Dafang county, in the underdeveloped southwest province of Guizhou, has improved the quality of life of its underprivileged children after the Ministry of Civil Affairs chose it to pilot a new child welfare system.
LIVING HAND TO MOUTH
Wang Yingran, 9, lives with his father in Dafang. After a serious accident in 2007, his father, Wang Xinglun, was left disabled and unable to work. His wife could not bear living in such abject poverty and left.
"I could barely take care of myself," said Wang Xinglun.
However, the boy and his father's lives were turned around when the pilot poverty project scheme was tested in their county in 2012.
"We now receive money from the civil affairs office every month. Life is much better than before," the fourth grade student said.
The project helps underprivileged children who are not classed as orphans.
According to Zhang Guide, head of local civil affairs bureau, Wang Yingran is among 1,500 underprivileged children in the county. They are mostly from single parent families and some are disabled or are living with HIV/AIDS.