Children Companion Plan advances

The China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation has announced that their Children Companion Plan is being extended to cover poverty-stricken mountainous areas in the provinces of Yunnan and Jiangxi.[Photo: provided to China Plus]

New progress is being reported in the Children Companion Plan, a project launched in October 2015, to create a custody network for so-called left-behind children.

The program is being extended to cover poverty-stricken mountainous areas in the provinces of Yunnan and Jiangxi.

CRI's Laiming has more.

Since the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation initiated the Children Companion Plan more than two years ago, it now covers over 200 villages in 20 counties in the provinces of Sichuan and Guizhou, benefiting nearly 100,000 children.

Qin Wei is an official with the foundation.

She says the organization has decided to launch this project in the Luoxiao Mountains in Jiangxi and Wumeng Mountains in Yunnan.

"Each county sets up an administrative office, which will coordinate civil affairs, public security, education, poverty alleviation and other departments to document accounts from our children companions during their visits to left-behind children's families. The office is designed to help solve those problems."

A companion who offers emotional support is at the center of the plan.

Gao Yurong, Deputy Dean of the Philanthropy Research Institute at Beijing Normal University, says they're looking for a number of criteria when recruiting a companion.

"We're looking for companions who are mothers with a loving heart for children. We believe with this fundamental criteria, they are likely to do a good job. The candidates also need to get along with others, and not have any disputes with their neighbors. We also survey other villagers to determine the capability of potential candidates to take care of the children."

Guo Xiaoying is among 100 companions who have been selected in Sichuan.

A resident in Xuyong County in Sichuan, Guo is the mother of a 14-year old.

She is also responsible for keeping tabs on around 500 left-behind local children.

"The young children who find it tough to talk to their grandparents often come to me. The main issue is the generation gap, which often leads to the children not talking about their issues with their more elderly caretakers. I feel the job is quite an honor for me."

The current estimate from China's Ministry of Civil Affairs suggests there are more than 9-million children under the age of 16 growing up in their rural home towns while their parents live and work elsewhere.

Gao Yurong with Beijing Normal University says they're offering help to child companions in dealing with the vast number of children.

"My institution is offering technical assistance. We've compiled four books: The first book is dedicated to solving problems raised by child companions, helping them understand child-related policies and also effectively assisting the children in need. The second book is about how to guide children through playing games. The 3rd book spreads fundamental knowledge about care workers. The 4th book offers a better understanding about child abuse prevention."

The Children Companion Plan recieved 8-million yuan in donations last year, which mostly goes toward paying subsidies to companions.

Qin Wei with the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation office says they're also using donation money to help create infrastructure for the kids.

"In each village, we want to put in recreational facilities and compile books for children in a 100-square meter house, which we call the 'Left-Behind Kids' recreation center. The center will open once a week. During winter and summer vacations, the center will operate on a daily basis. It is not only a venue for motherly companions to spend time with these children, but also the place where businesses can provide donations and volunteers can directly visit with kids."

In addition, a number of Chinese celebrities, including actors Yang Mi, Tong Liya and Bao Bei'er have become spokespeople for the Children Companion Plan, calling for more social support in China to better help these school-age children overcome the distress of being away from their parents.

For CRI, I'm Laiming.