The Good Rock Foundation

The Good Rock Foundation was established in 1997 when the founder Jacqui Shurr & her husband Jeff adopted their daughter Abigail from China's Xinjiang province. Abigails Chinese name 'Yan' means Rock & her birthday was Good Friday, hence the inspiration for our Foundations's name!

The Good Rock Foundation began with one child, Abigail remains Jacqui's inspiration today to reach the children in China's orphanages, to make a difference... one child at a time.

Why We Are Needed

We believe that every child is precious & deserves to have a life of hope & opportunity. Over 80% of the children and young people that we work with have special needs. Our reputation & positive relationships in China place us in an excellent position to champion these orphans & bring a positive change beginning with this generation. We are working with China's social services to improve child welfare policy.

Xinjiang is highlighted as one of China's poverty provinces & the economic rise of recent years is slow to reach many parts of this remote region. Our vision is to extend a helping hand to the most marginalized in society; children in orphanages.

We work in the belief that what is needed are tools to enhance the opportunities for the children & their carers to bring the children hope and opportunities through vision, compassion and action.

What We Do

Foster Care

We are passionate about foster care as we see the many benefits the children enjoy by being placed in a family. Their health & development improves, they learn to become attached to others, trust & show affection.We are confident that foster care is the positive long term solution for China's orphaned and abandoned children. In 2002 foster care was formally endorsed by China's Ministry of Social Welfare & Civil Affairs. Our international standard foster care guidelines helps ensure quality care by well supported foster families.

Spread Their Wings

Is our pioneer project for the disabled children who are growing to adulthood. We are creating community centres where the young people can engage in life skills training, socialise and become connected and contributing members of community. We are addressing the special needs of these young people with solutions in adult foster care and group homes. We believe that this issue is one of the most vital to be faced by China's orphananges & those of us who work alongside them.

Children grow to adulthood (fast!) For those with disability their future is more uncertain and their options more limited. We have begun to address these needs whish is a radical but necessary step in China. In May 2009 we opened our first social enterprise project : The Majestic Vine Bakery with our first 8 young bakers. We are getting ready to sell our baked goods to the local community and beyond. This project will be for and driven by the young bakers moving them towards a fulfilling life where they are self sufficient.

Therapy Centres

We equip therapy centres in small orphanages & the villages where our children are in foster care. This means that the children receive regular mobility training & their foster parents are trained and encouraged to bring the children on at home so that they learn the skills they need for future mobility & independence.

Medical Attention

A number of children in our care have been born with profound disabilities or are in need of urgent medical care. Where possible we arrange for the children to receive medical attention locally or arrange for treatment in one of China's specialist centre's of excellence.

We continually expand our foster care & therapy projects. Promoting our child sponsorship programme helps us help more children so please consider spreading the word about Good Rock.

Count Me In

Many orphaned or abandoned children have already reached their teens. Our education fund brings their aspirations beyond a life of drudgery in a menial job. We help fund further education for college, university or provide opportunities for vocational skills. All of which translates to hope & opportunity.

Blooming Babies

Good early nutrition is vital for every child's growth and development. Enriched baby and toddler milk is often beyond the budget of orphanages. Our feeding programmes make the difference.

Improved Orphanage Conditions

We provide child care training, aid for special needs children, better nutrition & daily necessities for all. Our projects are in co-operation with China's social welfare departments - we don't take the responsibility from them & many of our projects are matched funded.

Newsletter - October 2008 - Good Rox Charm Made of semi-precious stones and freshwater pearls. Our exquisite charm is designed by Aveen Jewelery exclusively for The Good Rock Foundation. All proceeds from sales will go towards our projects for the children.

Meet Doctor Jutta We were delighted to welcome to Xinjiang Dr Jutta a dentist from Berlin. Jutta was able to help children from 2 orphanages with much needed dental treatment. She performed many fillings & extractions on children who had never before been to see a dentist.

More Stories Peng Peng captures the hearts of all who meet him. He has had the continual challenge of hydrocephalus for all of his young life & yet remains cheerful & brave. Donations from supporters have funded the surgeries that Peng Peng has needed. He is now a very active little boy and is attending local preschool.

The Story Of Witney Another busy morning in China, trying not to let the jet lag get the better of me, we sit around the table with our Chinese colleagues going over the details of our new initiative of foster care for children in orphanages. Back in September 1999 this was a new concept for our China colleagues who took a little convincing that it was worth the extra effort & finances to provide family style care for the children in State orphanages. As we agreed, shook hands & were preparing to seal our agreement with tea & noodles a petite elderly lady walked in carrying a little girl in her arms.

Free 2 B U Our vision remains to reach the waiting children in China's orphanages. We are always ready for encounters that will challenge us to make a difference. We continue to meet children of extraordinary resilience & dignity, these children are our inspiration for the Good Rock mission - 'Free 2 B U' launched in 2002. Since the launch of Free 2 B U we have seen many children's lives transformed after medical treatment & surgery. We are extremely blessed to have our own Dr on staff. Dr Regula Amiet now continues to offer her onsultation from Switzerland. We also have excellent contacts with China's best hospitals and have been able to welcome other foreign experts for short term volunteer aid.