Chantal set off for China in May 2014, with plans to return to several of the remote areas of this huge country that she has traveled to many times before. Among the places she was especially looking forward to visit was the Dickey Orphanage in Lhasa, Tibet. Having befriended the director there years ago, and being impressed by her care of the beautiful children in residence, Chantal has supported Dickey Orphanage in a myriad of ways. Indeed, Chantal served as a Dollie Ambassador in 2010 when she brought dollies and personally handed them out one by one to the excited children! She was looking forward to meeting a whole new group of children four years later.
Over the years Dickey orphanage has sheltered hundreds of children, operating on a shoe-string budget with almost non-existent official funds. The few orphanages allowed to operate in the Tibet Autonomous Region are currently being consolidated into government-run facilities. This places some uncertainty over the children’s future location, and whether our dollies will continue to reach those for whom they are intended. None-the-less, Chantal and the ladies of Dollies Making A Difference will continue with our best efforts to give these children the very special joy of having “hand-made with love” teddy bears and dollies to hug and care for.
This little girl pictured below lives at Dickey Orphanage in Lhasa, Tibet. How thrilling it is for us to see her smile!?
