Wish You Happy Forever chronicles Half the Sky founder Jenny Bowen’s personal and professional journey to transform Chinese orphanages—and the lives of the neglected girls who live in them—from a state of quiet despair to one of vibrant promise.After reading an article about the thousands of baby girls languishing in Chinese orphanages, Bowen and her husband adopted a little girl from China and … girl from China and brought her home to Los Angeles, not out of a need to build a family but rather a commitment to save one child. A year later, as she watched her new daughter play in the grass with her friends, thriving in an environment where she knew she was loved, Bowen was overcome with a desire to help the children that she could not bring home. That very day she created Half the Sky Foundation, an organization conceived to bring love into the life of every orphan in China and one that has actually managed to fulfill its promise.
In Wish You Happy Forever, a fish out of water tale like no other, Bowen relates her struggle to bring the concept of “child nurture and responsive care” to bemused Chinese bureaucrats and how she’s actually succeeding. Five years after Half the Sky’s first orphanage program opened, government officials began to mention child welfare and nurturing care in public speeches. And, in 2011, at China’s Great Hall of the People, Half the Sky and its government partners celebrated the launch of The Rainbow Program, a groundbreaking initiative to change the face of orphan care by training every child welfare worker in the country. Thanks to Bowen’s relentless perseverance through heartbreak and a dose of humor, Half the Sky’s goal to bring love the lives of forgotten children comes ever closer.
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I was captivated by the sheer determination of Jenny Bowen and her husband to help improve the conditions for children in Chinese orphanages, At times it was hard to read the descriptions of what life was like for these poor children. You can get bogged down with the details of all the government road blocks they needed to overcome. Yet I can’t …
Everyone should read this book. Period. Regardless of age, gender, interest in International adoption, potential parenthood, etc. It is important to understand the truth of how our World operates. Further, it is invaluable to see how a few determined, ordinary people made a difference against the odds.
The twists and turns involved in setting up homes for orphans or deserted baby girls definitely kept me involved. I do wonder, however, how true to life all the Chinese characters were – are they this difficult to deal with?
I loved the dedication and love toward the orphans in China shown in this inspiring book. Couldn’t put it down!
Even though I had heard stories of the way the orphans were neglected in China I never dreamed that it was close to torture. The burned feet and lack of love were heart rending. It was a long difficult struggle but due to the dedication and self sacrifices made by this family I am relieved that things are better for the girls of China. Anyone …
Interesting true story
I am happy to know about the children who were in orphanages in China were mostly saved this this American woman and her husband and friends in China. Wonderful reading.
This was a very surprising book of someone who has made a huge difference in the lives of Chinese orphans. I was touched and appreciative for this one lady’s efforts of making an enormous difference in stranger’s lives. She is a walking miracle, making miracles everyday for these precious little ones. I was amazed at this story.
The author, who had no academic background or experience in either China or orphanages, set out to change their system. Amazingly, she accomplished a lot. The book got tedious about 2/3 of the way thru as the problems were repetitive. I didn’t finish it.
Amazing memoir about starting a not for profit organization on a dream and ending up with remarkable results. Describing the orphan living conditions and what they found in China’s orphanages in the late 1990’s was heart breaking. Great Book.
This is a really inspirational book!
May be the most inspirational book I’ve ever read!!!
This book was very inspiring. If your heart leads it pays to listen! The outcome may be greater than you ever dreamed.
What an inspiring story!
I found this book to be inspiring. Sad as it was to read of the sad state for orphan girls in China, I was impressed by the tenacity with which the author took on the work of providing a remedy.
My youngest daughter was adopted from China, so I could identify with the author Jenny Bowen. But the passion Jenny took forward from parenting Maya too creating Half the Sky Foundation is inspiring.
Her stories of intercultural business and pleasure are filled with wonderful insights of China as a nation and a culture.
I highly recommend this …
Detailed chronicle of one woman’s dream to improve the quality of life for young children in China after adopting a baby girl in the last 1990′ s. The learning curve, persistence inspire of naysayers was inspiring. Acting from her gut at times and giving others the opportunity to step forward for positive change in their community demonstrates …
Well told true story of delving into the Chinese reality of orphanage and successfully improving it.
The story told by Jenny Bowen was a story of love and hope. She and her husband adopted a young girl from China and then a second. Out of the love of their daughters, they set out to create a program of improving the lives of China’s orphans. Such an encouraging book full of love, personal struggles, and enrichment. A welcome read.
Good book!