Chunhui Village Program serves rural at-risk children, their families and communities. While working with the children, we focus on using relationship therapy to help them build positive relationships rather than trying to change their behaviors.

Today, let’s read the story of an ordinary mother. You will be amazed to see how love and stoicism create miraculous changes.

We visited the home of Shuo, a girl who suffers from CP and epilepsy. After talking with her mom for more than an hour, we realized that we must help the entire family, not only the girl but also her weary mom and her depression-afflicted elder sister.

It seemed that Shuo’s mom was busy and anxious. She refused to share her sufferings with anyone;

Tortured by her special needs, Shuo let off steam recklessly and struck her mom with full strength;

Shuo’s elder sister Bo felt neglected; she was indifferent, detached and depressed……

We walked out of Shuo’ home into the bitter cold, wondering when that dark forlorn house would have its bright days.

Chunhui Children’s social work is both professional and down to earth.

In the activities, Shuo couldn’t wait to make friends. Watching her excited girl beaming short but sunshine smiles, the mother realized that she need wind up herself to give the children more freedom as well. 

Shuo’s sister Bo refused to attend any activities or talk to Shuo and their mom. In that enclosed room, we listened quietly to Bo complain about how her family had been burdened by her sister and how their mother had been unfair to her. We gave the girl full respect to let her know that she could always trust us.

The family’s huge changes happened in Chunhui Children’s 2022 summer camp.

Chunhui Children’s social workers spent quite some time talking Bo into joining the summer camp together with her sister and mom, which would make a big difference to the family. 

At the camp, the mother had a good rest and the sisters were put in two separate groups.

Under guidance of her counsellor, Shuo tried her best to explore everything independently; Bo opened up as well and became leader of her group; their mom learned to give the children as much freedom as possible and accept her own negative feelings. 

At the activity themed “different lives”, Bo experienced how hard the life of CP-afflicted children was and said: “I used to think my sister was a burden. She drooled and rolled her eyes all the time. I felt it a shame to have such a sister. But now I know how much she has been through in the past 16 years.” I patted Bo’s shoulder softly. Bo walked over to Shuo and handed her a piece of bread. This was the first time Bo had cared for her sister on her own initiative, their mom said. 

It was a sign that Bo truly accepted her sister and the negligence she had experienced in her family all these years. Like a beam of light, the summer camp brightened up the family’s life. Both the mother and the daughters had an amazing time here. 

After the camping, we kept visiting Shuo’s home regularly and inviting the family to our activity center for fun. With a nice and hard-working mom, a pretty and caring elder daughter, a strong and upbeat younger daughter, the family will have a bright future for sure. 

In the summer of 2022, Shuo’s home was full of love and laughter. The mother likes greenery, so we often brought her some plants which injected new life into the family. 

“I have never imagined we could have such a terrific life today,” said the mother. Chunhui Children’s mentors are her sisters, friends and teachers. At that moment, the faces of the mother and daughters were overflowing with happiness and hope. After all these years of suffering and hurting, they finally found a way to love and care for each other. 

Hard days will go on and challenge will still come along. But standing by each other with love, does the family have anything to fear? We hope more and more at-risk children get some loving support in their life. When they hurt and struggle, they could hear someone say: “Come on, we are here for you. Everything will be ok” rather than “You poor thing. Sorry for you.”