An activity aiming to offer better care to disadvantaged children and left-behind children (whose parents have migrated to other areas for work) was launched by the Women's Federation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Qunbusi and Qianjin villages in Kashgar, in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on January 1. The activity is a part of "Taking Love Home" nationwide campaign launched by the All-China Women's Federation and relevant departments and organizations.  

More than 1,200 villagers participated in the event during which a variety of activities were held to bring love and care for the local women and children.

Wang Lixia, Secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group of the region's women's federation, said the region's federation has been working on caring for children in poverty-stricken areas and has contributed to the local poverty-alleviation work.

"We will organize officials and members of the executive committees of the women's federations at all levels in Xinjiang, family education experts, law-related publicists, college students and other volunteers to help left-behind and disadvantaged children one-on-one, ensuring them to have a safe, warm and meaningful winter holiday through diverse activities," Wang added.

Women officials of the women's federations will spend the winter vacation with their paired children through home visits, lectures, homework tutoring and safety education.

"My friends and I will no longer feel alone this winter vacation, and we are excited about having aunts from women's federations to accompany us during the holiday," said 11-year-old Ayixian Tuoheti.

"My family enjoys the preferential policies of housing and medical treatment. I do not need to pay tuition fees and board and lodging expenses for my three children," said Miriguli, a local woman. However, she feels worried when her children have winter vacation because she has to go to work, so no one will look after her children during the vacation. "Women officials of the women's federation will help me accompany them. They not only help me solve the problem, but also help my children enjoy a happy and meaningful holiday," she added.

Locals who have guided villagers to become rich, women who work hard on the post and outstanding students of night school were awarded at the event, to motivate the locals to work hard and start their businesses.

To date, the region's federation has invested a total of one million yuan (US $143,564.70) to help more than 1,600 impoverished people in Qunbusi Village. The federation has publicized the poverty-alleviation work for 100 times, which have benefited more than 60,000 people.

"The villagers, especially women, have changed their outdated ideas. Recently, 72 local women participated in the training session of housekeeping skills organized by the region's women's federation, showing high enthusiasm for employment," said Ayizimiguli Kadeer, president of the Women's Federation of Qunbusi Village.

(Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)