Summer Abroad in China

Every summer China Care Foundation hosts an annual volunteer program for dedicated China Care club members to volunteer and work with the children we have grown to love.

May 2007 was the first time Tufts students volunteered with China Care in Beijing. Lasting about three weeks, the service trip involved daily volunteer work with children from birth to three years old. All of the children had some sort of illness or disability, including but not limited to cleft palates, heart defects, club feet, anal atresia, hydrocephalus, mental disabilities, etc. Daily tasks included holding and playing with the babies in order to help them develop necessary motor and learning skills. Volunteers also assisted in feeding, dressing and bathing the children when possible. Tufts volunteers also had the opportunity to work with an older group of orphans with mental and physical disabilities. The volunteers had a blast teaching these children English and participating in games of musical chairs and water gun fights.

Again in the summer of 2008, Tufts China Care club members returned to China to volunteer for China Care. Overall these volunteer trips were an amazing experience. Not only did the volunteers learn about China first hand but also about the different health issues that affect these children in need. It was deeply moving and inspiring for them to see the relentless efforts put in by China Care's staff members in caring for these children.

China Care creates a safe, happy and healthy living environment for these abandoned children. It is amazing how quickly the Tufts volunteers fell in love with the children. Tufts China Care club hopes to send more volunteers to work with China Care Foundation in the future.

For more information on Tufts China Care's volunteer trip to Beijing, please contact Summer Abroad Coordinator Wenyu Xiong.