‘Left-behind kids’ helped by the Estée Lauder Companies
Print Edition
The first Estée Lauder Companies teacher training workshop, offering guidance on teaching so-called “left-behind children”, was held this month in Shanghai, attracting more than 60 teachers.
They came from 30 schools in Jinzhai County in Anhui Province and Renshou County in Sichuan Province.
“Left-behind children” is the name given to children left in villages to be looked after by grandparents or other relatives while their parents work in China’s booming cities.
In collaboration with the China Youth Development Foundation, American cosmetics giant the Estée Lauder Companies invited psychologists to give lectures and discuss teaching methods addressing the specific issues of such children.
The Estée Lauder Companies set up the Care for Left-behind Children program three years ago, with the aims of discovering what these children need and providing effective help.
Last year, the Estée Lauder Companies worked with the China Youth Development Foundation and donated 1 million yuan (US$161,100) for research on the particular issues facing these children.
They commissioned experts from Tsinghua University and Peking University to set up a research group which went to Jinzhai County and Renshou County.
From the research, the Estée Lauder Companies and the China Youth Development Foundation concluded that the common problems facing these children include a lack of love, a lack of supervision in their studies, too much independence and social skills issues.
As their parents are not around, and many attend residential schools, it is important to train teachers and raise awareness, say researchers.
During the research, many teachers admitted that they lacked the theory and methods to care for these children.
The program includes modules in areas such as tutoring, psychological health education and painting therapy, all designed to meet the needs of kids whose parents are working way from home.
Keynote speaker, Zhang Jinglian, senior youth consultant at Health Oppotunity for People Everywhere said that this was the first time that caring for the psychological health of these kids has been addressed, and that it is vital to do so.
“The less children communicate with their parents, the more confused they become,” she said.
During the session on July 13, teachers expressed enthusiasm for the techniques of tutoring and emotional connection development they learned and used the occasion to share their opinions and ideas.
“Schools should still keep in direct contact with the absent parents of these children. Regular home visits and family meetings are also important,” said teacher Li Baogen.
Another teacher, surnamed Hou, attending the event, said Zhang’s advice to teachers to stop and think when dealing with these kids made a big impression on her.
“When you’re annoyed and angry, it is wise to stop and place ourselves in the children’s shoes,” she said.
“I will go back and train the class teacher and try to set up a psychological health workshop,” added Hou.
At the end of the session, the teachers composed a poem to raise awareness about caring for “left-behind children”, titled “Kids, You’re in Our Hearts.”
It includes the lines: “Passionate hearts need to be cared for, and the kids are all in our hearts ... You have us on the road with you; We are your parents and your love.”
The Estée Lauder Companies and China Youth Development Foundation will support the teachers in putting theory into practice.
The Care for Left-behind Children program will put long-term focus on these regions and care more children.
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