Hope Foster Home Painting Project Twenty-three members worked on September 30, 2000, to paint a decorative border around the outdoor play area. Each student worked on his/her own space, first sketching and then painting in vivid colors. Some students developed specialties and favorites that they repeated on other parts of the border: one person did frogs, another created snails, yet another painted butterflies, all interspersed among flowers. This was also an opportunity to visit with Robin and Joyce Hill, founders of the Hope Foster Home, and to tour the recently completed facility, which will eventually welcome up to fifteen babies. As ISB students painted, the Hills and their volunteers put the final touches on the children’s rooms.

Hope Foster Home Fundraising Project In September, a week-long bake sale was the beginning of an effort to raise RMB 20,000 to purchase the boiler for the heating system. Due to the generosity of a company this became a relatively short-term project! At first Boeing ofered to match the amount raised through the bake sale–and then later contributed the rest of the amount needed. In doing so, Boeing noted that one of its goals was to involve its employees with community service projects, thereby, "giving something back to China." Several Boeing employees accompanied students on a visit to the foster home in early November.

Song Tang Hospice Thanks to the organizers of the ISB Gala, students are able to give hospice residents individual care packages of toothpaste, soap, and shampoo on visits throughout this year. These items are left over from donations for the silent auction last year. Song Tang residents are especially appreciative of such useful gifts.

The China Environment and Sustainable Development Reference and Research Center An Open Establishment of the Center for Environmental Education and Communications (CEEC) of the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) On November 10 students visited the CESDRRC library and the CEEC to learn about volunteer opportunities. Several members are already transcribing environmental videos in preparation for translators, and one ISB student is working directly on translation. Students will eventually assist with library tasks such as cataloging and shelving.

World Aids Day - December 1 Through bulletin board displays and the distribution of red ribbons, members sought to raise ISB’s awareness about this day and the seriousness of AIDS by drawing attention to the slogan for the 2000 world campaign and highlighting information about AIDS in China as well as other parts of the world. Funds raised through donation boxes and a bake sale were in support of the project to which Interact/Roots & Shoots has now donated for three years–the Australian-Chinese Joint AIDS Peer Education Programme, under the direction of Dr. Gao Yuan.