Relief center provides help to children in need

In Sun Village－a relief center in Duchang county of northern Jiangxi province that provides aid to children whose guardians are serving prison sentences or are otherwise unable to support them－Zhou Yikai, the founder of the center, is "Grandpa Sun" to over 300 children.

Zhou, 75, is grateful when he sees the children find a sense of home and warmth in the center, and free of discrimination, gradually overcome the psychological shadow of not living with parents and gain confidence.

"I want to help as many needy children as possible to learn to stand on their own feet in society, and lend a helping hand when others need it," he said.

Fourteen years of effort have yielded results. Six children have won county-level honors, and one has received a national honor. About 70 children from there have become college students, and two returned to work in the center after graduation.

Preparations for Sun Village started in 2006, when Zhou retired as director of the county's civil affairs bureau. His lengthy experience in the charitable sector had given him the idea to set up a center for needy children.

In 2007, together with 11 other retirees, he set up Sun Village. Former civil servants and teachers, they all had the work experience and social connections that could secure financial support and help from society.

Originally set up in an abandoned forest farm, Sun Village now has 17 buildings, including a kindergarten and a primary school, a sports field and a basketball court.

"The children usually arrive with a sense of inferiority, and they feel indifferent and even hostile to society. Every child has bad habits to some extent," said Zhou, adding that their mental health is the priority.

To make up for the lack of family affection, about 300 female volunteers, including civil servants, teachers, doctors and company staff, offer regular help.

The "mothers" come on holidays to take part in activities with the children, including a monthly group birthday party. Children who do not have family members to pick them up during Spring Festival are invited to their homes.

"These children also need relationships with their parents. Even if they are far away, it is still precious to them," Zhou said.

During summer vacation, he takes children to visit their parents if they are in prison. The children give them small homemade gifts and receive comfort and parental encouragement in return.

"Inmates and children worry about each other. The meetings can ease the psychological burden on both sides and help them live their lives with peace of mind," he said.

Huang Sisi arrived at Sun Village in 2007 at the age of 14. She was born half a year after her father was sent to prison over a fight that resulted in a death. When she was 6 months old, her mother remarried, and she was sent to live in poverty with her grandmother.

Huang had never met her father until Zhou took her to visit him in prison in the summer of 2008.

"When the father saw his daughter for the first time and the prizes she had won at school, he burst into tears," Zhou said. "After such a long while, he was finally able to hold his daughter in his arms."

Her father behaved well in prison after that, which led to his early release in 2013. The daughter also became more outgoing. They now live together following her graduation from college.

"The children give me the opportunity to help them, and I have no reason to stop until I can no longer move," Zhou said.