International China Concern: caring for abandoned and disabled children

The League of Women Voters heard from Peter Maize about the work that International China Concern does for abandoned and disabled children in China. 

Peter has lived in Hong Kong for 30 years, initially working as a journalist, before he began working to help families struggling with poverty and disability.  He lives in Sai Kung with his wife Wendy, a member and former president of the League of Women Voters in Hong Kong.

International China Concern provides care and opportunities to abandoned children and families who have children with disabilities.  This organization was started in 1993 in response to children in China with disabilities being abandoned at birth.  China Concern works with the Chinese government in communities to change attitudes toward disabilities and support families to care for their disabled children. 

The story of how International China Concern received its NGO status --nobody seems to know how it happened--was like hearing about a modern day miracle. Many of us were secretly dabbing at the corners of our eyes as we watched the organization's video showing how they work to ensure that every child, no matter how disabled,  reaches his or her potential.