A little bit of context

A team of 17 Singaporean volunteers and I went to Changle County in Shandong Province of China from 8-17 June 2018 as part of a overseas cultural immersion and community service trip. We mainly assisted the local "潍坊春雨社区义工公益服务中心" Chun Yu Social Services Group in Wei Fang, visiting homes of beneficiaries for refurbishment and to interact with the impoverished. This is some insight I'd like to provide with regards to the conditions of the poor in China.

The shock...

Out of the eight families I helped with furniture and renovations, one Chinese man 战士志 Zhan Shi Zhi was a quadriplegic of five years since his accident which paralysed him from the neck down. There was little that could be done by the doctors. He had lost almost all feeling in his limbs because of nerve damage, and blood circulation was beginning to slow down and stop since he couldn't move his extremeties (only his arms can move). His fingers and feet remain curled and twisted grotesquely.

His wife tends to him full-time and they have since stopped all farming. And with almost no income, the family gets by with just Traditional Chinese medicine and ointments. Zhan Shi Zhi says he can't feel much but he clearly writhes in pain whenever his wife lifts his arms or shifts his blankets around. She does so to reveal the extent of rot eating at his limbs.

Financially, the government provides a small amount of social welfare a month. Their only son graduated high school and just enrolled in July into university. He is their only way out of their impoverished state, since attaining a degree and getting a good-paying job in the city will be a steady financial source. But that would be years away. Except for his wife's unwavering love and care for him - bringing him out on walks and nursing him - Shi Zhi has nothing else to live on and nowhere to turn to. He awaits a nearing death sentence.

Counting the Costs

战士志's son is concerned about affording university fees, which are estimated at $6000 per semester, and it will run for 4 years. Currently, he stays on campus and returns home once a month because of the long bus ride out of the city area (hence we were unable to get a photo with him).

Besides school fees and boarding, husband and wife have other household needs like medication, daily food expenses and hygiene needs. The total amounts to about $48,000.

I will be communicating with Chun Yu volunteers who have been in contact with the family to follow-up and support them as they go along this journey. The volunteers have been providing some financial support to them. With some extra funding, long-term care and rehabilitation and support would be ideal for 战士志. He won't be worried about the future of his family, because you're in with us on this too.

$35 feeds 3 people for 1 day

$35 will get the family through 1 day. It can provide for their daily expenses. However much you're persuaded to give will be something I'm grateful for nonetheless.

Quality of life will be essential. At this point, Zhan Shi Zhi is just wasting away on his bed, in his home in a remote farm deep in the countryside. As I sat by his bed listening and talking with him about family life, politics and exchanging pleasantries, he was more positive and light-hearted about his situation than I was. I couldn't help feeling a sense of hopelessness and despair and pain for him.

But perhaps God has drawn us all the way from Singapore to the deepest parts of China to find a broken man who needs all the help he can get from a modern and prosperous society. I appeal you to act now and spread the word.

Here's Our Token of Appreciation

We'll send you an e-receipt acknowledging your pledge amount.

Feed them for 1 Day (Donations $35 and above):
You'll receive 10 Postcards - 4 handmade and 6 printed.

Contact me

Pledge below to feed the family with just $35 today! And we'll help get them through the next day and the next day and the next, until they can live and leave in dignity.

For more details or queries, you may contact me Kylie at +65-83589451 or chiak333@gmail.com.

For fund transfers, please make it out to UOB Savings 324-113-310-7. Do let me know when you've made a transfer.

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