Liu Shan helps babies know they are loved
From HTS Infant Nurture Field Supervisor, Liu Shan (shown at left, in pink shirt, with fellow HTS field supervisors Zhou Dan and Li Dao Xin):
I started working for Half the Sky as a nanny at the Xinyang Social Welfare Institution. Then I became the first Nanny Supervisor at Xinyang. Two years later I became an Infant Nurture Field Supervisor, traveling all over China for Half the Sky. I loved working as a nanny because I spent so much time with the babies. But my job as a field supervisor is also gratifying because I can help other women to do this important work..
For example, when I was recruiting new nannies from the local community in Tianjin, I met a candidate who was working in a kindergarten and seemed to have a real love of children. I explained what Half the Sky nannies do and what methods we use. Her response was that a nanny’s workload is heavier than a kindergarten teacher’s and the pay is lower. I was worried that she might not want the job or that she might quit if we hired her. But she said she wanted to give the training a try.
So during her training in Nanjing, I talked to her a lot and I told her about the great changes we see in the babies who receive nurturing from our nannies. I also told her that so many of the healthy babies in our programs are adopted and that we often receive letters of thanks from their new parentsThe parents tell us that their children are thriving—they are very grateful that we nurtured their children while they lived in an orphanage.
After the training, the kindergarten teacher decided that being a Half the Sky nanny is not just a job, but really meaningful work, so she decided to join us to help make the children’s lives better. Now she is working actively in the institution and I look forward to seeing her first quarter reports about the babies in her care.
Every one of our nannies writes regular reports about the children they take care of. My job is to make help our local nanny supervisor to ensure that our nannies are following instructions for those reports and in their work, see what needs to be improved, and see what supplies need to be replenished. Generally, I spend two thirds of my time on the road and I enjoy the travel.
I like going to different social welfare institutions around China where I get to see lots of babies and help to bring them good care. Though I don’t work with the babies all day I still get to see their transformations into laughing, adventurous, smiling children once they receive the attention and the love they deserve.