Kind cops help rural orphans on the path to prosperity

As a freshman in college, Du Haiying, 18, found everything on campus exciting and could not wait to share it with her "family". Du was born into a poor household in Leiba village in Southwest China's Guizhou province. An orphan since she was very young, she and her elder brother were raised by their grandfather.

The three lived a hard life next to a cowshed, making a living by growing vegetables and collecting herbs.

In 2009, Dong Jun, a policewoman, and four colleagues with the public security bureau of Changshun county were sent to deliver water to drought-hit Leiba village. They met Du in the local school and learned about her hardships from a teacher.

Dong and Tian Weichun, a policeman, paid a visit to Du's home and were shocked by the desperation of the family－not a single piece of decent furniture in sight. Tian remembers that there were two pots on the stove, one having some leftovers in it, and the other with some stale vegetables.

Tian made up his mind to do something for the family, and his thought was echoed by his colleagues. They asked the schoolteachers to recommend those most in need, and 13 children were soon paired up with police officers at the bureau.

Du has four "fathers" and one "auntie". Dong gave the project a nickname-"Baby Plan", saying that every child should be cherished as one's own.

The four had a new house built at their own expense for Du's family. They also filed for subsistence allowances for Du's grandfather, and orphan subsidies for Du and her brother. The family moved into the new house in March 2012. For the first time in Du's life, she had her own bed and desk. Dong and her colleagues even pooled funds to add furniture and appliances such as a sofa and a washing machine.

In 2015, Du graduated from primary school and was admitted by a county middle school. Her "fathers "and "auntie" would take her out to eat or go shopping during weekends and holidays from time to time. They cared deeply about her school life and studies.

Tian says Du used to be a very shy girl who did not talk with her classmates. "We wanted her to be confident and brave," Tian says.

On June 8, the last day of this year's national college entrance examination, or gaokao, Du's second family waited outside the examination site. "Almost all parents go to pick up their kids after the exam. We wouldn't miss the moment," says Dong.

Du scored 502 out of 750, a stellar result that ensured she could attend a good university. The entire family was overjoyed. In the following days, Tian couldn't help showing off to his friends that his "daughter "had done well in the gaokao.

Du was admitted by Zunyi Medical University, majoring in clinical medicine. She received the admission notice letter on Aug 2 and went straight to the police bureau. She wanted to share her joy with her "dads" and "auntie".

"That was the first time in my life I have opened a university admission notice," says Tian, who adds that 35 impoverished rural kids received help from the "Baby Plan "from 2009 to 2014, some of whom were admitted to colleges while others have found stable jobs.

"Since China launched the poverty alleviation program in an all-around way, the living and study conditions of rural children have been greatly improved. Some of them were even relocated to cities. No children have since been included in the 'Baby Plan'," he adds.

Xinhua