When expatriates find their way into China, and into Nanjing, one of the things they want to know is if there are any charities they can get involved with. But to find a charity can be hard, especially if you don’t speak Chinese. And surprisingly, orphanages and other institutions are leery of trusting foreigners, even those wanting to help. For this reason, here is a list of charities in Nanjing that are open and happy to have help.

Pfrang Association

The Pfrang Association is perhaps one of the best known charities based in Nanjing whose objective is to raise funds to pay tuition fees for children who, without help, would drop out of school, or never go at all. The organization was actually started after an expatriate family living in Nanjing was murdered in their home by four locals. According to Wikipedia, “The Pfrang Association is hoping to uphold the name of those who were killed and tries to do so by helping to break the vicious circle of lack of education, unemployment and crime. The Association has put their focus on making it financially possible for students to stay in school so that they may grow up, reach their full potential and as a result have many fulfilling opportunities in life.”

The Pfrang Association usually holds two events each year. The “Gala Dinner”, which will be held April 30, 2009, at Nanjing International School and be catered by the Skyways Bakery and Deli; and an annual Pfrang day, usually held in October.

The organization also accepts donations by bank transfer. See their web site for more information.

Photo: GViciano

Hopeful Hearts

Hopeful Hearts is a Nanjing organization aimed at raising money to pay for heart surgeries for children who cannot afford them. These are children whose medical condition is beyond what parents or an orphanage can afford. (Surgeries have not only been sponsored for orphans, but also for children of poor families.)

Hopeful Hearts was started after a couple of expatriate women found an abandoned baby on the side of the road, with nothing but 30 yuan and his birth date written on him. After taking the child to a doctor, it was discovered he had a heart defect and required surgery to live. The women and their families worked together and paid for the medical attention for this baby who, sadly, did eventually lose the battle with his congenital heart defect.

However, in his memory, they have sponsored dozens more children found in similar circumstances, and have even changed the way some local policy makers care for orphans who need medical care.

Donations for Hopeful Hearts can be made by transferring money to any of the accounts listed on their website. Hopeful Hearts holds several events each year; their most recent was a luncheon/fashion show. Check the web site to see when the next event will be.

Half the Sky

Half The Sky is a remarkable organization throughout China that raises money to help children in institutional care. And if you’ve ever wondered about how efficiently an organization spends your donations, HTS has actually been rated a 4-star Charity by Charity Navigator.

Most of their time and money is spent on ensuring children in China’s institutional care receive the nutrition and personal attention they need to thrive. Their programs include the Baby Sisters Infant Nurture Program, the Little Sisters Preschool Program, the Big Sisters Program, the Family Village Program, and the China Care Program. They also run special projects, like raising money specifically for AIDS orphans, or for raising money for orphans of the Sichuan earthquake.

Donations can also be made on their website.

Photo: Yoshimai

The Amity Foundation

The Amity Foundation is a large organization working through out China which also happens to have an office in Nanjing. In Nanjing, much of the work done is helping orphans and mentally disabled children, or raising money for other causes like the Sichuan earthquake.

One thing about the Amity Foundation is it offers so many ways to help. One can donate money, volunteer a little time, or sign up to be an English teacher for various education projects they have. Or, if your Chinese language skills are great, the organization is also looking for help from translators. For more information on how to get involved, just go to their web site, or stop by the Nanjing headquarters located on 71 Hankou Road, in Nanjing.

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