Related News
'Child savers' help at-risk kids
By Fei Lai |
June 13, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHILDREN and youths at risk of delinquency, crime and drug abuse - and those who just need a friend - are getting help through various organizations and volunteers in Changning District. Fei Lai takes a look.
It is hard for 22-year-old Xiao Long to find a goal in life. He only has a middle school education, no working experience, his parents are divorced and he must look after his father, who suffers from heart disease, and his elderly grandparents.
He had no friends and social life. Not until Changning District social workers took an interest in Xiao Long did he start to get a grip on life and feel better.
Social worker Han Jing says a volunteer team talked with him extensively, expressed concern for his welfare and encouraged him to take part in social activities to make more friends.
"We learned that he is a boy with good temperament and a good heart for his family. We need to guide him to find a job and support the family," Han says.
"We established trust through conversations and showing that we cared," Han adds. "We encouraged him to go to vocational school and pursue a course for young people for poor families. He took our advice to heart and set some new goals for his life."
Xiao Long is only one of many young people who are adrift in life. Lack of family and community support leaves juveniles more vulnerable in the face of hardship, less able to cope and at risk of antisocial behavior and crime.
Yang Yang, 19, used to rebel against his parents' strict demands for his education and he tended to solve problems by resorting to violence. He bought a long knife on the Internet, which was found by his mother. With the intervention of social workers, he was persuaded to study more and spend less time on video games.
Volunteer teams in Changning who support juvenile education are known as "child savers." They provide social and psychological support to young people and their families, aiming to prevent young people from committing crimes and help them live healthy, stable lives.
Juvenile court
Known as the first district to establish a juvenile justice court on the Chinese mainland in 1984, Changning has taken a lead in exploring ways to support young people.
Showing community cares about them is a priority.
In 2004, the district established a Juvenile Affairs Social Workers' Station that targets young people aged from 16 to 25. It offers a variety of social activities and events, including camps for children from one-child families, the "Young Dreamers" talent troupe, and quizzes on health knowledge.
The station involves children of migrant workers as well as local young people and aims to build confidence, equality and respect among them.
To increase social and work skills, workshops such as "Rainbow Home," "Words of Young Soul's" and "Sunshine Employment Filling Station" are emerging.
"Rainbow Home" workshop established in 2005 tries to improve relations and communication between parents and children. "Words of Young Souls" established in 2006 works on anger and emotion management, self-realization and charitable activities.
"Sunshine Employment Filling Station" established in 2008 is a job-hunting platform for teenager. It offers skills training and guidance. In the past few years it has recommended and helped place some 5,000 young people in various jobs.
Wang Ziqing, a local volunteer, says community support is essential in preventing and reducing juvenile crime.
"Juveniles tend to lack self control and they are young and impulsive," he says. "Since most are from one-child families, they feel lonely and are easily influenced by their peers.
"I have learned from experience to act like a friend, talking to them like a friend and showing I care about their family life and social life. This way, we can guide them in the right direction of education and employment," Wang ways.
Children of addicts
"The children of drug addicts face many problems, they lack the right kind of education and social influence and later in life they often cannot make ends meet and support themselves," says Zhu Weiyong, director of the district's Drugs Department of the Commission of Politics and Law.
"Many drug addicts' lives are in total ruin. How can they raise their children when they cannot even take care of themselves," he says. "Lack of parental guidance and lack of money for livelihood are general problems for these children."
These children also suffer from mental and emotional problems caused by family breakups as well as social discrimination against the children of addicts.
"Some might be so lonely and vulnerable that they start using drugs like their parents."
In view of these problems, these children and young people receive comprehensive support from their communities.
At Huayang Community, businesses and individuals have been mobilized to provide financial support. Volunteers provide education about social responsibility and combating drug abuse. By talking to and playing with children of drug addicts, they help build confidence, self-esteem and independence.
Young offenders
An "Appropriate Adult" volunteer team of almost 50 teachers, lawyers and social workers takes part in monitoring the judicial system and protecting the rights of juveniles. They also provide social and emotional support.
Young people who are considered to be mentally vulnerable should have an "appropriate adult" with them when they are interviewed by police. This adult can be a family member, friend, volunteer or social worker. Increasingly trained volunteers work closely with young offenders.
Since 2009, psychological counseling and treatment have been provided by professionals to 500 juvenile offenders.
It is hard for 22-year-old Xiao Long to find a goal in life. He only has a middle school education, no working experience, his parents are divorced and he must look after his father, who suffers from heart disease, and his elderly grandparents.
He had no friends and social life. Not until Changning District social workers took an interest in Xiao Long did he start to get a grip on life and feel better.
Social worker Han Jing says a volunteer team talked with him extensively, expressed concern for his welfare and encouraged him to take part in social activities to make more friends.
"We learned that he is a boy with good temperament and a good heart for his family. We need to guide him to find a job and support the family," Han says.
"We established trust through conversations and showing that we cared," Han adds. "We encouraged him to go to vocational school and pursue a course for young people for poor families. He took our advice to heart and set some new goals for his life."
Xiao Long is only one of many young people who are adrift in life. Lack of family and community support leaves juveniles more vulnerable in the face of hardship, less able to cope and at risk of antisocial behavior and crime.
Yang Yang, 19, used to rebel against his parents' strict demands for his education and he tended to solve problems by resorting to violence. He bought a long knife on the Internet, which was found by his mother. With the intervention of social workers, he was persuaded to study more and spend less time on video games.
Volunteer teams in Changning who support juvenile education are known as "child savers." They provide social and psychological support to young people and their families, aiming to prevent young people from committing crimes and help them live healthy, stable lives.
Juvenile court
Known as the first district to establish a juvenile justice court on the Chinese mainland in 1984, Changning has taken a lead in exploring ways to support young people.
Showing community cares about them is a priority.
In 2004, the district established a Juvenile Affairs Social Workers' Station that targets young people aged from 16 to 25. It offers a variety of social activities and events, including camps for children from one-child families, the "Young Dreamers" talent troupe, and quizzes on health knowledge.
The station involves children of migrant workers as well as local young people and aims to build confidence, equality and respect among them.
To increase social and work skills, workshops such as "Rainbow Home," "Words of Young Soul's" and "Sunshine Employment Filling Station" are emerging.
"Rainbow Home" workshop established in 2005 tries to improve relations and communication between parents and children. "Words of Young Souls" established in 2006 works on anger and emotion management, self-realization and charitable activities.
"Sunshine Employment Filling Station" established in 2008 is a job-hunting platform for teenager. It offers skills training and guidance. In the past few years it has recommended and helped place some 5,000 young people in various jobs.
Wang Ziqing, a local volunteer, says community support is essential in preventing and reducing juvenile crime.
"Juveniles tend to lack self control and they are young and impulsive," he says. "Since most are from one-child families, they feel lonely and are easily influenced by their peers.
"I have learned from experience to act like a friend, talking to them like a friend and showing I care about their family life and social life. This way, we can guide them in the right direction of education and employment," Wang ways.
Children of addicts
"The children of drug addicts face many problems, they lack the right kind of education and social influence and later in life they often cannot make ends meet and support themselves," says Zhu Weiyong, director of the district's Drugs Department of the Commission of Politics and Law.
"Many drug addicts' lives are in total ruin. How can they raise their children when they cannot even take care of themselves," he says. "Lack of parental guidance and lack of money for livelihood are general problems for these children."
These children also suffer from mental and emotional problems caused by family breakups as well as social discrimination against the children of addicts.
"Some might be so lonely and vulnerable that they start using drugs like their parents."
In view of these problems, these children and young people receive comprehensive support from their communities.
At Huayang Community, businesses and individuals have been mobilized to provide financial support. Volunteers provide education about social responsibility and combating drug abuse. By talking to and playing with children of drug addicts, they help build confidence, self-esteem and independence.
Young offenders
An "Appropriate Adult" volunteer team of almost 50 teachers, lawyers and social workers takes part in monitoring the judicial system and protecting the rights of juveniles. They also provide social and emotional support.
Young people who are considered to be mentally vulnerable should have an "appropriate adult" with them when they are interviewed by police. This adult can be a family member, friend, volunteer or social worker. Increasingly trained volunteers work closely with young offenders.
Since 2009, psychological counseling and treatment have been provided by professionals to 500 juvenile offenders.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
