Latest News:  

English>>China Society

Volunteer moms comfort left-behind children

(Xinhua)

16:21, May 30, 2013

BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- When Xi Jingmin first met eight-year-old He Shuoxin earlier this year in a village near the city of Dingzhou in north China's Hebei Province, the girl barely spoke a word.

Xi, an accountant who has a seven-year-old daughter of her own, came into He's life through "Volunteer Mother," a charity program sponsored by the local branch of the All-China Women's Federation.

Xi has used her spare time to take care of the girl, a "left-behind child" whose parents are living and working in another city. Rural areas of China have many such children, as their parents can provide for their families more easily by seeking out higher-paying jobs in urban areas.

"The girl is now very close to me. I do as much as I can to make her happier," Xi said.

The federation said in a report released earlier this month that there are as many as 60 million left-behind children in rural areas.

He's father is deceased and her mother works as a maid in big cities to support the family, leaving He at home in the village with her grandparents.

Shi Huimin, spokeswoman for the Hebei provincial branch of All-China Women's Federation, said the federation has created a database for all of the left-behind children in the province that details their personalities, as well as their financial situation, in order to help find suitable "volunteer mothers" for them.

"We put out advertisements through the federation's local branches and through public media to recruit volunteer mothers and introduce them to left-behind children living nearby," Shi said.

Shi said 80,000 volunteer mothers in Hebei have joined the program since it was launched in December 2012.

"There are no mandatory requirements for volunteer mothers. They can help the children in any way, either by taking care of their everyday affairs, giving them maternal care and comfort or helping them with their homework," Shi added.

Zhang Xiaopeng, a 12-year-old boy in Wuyi County, lives with his grandmother. Both of his parents work in Beijing and return home only once a year.

"Xiopeng is really sad about his parents' leaving," his grandmother said. "Sometimes, he feels as though he has been abandoned."

His volunteer mother Pei Supin has helped him rebuild his confidence by taking care of him when he is sick.

"I know this child misses good mothering and I'd like to treat him just like my own son. I wish him a happy life," Pei said.

In order to improve the program, the provincial women's federation is now planning to provide training to volunteer mothers to help them better understand child psychology and the importance of family education.

The program has also been piloted by women's federations in east China's Jiangsu Province and southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

"I think the program is an effective way to address the severe 'left-behind children' problem," said Wang Xueyan, a psychological consultant in Hebei.

However, Wang warned that if a volunteer mother ends up leaving the child she is aiding, the child may experience even more psychological trauma.

We Recommend:

Migrant workers' sexual needs -Temporary couples

Couple say 'I do' after 35-year wait

China’s weekly story (2013.5.11-5.17)

Modern cities'
Cheongsam Style

An elegant job: private dancing trainer

Watermelon gives your summer a creative treat

Summer style girls in Nantong street

Anxious city: Crowded morning bus

Hot tempo of the city:
I love Salsa!

Email|Print|Comments(Editor:WangLili、Gao Yinan)

Leave your comment0 comments

  1. Name

  

Selections for you


  1. China's naval fleet continues training

  2. Future Philippine military officers

  3. Polar bear Inuka moves into new home

  4. Modern movie dream in retro Minguo street

  5. Fur keeps flying over dogs' rescue

  6. Overgrown waterweeds cleared at Haihe Rive

  7. Wandering the Shuyuan Gate of Xi'an

  8. Animation studio opens doors

  9. China to cut Swiss watch import duties

  10. Experts call for break-up of SOE monopoly

Most Popular

Opinions

  1. Japan, India eager to forge closer ties
  2. Abducted kids' return not always a happy ending
  3. Family pressure forces marriage with laowai
  4. Hot money behind rising yuan
  5. E.U. should learn from Switzerland and Germany
  6. Mutual trust essential for Sino-US relations
  7. Turning-on-red rule is dangerous for pedestrians
  8. Boy's graffiti signals lack of values at home
  9. Sino-Indian diplomatic miracle embarrasses Japan
  10. U.S. dollar could weaken most Asian currencies

What’s happening in China

A 62-year-old man was killed by two dogs

  1. Kunming denies rumors of T-shirt ban
  2. Traffickers await appeal verdict
  3. Schoolchildren taught to avoid sexual assault
  4. Drug resistance found in H7N9 cases
  5. Aware of termites buzz in the city