Our Family - Big Girls of Huangshi

Forty-five kilometers from Shaoguan, where Half the Sky opened a Children’s Center in 2007, is the scenic area of Danxia Shan. The red stones give the area its name “Danxia,” which means “red cloud.” But there is also a legend that holds that the name stems from a love story between a fairy named A Xia who fell in love with a hardworking man called Dan Zai.

Our Changzhou Nannies

We asked five nannies in Changzhou, where Half the Sky opened its first Children’s Center in 2000, to reflect on their work and to tell us a story about one of the many children they have cared for during their years of dedicated service. Changzhou nanny Shen YuJuan recalls, “I still remember a girl named YiHuan…. She was only three months old." >>>

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The Big Girls of Huangshi

Our HTS center at Huangshi consists of a very small Baby Sisters Infant Nurture Program and a very special Big Sisters program.

Before HTS arrived, the 12 big girls living in the institution were completely on their own, with just an ayi to clean and cook, but no-one to love and care for them. Despite it all, they are simply lovely girls.

HTS provided two ‘House Mothers’ to move in with the girls to provide them with much needed affection, care and guidance.Thanks to our Big Sisters sponsors, we were also able to provide funds for studies in: Chinese, singing, English, chemistry, drawing, physical education, physics and math. One child, who is deaf,, is also receiving training in sign language.

From a HTS field supervisor:
The children have changed so much since our two House Mothers arrived!. The last time I visited, they were all so happy; it was great to see the bonds the girls have built with their new mothers already.

The House Mothers take excellent care of the girls; making sure that they have warm water in the morning and that their breakfast is warm. They teach them about hygiene, about making good choices,, and they help them with homework. They act like ‘real’ mothers, celebrating their birthdays by buying cakes and so on; HTS now provides basic monthly funds for things like cakes, visits to the parks or museums.

Once it was raining and one of the Mothers took an umbrella to school and waited for the child, just like any other parent might. When the child came out and saw the House Mother waiting, she was so happy.

For one of the children who had to go to Wuhan to take a sports examination, we asked whether she wanted her House Mother to go with her. This was very important to her as she needed the support and other parents were also there with their children. The House Mother helped this child get over her anxiety…. and her performance was outstanding!!