Children and Youth Programs
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FCC-SoCal facilitates a variety of child and youth-centered programs and activities that focus on empowerment, friendship and fun. The overarching goal is to provide opportunities for the children, tweens and teens to develop and sustain meaningful peer relationships with their fellow adoptees -- something the adoption experts agree will serve them well as they navigate the pre-school, middle childhood and adolescent years.
FCC also strives to enable the children and youth to achieve “cultural competency” and pride in their Chinese/Chinese American heritage through education, mentorships with Asian American college students and coalition-building activities with community organizations.
For general program information, contact Programs@fccsocal.org. FCC members also organize multiple "SoCal Friends” playgroups (which are coordinated by and for FCC families but are independent of FCC-SoCal). Click here for a listing of SoCal Friends playgroups.
FCC & China Care Bruins Buddy Program
What do you get when you combine 50 FCC member kids (ages 6 to 15) together with dozens of energetic college students on the campus of UCLA? Lots of fun, excitement and dozens of new and renewed friendships.
The Buddy Program is organized through China Care Bruins, the first west coast campus chapter of the national China Care organization. In addition to guiding campus-based, student-run chapters, the national organization funds medical services for children in orphanages, provides special housing for them and offers other charitable and humanitarian aid. The UCLA chapter of China Care was founded in 2005. The buddy program – a collaboration between FCC-SoCal and China Care Bruins – launched shortly thereafter. In 2009, the national China Care Foundation awarded its first Outstanding Community Service Award to the China Care Bruins for its mentorship program.
FCC member children and youth (ages 6 and older) are paired with a China Care Bruins college buddy. Each month (October through May), the buddies meet on campus for fun, team-building activities – ranging from scavenger hunts, dumpling making, field and board game days, Chinese New Year crafts, the buddy talent showcase and more. Visit www.chinacarebruins.org for a slide show.
FCC and China Care Bruins are organizing Middle School and Teen buddy activities, beginning in the Fall of 2009.
To participate, children and youth must be FCC members in good standing, meet the pre-requisites and register in advance for the academic year (in August/September). Enrollment is limited and priority is given to returning FCC little buddies in good standing. FCC Contact: Jeri Okamoto Floyd at jerifloyd@ca.rr.com or Susan Robinson at susanrobinson1@ca.rr.com.