Article/WangZhao(2012I),LiGaicong(2011F)  Picture/CaoJian(2012F)

As we are celebrating the International Children’s Day within our families, we cannot ignore the fact that there are orphans longing for love and care and deserving equal happiness in the holiday. On June 9^th, 2012, a group of volunteers from Tsinghua MBA returned to Bethel, a non-profit organization that provides foster care and training for orphans with visual disabilities, to celebrate holidays with those kids.

It was around 2:30 when we arrived in Bethel, after a two-hour drive. We immediately delivered all the daily supplies donated by students and faculties to the storage room. While the children living there were having their snacks, Ms. Zhang, the teacher there, gave us a tour around the main building. It’s a two-tier building equipped with colorful and lovely classrooms, playrooms and music rooms, etc. Ms. Zhang told us that although most of the kids can’t see the decorations, we should still treat them the same as normal kids. Soon a slogan on the wall caught our attention, whichsays, “We are not helping the orphans, we are teaching them how to help themselves”. Indeed, not only do the children receive care and love in Bethel, they are also taught with professional skills to help them stand on their own. We were truly impressed when Ms. Zhang told us that one kid is now making his living by working in Hilton Hotel and another kid is now studying in the US.

After the short tour, we got the chance to spend time with the children face to face. In the playroom, the kids were taken care of by their “mum”, all middle age lady staffs. They love  most is founder of this school they call her“ French mother”，but we didn’t  meet her because she went back to his country to deal with things what a pity it is . They had their eyes on every single child and love them as their own. We met a 5-year-old girl named He Ruizhi, who is the miracle there. According to her “mum”, she went trough a serious brainstem disease and was in coma for two months. She woke up in a vegetative state. With all the help and care she received in Bethel, now she can stand up and even walk with assistance. Later in the playroom, the choir gave up a passionate performance. They may not be able to see their audients, but their voices were touching us deep in the heart.

The kids were taken out for a walk at 4 in the afternoon. As we were helping the staff with the kids, we learned the story of the youngest boy, Wang Xiang, who is only nine month old. He was the cutest and most adorable boy, abandoned no more than twenty days after he was born. His parents called 110, and the police found him lying in the bushes alone.

Our trip came to an end when the staffs were taking shifts after 4:30pm. Everyone felt touched after the short visit. It was raining on our way back to the school. Our feelings were as heavy as the weather. We felt obliged to give back, to be social committed, and to call for much more attention and concerns from not only MBAs but also the entire community around us.