Evergreen Family Friendship Service

TO ASSIST SHANXI AND OTHER CHINESE PROVINCES BY DEVELOPING PUBLIC BENEFIT SERVICES.

JOY IN THE JOURNEY CAMP: JJ CAMP PROVIDES DAY AND RESIDENTIAL CAMP EXPERIENCES TO SCHOOL-AGED YOUTH BETWEEN 4TH AND 12TH GRADES AND COLLEGE-AGED STUDENTS(AS VOLUNTEERS) IN AN ENVIRONMENT SATURATED WITH THE LOVE OF CHRIST. CAMP ACTIVITIES NOT ONLY INCLUDE ENGLISH GAMES AND ACTIVITIES, BUT ALSO THE LIFE EDUCATION CURRICULUM FOR HEALTHY LIVING, AS WELL AS VARIOUS CHALLENGES DESIGNED TO INCREASE STUDENTS' ABILITY TO APPLY CREATIVITY TO NEW SITUATIONS, WORK AS A TEAM, AND DISCOVER LEADERSHIP SKILLS. NEW GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS IN 2023 LIMITEDTHE NUMBER OF WEEKS BOTH WINTER CAMPS AND SUMMER CAMPS COULDOPERATEAND REDUCED THE NUMBER OF EXPATRIATE VOLUNTEERS FROM OVERSEAS.

TUWAY PROJECT (EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING): IN 2023, EVERGREEN MOVED TUWAY PERMANENTLY TO THE MAIN EVERGREEN OFFICE, SHARING OFFICE AND MEETING SPACE TO PROVIDE CONSULTING AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE PREPARING TO STUDY ABROAD. TUWAY ALSO OFFERS TEST PREPARATION SERVICES AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PARENTS NAVIGATING THE COMPLICATED INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT. IN ADDITION TO THE 4 MAIN CONTINUING PROGRAMS LISTED ABOVE, EFFS CONDUCTS OTHER PROGRAMS IN CHINA, WHICH INDIVIDUALLY ARE GENERALLY SMALLER AND SHORTER DURATION AND CAN BE MORE VARIABLE OVER TIME DEPENDING ON EMERGING NEEDS IN SHANXI PROVINCE OF CHINA AND THE AVAILABILITY OF EXPAT PERSONNEL WITH APPROPRIATE EXPERTISE. THESE PROGRAMACTIVITIES INCLUDE ON-GOING SERVICES SUCH AS INTERNATIONAL PRIMARY SCHOOL TUTORING FOR EXPATRIATESAS WELL AS NEW INITIATIVES. NEW INITIATIVESOFTEN INVOLVE CONSULTING WITH CHINESE PEOPLE AND ENTITIES IN THE AREAS OF MENTAL HEALTH SOCIAL SERVICES, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION STARTUP, ETC. INCLUDED IN THIS ARE THE RESIDUAL COSTS OF OFFICE STAFF AND EXPENSES TO RUN SES OPERATIONS SUCH AS SALARIES, BENEFITS, PROPERTY TAXES, UTILITIES, AND CONSULTING FEES.

SOAR ORPHANAGE PROJECT: IN 2023 THE EVERGREEN SOAR (SPECIAL NEEDS, ORPHANED, OR ABANDONED CHILDREN'S RESOURCES) PROJECT CONTINUED TO AIM TO SEE THE END OF ABANDONMENT IN SHANXI PROVINCE AND TO CARE FOR THOSE PRECIOUS CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN ABANDONED, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. HOWEVER, PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS HAVE PERSISTED, LIMITING IN-PERSON CONTACT SO THAT WE MAINLY ASSISTED FROM A DISTANCE WITH CONTINUOUS DONATIONS OF ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES TO OUR LOCAL PARTNERS CARING FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY INCLUDING NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS, SEASONAL NEW CLOTHING, OUTERWEAR, SHOES AND HOLIDAY GIFTS OF TOYS AND FOOD. ADOPTION ADVOCACY WORK CONTINUED WITH SUPPORTING INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIVE FAMILIES. IN 2023, EVERGREEN CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL ENTITY IT LAUNCHED IN 2019 BY VOLUNTEERING EXPATRIATE TIME FOR ENGLISH AND OTHER CLASSES TO YOUTH WITH DISABILITY.

EVERGREEN CARDS LTD: DURING THE JUST-COMPLETED YEAR, 2023, EVERGREEN CARDS LTD. DIRECTLY PROVIDED JOB-SKILL TRAINING AND SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME TO ABOUT 10 POOR RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN YANGQU COUNTY WHO EARN MONEY FROM THE SALES OF THE CARDS THEY CREATE. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDED FURTHER SUPPORT FOR EVERGREEN'S TAIYUAN REGION THROUGH SALARY/BENEFITS COST-SHARING FOR ONE CHINESE STAFF MEMBER. PLEASE NOTE THAT AS EVERGREEN CARDS LTD. (OUR CHINA-SIDE OPERATIONS) ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LEGALLY SHUTTING DOWN. AS SUCH, OUR 2023 EXPENSES WERE EXTRAORDINARILY IMPACTED (INCLUDED IN THE EXPENSES SHOWN ABOVE) BY SEVERANCE PAYMENTS MADE TO OUR LONG-TIME CHINESE STAFF MEMBER, WHO HAD GIVEN 21+ YEARS OF SERVICE.