might see - but I was so relieved to see the building and the people caring for my daughter. We were told that she had been in foster care for all but the last month before we adopted her. I never received proof or absolute confirmation of that. (J.H.)

Paul and I will do everything in our power to travel to Hengfeng and visit Maya's foster mother and the orphanage director. It's going to be a 'journey of a lifetime' !