Whether you’d like to volunteer internationally, make a difference in a needy rural village, or simply practice your first ni hao‘s in the company of kids,  U of T China Care has something for you.

Traditionally, our internship program takes place during the summer and sends 10 to 20 volunteers to orphanages throughout China, including the China Care Home. We will help match you with an orphanage, help you secure funding, and prepare you for your volunteer work.

Volunteers tutor and teach English, assist administratively, or simply play with children who often do not receive the love and attention they deserve. Many of the children that you will come to know were abandoned at birth or shortly afterwards because of their disabilities. They grow up in a variety of institutions, some far better equipped than others, where the orphanage staff works hard to meet their daily needs. All, however, are quite deprived of the one-on-one interaction that stimulates growth during these critical years. Volunteers are always needed to help fill this void.

Volunteers return deeply touched by the children they have met and convinced of their ability to make a difference-It’s been the most meaningful experience of a life time for many.

You can read some of the daily journals of 2011 volunteers at China Care Home in Beijing here.

Summer Volunteering at the China Care Home – Final Day

July 26, 2011

The China Care volunteer program is different than I expected it to be. When I arrived here, I found out that we would get to visit the Great Wall. This news surprised me in a good way—I realized the program is a good balance of sightseeing and working with the kids.

Working with the kids has been more fun than I imagined. They are all so cute and they love to play. Working with them in the morning and afternoon is a blast, but they can really tire me out, so it’s nice to be able to take a break and sightsee in Beijing on some afternoons. One day we went to the Olympic Village. Getting to see the Water Cube and the Bird’s Nest up close was a lot of fun. We also went to Tiananmen Square, which was very crowded but very cool to visit. Being here is a good contrast from being back home, even if the time difference has been hard to adjust to–I wake up extremely early every morning.

Another great thing here is the food. Every night we have been going to restaurants and eating food you don’t often see in America. One night we had Peking Duck, which was amazing. We also had a hot pot meal where we got to cook a lot of interesting things. Every day for lunch we get something new, which is fantastic. We’ve had dumplings, beef, and many soups, all of which have been delicious.

The group of volunteers here is really great. We have all had fun going to dinner together and, more importantly, taking care of the children together. Seeing the children every day is so much fun and I never want to leave them. Being with this great group of people and helping out these children have made this trip unforgettable and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Sean’s two older brothers took part in China Care’s volunteer program and he was excited to see for himself what our work is all about.

Volunteering at the China Care Home – Wenjing Chen – Day 8

July 25, 2011

We are always told to appreciate how fortunate we are, but being at the China Care Home, we can truly understand what this means. We are so fortunate to have parents who love us and relatives who care for us. The children here, many with serious conditions such as heart defects and spinal bifida, were abandoned and left alone, with no one to love and care for them. At the China Care Home, they not only receive the best medical support possible, but also the love and care of the nannies.

When I first arrived at the home, I was uncertain how I should hold babies or what to do when they start crying. The nannies patiently taught me how to communicate with the toddlers and take them to preschool. They showed me how to hold the babies when they have just woken up from their naps. I have grown particularly attached to BeiBei, a

little girl who recently had heart surgery. Although BeiBei is only a year and a half old, she does not cry easily. Instead, she closely observes everything around her with her big, innocent eyes. When I first met her, she looked at me curiously, wondering who I was. After a couple of attempts, BeiBei finally allowed me to hold her. When I held her tiny hands and bounced her around, BeiBei instantly smiled and her laugh made everyone in the room smile too. After a couple of days, she started gesturing for me to pick her up whenever I came into her room. Sometimes she even throws small tantrums, refusing to let go when I have to leave.

Before this experience, I got to learn about China Care through the club at my college. We were able to raise money each term and send the money to sponsor children for surgery. This experience has shown me exactly how the money is being used and how our fundraising efforts are helping the children here. I will miss the staff and the nannies, who have taken such great care of us and of the children. But I will miss the children the most. The attachment that I feel to the babies at the China Care Home is incredible.

Wenjing is a member of the China Care Club at Dartmouth. She is a sophomore planning on going to medical school.

Volunteering at the China Care Home – James Woodruff- Day 6

July 21, 2011

While working at the China Care Home, I’ve realized the uniqueness of each child and the true joy they feel interacting with each of the China Care Volunteers. Each child is almost guaranteed to be smiling when we walk into their rooms. Even on the slow days, it seems like the time flies by. There seems to have been a pairing between volunteers and babies–each volunteer has taken a particular liking to a certain baby, and vice versa.

For example, Max, my roommate, has nicknamed one of the babies “Chaz” and Chaz can’t get enough of Max. Whenever Max walks into the same room as Chaz he immediately runs up to Max with open arms, expecting to be lifted up and swung through the air. Chaz has one of the most interesting personalities of all the babies.

“Anya’s baby” is one of the cutest. She is a little girl who is never without a pink bow in her hair. Qing was recently transferred back to her orphanage, which involved many tears and a lot of sad faces. But it is good that she went back because that means she is healthy and ready to leave the Home.

“Wenjing’s baby” is equally as cute. Bei has a heart defect and is also one of my favorite babies because she is one of the easiest to play with. The only problem is that she cries when you put her down! This is easily overcome with leg bouncing and funny faces.

“Carlos” is Jack and Alec’s baby. It makes sense that they “have” the same baby, as they go to the same school and are good friends. Carlos was born with a heart defect, yet he is incredibly large and active for a two-year-old boy.

Lake also has a favorite baby. Tao is one of the most rambunctious children here, even though he suffers from glaucoma. Tao loves to be picked up, yet he is so ticklish that mere contact with him makes him fall to the ground laughing.

I have really enjoyed my stay here at China Care and wish all the children well for their futures.

James just graduated from Brunswick School in CT, where he learned about China Care through his classmates and family friends.