About 57 percent of China’s population –around 796 million people– live on less than $2 a day. Most of China’s poverty-stricken live in the countryside. Because of this, China is experiencing the world’s largest mass migration of people from it’s countryside to the city. Desperate for work, many people are leaving husbands, wives, and children behind to find jobs. Distant cities offer plentiful job opportunities while the migrant workers offer cheap labor that helps fuel economic growth and mass urbanization.
It is estimated that of the 24 million people living in Shanghai, nearly 9 million are migrant workers. Living in Shanghai, we are surrounded by these workers everyday: Street vendors selling fruit, baked potatoes, roasted chestnuts, or balloons. Street cleaners wearing green uniforms and humbly sweeping every inch of concrete with a bamboo broom. Construction workers building new sky-scrapers, homes, metro lines, and even our new school sports center. And of course, our Ayis. The ladies who clean our homes, do our laundry, and in some cases, cook and take care of our children.
One of the provinces feeding into this steady stream of migrant workers is Anhui. Located directly west of Shanghai (8 hours by bus), this was considered one of China’s poorest and most undeveloped areas until recent years. Because the province lies in a subduction zone (downwarping) of earth’s crust, Anhui has suffered multiple catastrophic floods due to the reversing of one of it’s major rivers. Recent irrigation corrections have alleviated much of this to allow for better agriculture and economic growth. Today, endless fields of wheat and rape seed provide income to local farmers.
Anhui is improving economically, but both it’s education and healthcare systems remain poor. Fortunately, there are wonderful organizations who focus on improving the lives of the people living in such circumstances.
Heart to Heart Shanghai is just one of the amazing examples of how an organization can utilize the kindness and generosity of others to help those less fortunate and in desperate need of help. This non-profit organization focuses on providing support to Chinese children living in poverty who are undergoing heart surgery. Heart to Heart Shanghai is run entirely by volunteers and helps by providing sponsors for heart surgeries, overseeing a hospital playroom for interaction with recovering children, and finding donors for school libraries in poor rural areas.
With Heart to Heart, Dulwich College Shanghai recently raised enough money to sponsor one of these rural libraries. Representing the parent association of Dulwich (Friends Of Dulwich), I was fortunate enough to attend Heart to Heart’s service trip to Anhui where this library was dedicated.
Over a 4-day period, we navigated by bus through the Anhui province to visit 9 recently sponsored heart surgery patients and to stop at local schools to dedicate 4 new libraries. Witnessing firsthand how charity work through Heart to Heart is making a difference in the lives of entire villages was incredible. The organization may focus on providing a better life for Chinese children, but it is providing hope and change for thousands of people that live in these distant villages such as Anhui.
Even $1 makes a difference. Please consider donating to this worthy cause at www.heart2heartshanghai.net.
After an 8-hour bus ride from Shanghai to Anhui, our first visit was with Dong Mengxuan. A happy and healthy girl two years post-operation. It happened to be her birthday, so we joined in an extra celebration.
“Where the Wild Things Are” book donated by Dulwich FOD.
Our second home visit was to that of Li Menghan whose parents are both out of work at the moment. Their front door spilled out onto a six-lane highway.
Li Menghan with her parents and little brother.
Vibrant smiles.
Shan Goya was beyond thrilled to see our bus pull up in front of her home.
Post-operative heart patient, Shan Guoya, along with her brother, parents, and grandmother. Her mom has mental health issues, her dad is a day laborer, and her grandma helps raise both children. She had NEVER received a new toy before we arrived with donation bags filled with toys and clothes for her family.
Inside their two-room home.
Most homes we visited had similar artwork adorning the walls.
As our bus pulled up to the first school, Meishi Center Primary, we were greeted by family members of the 560+ school children attending our library dedication ceremony.
As we entered the school grounds. the students were proudly performing a welcome song for us on their recorders.
At each school, we quickly formed a chain to unload more than 40 donation bags full of clothing, toys, and toiletries for school children and their families.
The school library dedications make an impact on the entire community.
David and Sarah, proud sponsors handing over their donation to the head of school.
A look inside one of their classrooms: No heat and very few resources.
The next child we visited was Cui Qiyuan, a 2 year old who received heart surgery a year ago. Having borrowed money to get the boy to Shanghai for surgery, the family has been trying to make ends meet while relying heavily on the charity of their village. Both of his grandparents have passed away, leaving only his mom to care for him while his dad has moved overseas for work.
Presenting Cui Qiyuan with a board book donated by Dulwich.
A humble home and garden.
Our send-off by Cui Qiyuan’s village.
Gu YuanXiao was our next visit. This two-year old had surgery last September and is looked after by his grandparents as his parents are migrant workers in YiWu.
Gu YuanXiao with is grandparents and sister.
Driving from one visit to the next, we crossed through endless fields of wheat and rape seed.
Most villages were so isolated that family members had to guide our bus to their home.
Two-year old Zhou XinLang had surgery last year and lives with his extended family that makes a meager living from their small farm.
Zhou XinLang with his mom and older brother.
One of the most memorable moments was meeting Zhou XinLang’s 105-year-old great-grandmother.
So much history behind those eyes.
And so much raw emotion.
Many villages were inaccessible by bus, so we walked down their dirt roads…
past cows…
and neighbors…
musicians…
and chickens.
To arrive at home of 8 year-old Lin Zihan. She proudly read the mandarin inscription written to her by a Dulwich student. Such a strong and beautiful girl, now healthy because of a charitable sponsor.
We, too, were very interesting to many of the villagers.
Our second school library dedication was at Zhuzhuang Primary School which has 169 primary students and 76 kindergarteners. The school was filled with such excitement and warm smiles.
Anne and son, Malo, representing APM as sponsors for this new library.
One kindergarten classroom. 34 students and nothing but a blackboard as a teaching resource.
Each student at every school we visited received a box of crayons and three pens. This alone created so much happiness.
The Pengyou Primary School was our next stop. A very emotional and special one, as this was the library being donated through Dulwich FOD. The donation total was 20,000 RMB, the equivalent of $3,333. The school was able to purchase shelves, books, computers, and other vital educational resources necessary in establishing their library. I was so honored to witness such an important event in the lives of these beautiful children. Their families will benefit from this library in so many ways over the course of many years.
The new library will help fulfill the national curriculum for all 180 primary and 50 kindergarten students.
The student who presented me with my red scarf.
Such pure joy.
I did manage to get in one photo.
The new library in progress.
The top three books were donated by Jack, Kate, and Luke. Luke sold drawings door-to-door to raise his money. Before donating the books, Jack, Kate, and Luke traced their hand onto the inside of the book cover and wrote a small message in mandarin.
A tight fit into each classroom.
Our final school was Yanlu Primary. Full of energy and surrounded by loving family members, the students awaited the dedication ceremony with high anticipation and danced with joy upon receiving their individual boxes of crayons and pens.
Having never seen foreigners before, they were also full of laughter.
Mr. and Mrs. Rowe, sponsors radiating with joy over this new school library.
One of the most humbling visits during this trip was to the home of 2 year-old Tian Zehui, There was no road leading to this tiny, remote village. Walking the dirt lane to her home was like stepping back in time with each neighbor out to greet us along the way.
Heart patient, Tian Zehui, with her brother, mom, and dad. Her father finds work when he can to support the four generations living in their home.
With Grandma and Great-Grandma. Despite the hardships, such a loving and happy family.
Our final visit was to see Liu Ziyan. She lives with her twin sister, older brother, mom, dad, and grandma. A bit overwhelmed, she finally stopped crying once she began concentrating on playing with her new doll and stroller.
An unforgettable experience to see so many lives being touched through the goodwill of others. Thank you Heart to Heart Shanghai for providing this opportunity to witness first-hand the hope and joy being given to those who need it most.
ourshanghaidays 
Julie— Beautiful Job. I was crying when I read the part about the books that
the kids donated. What an amazing experience!❤️❤️❤️
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