Lunch in the Urban Village

In a densely populated urban village in Guangzhou live many migrant-worker families from across the country. To make a living, parents often rise before dawn and work late into the night, leaving little time to care for their children. Many children spent afternoons alone in cramped rented rooms, making do with instant noodles, cold steamed buns, or leftovers for lunch.

During a community charity survey, the Foundation's young volunteers took notice of this often-overlooked group. After repeated visits and careful preparation, they launched the Caring Lunch program, renting a small room in the community center and turning it into a clean, cozy canteen.

The program provides a free, nutritionally balanced, piping-hot lunch each week to more than thirty children from families in difficulty. Volunteers buy fresh ingredients, cook, keep the children company, maintain order, and tutor them with homework after the meal.

Bit by bit, the little canteen became the place the children looked forward to most each week. Here there was hot food, companionship, attention, and warmth. One mother, seeing her child content after eating, said the Foundation had allowed her to work with greater peace of mind.

Today, the Caring Lunch program has run steadily for over a year, with more volunteers and kind-hearted merchants donating ingredients and time. The children's physical condition, spirits, and learning have all visibly improved.