Education China Project #21864

Help a village care for its left-behind children

by OneSky

Project Report | Mar 8, 2021
Celebrating the Year of the Ox in China's Villages

By Wen Zhao, Ph.D. | Chief Program Officer, Chunhui Children

Children enjoying the Lunar New Year.

Considering the challenges of 2020, the fact that our team can look forward to the Year of the Ox with real confidence shows how well we managed in adversity, writes Wen Zhao, Ph.D., Chief Program Officer, Chunhui Children (OneSky’s sister organization in China).

Last year, OneSky’s work in China faced daunting scenarios from the outset, beginning at the Lunar New Year with the Covid-19 pandemic. However, our passion, pride, and professionalism meant we were able to face these initial dangers and, as the year progressed, grow in every sense.

The pandemic’s onset afforded many of China’s “left-behind” children living in remote rural villages an unexpected extended period with parents who normally work in cities far from home. Lockdown meant that after moms and dads returned for Lunar New Year break, they were effectively stuck there. However, this silver lining also had its dark cloud in the shape of lost earnings and increased hardship. This year Lunar New Year, ongoing vigilance against the pandemic may mean parents are not able to travel home for family celebrations.

But, against this backdrop of vulnerability and uncertainty, our Village Program enabled 104 local early education teachers to provide services for 7,850 children and their families in 24 remote villages. Those looking after children, often grandparents or siblings filling in for absent parents, benefited from OneSky’s positive parenting training. OneSky Family Mentors provided support to caregivers while organizing Covid-safe community activities to bring village communities closer.

Now, as we look to 2021 and the Year of the Ox, we are excited to report that OneSky in China will continue to expand its programs so more disadvantaged children can benefit. As a trusted government partner, we also visit poverty-stricken areas to evaluate the development of children at risk and present intervention plans.

Looking forward, the OneSky Approach in China will continue to help the government bring responsive care and education to even more remote villages. Drawing on the experience of its institution and village programs, we will design innovative intervention programs to help establish healthy child development within a supportive community environment.

Today, more than two decades on from, OneSky’s founder, turning around a young life with a mother’s love, these lessons learned continue to guide us. Our dedicated, professionally trained mentors, and teachers have all helped children through the 2020 pandemic with love and care.

This love, as ever, remains contagious, and best of all, given the right conditions – it grows. Now, in the Year of Ox, thanks to the continued support of our partners and donors, we aim to help even more vulnerable young children reach their full potential.

To read more updates about work on behalf of vulnerable children, be sure to go to our story website page.

A different, yet special, Lunar New Year.

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Nov 9, 2020
Annual Mural Activity Unites Village Communities

By Steve Jackson | Director, News and Content

Annual Mural Activity Unites Villagers

On a beautiful fall day in remote China, little Weiwei was just happy to be going out for a walk in the rural village where he lives with his grandmother.

He had no idea that their stroll would lead to watching the creation of an incredible community mural.

As he views the huge painting-in-progress, the image slowly takes shape in front of his eyes. Mesmerized, he watches the children paint as the older village grandparents look on.

Beyond Weiwei’s village, it’s a scene that’s been replicated across 24 OneSky supported rural villages.

There is, of course, one age group largely missing. Parents leave the countryside in their millions to find work in China’s ever-growing cities. In their absence, exhausted grandparents struggle to look after the children, often while balancing the demands of farm work.

OneSky brings people together for the children

OneSky’s Village Program works to lessen the stressful impact on both children and their caregivers. Family Mentors are on hand to offer advice, support and training. In addition, through communal activities such as this mural painting, OneSky strengthens communities by bringing people together.

Together they are stronger and more able to support each other and look out for the children. Because, as the old saying goes, it really does take a village to raise a child.

“The annual mural activity is always such fun,” said teacher Yanzi. “We also take the opportunity to share parenting lessons. It’s such a great way to get people together outdoors. The children can spend time with one another and those who look after them can take a break to talk and laugh. It makes the neighborhood closer.”

The mural is for the whole village to enjoy and for the children to have fun painting, but the biggest benefit is community morale and togetherness. There are even lessons to be learned within the mural which includes the slogans: “Parents are the best teachers for children” and “Your time is the best gift for children.”

To read more updates about work on behalf of vulnerable children, be sure to go to our story website page.

A Fun Day Was Had By All!

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Jul 13, 2020
The Coronavirus Silver Lining

By Steve Jackson | Director, News and Content

Quality family time is a rare treat.

For many children in China’s rural provinces, Lunar New Year celebrations are the only time they get to see their parents.

With villages often decimated by adults leaving to work in cities, children are usually left with grandparents whose age and ill health can mean they struggle to cope with raising young children.

For millions of children in urban and rural China, this Lunar New Year brought news of the coronavirus (COVID-19). While children were least affected, it dominated conversations and news updates. It was hard for children not to be scared.

But there has also been a silver lining. Mom and Dad were home. There for hugs and games and stories – for week after week after week

Now, China’s factories are slowly going back to work but most had been closed for extended periods as part of a nationwide effort to stem COVID-19 outbreaks.

For 4-year-old Huihui, this unusual time has brought mixed emotions. She is afraid of the coronavirus but happy her parents are home.

However, that has brought its own challenges. How do inexperienced parents re-engage with their children and keep them entertained for so long without mixing with friends?

Thankfully, advice has been available from OneSky Family Mentors. They have provided ideas and links to parent-child online games. A picture book called Coronavirus Boasting, drawn by a local girl and shared via phones, has also helped mom/daughter discussions.

“The book helped me explain that although the coronavirus is very fierce, it is not so terrible,” shared Huihui’s grateful mom. “As long as we stay at home, do not go out, pay attention to hygiene and protect ourselves, the virus cannot do us any harm.

“I’ve told Huihui that we can also do exercises to strengthen our immunity so that we are not afraid of the coronavirus.”

In the weeks since New Year, playing indoors has become normal to Huihui.

Alongside learning about the importance of handwashing and wearing her mask, she’s also learned origami, helps with housework and prepares the vegetables for immune-boosting meals.

Meanwhile, her dad has been in charge of games. For him this time with his daughter has been bittersweet.

“Although we cannot go out to work, which has brought great financial pressure to our family, we are more aware of the importance of our role in Huihui’s childhood. We have spent so much time with her. Long enough to see her grow a little and witness her happiness. It makes it all worthwhile,” he said.

To read more updates about work on behalf of vulnerable children, be sure to go to our story website page.

Being together eases anxiety.

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