It all started in 1992 when the Chinese born and US educated Melody Zhang went to Henan province for an education aid program. Then she went to the far western Xinjiang autonomous region for a medical aid program. From there, she founded Children’s Hope Foundation (“the Foundation” hereafter), which became an independent charity in year 2001. By 2010, the Foundation was fully registered under the Civil Affairs Bureau in Henan.
Melody Zhang, Founder of Children’s Hope Foundation
On 3 November, the Foundation formally opened its third Little Home (care house) of Children’s Hope in the same neighborhood as the Children’s Hospital in Beijing. This series of care-house project has previously established 7 such houses in Guangzhou and 2 in Beijing. Being one of two major projects currently underway at the Foundation, the Little Home project aims to provide a loving and caring home environment for children with serious disability or diseases. The project also aims to provide the families of these children a place to stay that is close to the hospital where the children get treatment. These care houses are rented apartments, which can serve as short-term housing for these families who often come from another province. These families can take care of their children here without worrying about the exorbitant rent which they would have to pay otherwise. Out of their distress coming to Beijing for their children’s operation and recovery, they can spend a typical period of 3 months here at the Little Home apartment. The current apartment is about more than 100 square meters and can hold about 4 families. Initial rent is settled, though long term rent support will be needed and appreciated.
The interior of a typical room of the Little Home apartment near the Children’s Hospital in Beijing
The Foundation also has another main project in Beijing’s northern part of Ma Quan Ying area which is near Shunyi. In this norther area, the Foundation’s Foster Care program here has helped more than 130 orphans with serious health conditions.
Children at the Foster Care house in Ma Quan Ying, norther part of Beijing
Currently, about 30 orphans are housed here in two Chinese court yards. Rent is already sorted for some rather long term, however, staff are struggling getting enough pay. “Donors typically prefer giving the money to direct use of the orphans. However, the staff do need to take care of them and they work so hard to deserve a salary”, told by Ms. Li Hong, Specialist of Development of the Foundation.
Children’s Hope Foundation can be reached by phone 64318082 for Chris (both in English and Chinese).
All photos provided by Children’s Hope Foundation.
