Caring mothers of Hongshan Women's Federation present gifts to Tibetan students during Spring Festival holiday 2022.

Hongshan High School, in Wuhan, in Central China's Hubei Province, in February held the annual program during which it pairs its Tibetan students with local families. Ten students from Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region arrived in Wuhan in February to begin their senior high school education. Eight families in Wuhan volunteered to "adopt" the Tibetan students during their three years of high school studies.

"I've been in Wuhan for only a few months, but it already feels like home to me. We are very grateful to our 'moms' and 'dads' in Wuhan. They have made Wuhan become our second hometown. We'll study hard, go to universities and contribute to society," says Danzeng Jinzha, one of the Tibetan students.

The annual program was implemented in Wuhan's Hongshan District five years ago. To date, 57 Tibetan students have paired with Han families, and 25 of those students have been admitted to universities.

A Home for Tibetan Children

The program was proposed by Hou Boyun, a member of the Hongshan District Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

To promote cultivation of ethnic minority talents, many Tibetan students have been selected to study at schools in other regions of China in recent years. Hongshan High School was among the first group of high schools in Wuhan to accept Tibetan students.

To create a good living and educational environment for the Tibetan students, Hou proposed that each Tibetan child should be paired with a family in Wuhan.

In 2018, Hongshan Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, Hongshan Women's Federation and Hongshan Education Bureau launched the program, at Hongshan High School, under which Tibetan students are paired with Han families.

"We encourage caring people to join our program and give Tibetan students a home in Wuhan, and to contribute to ethnic unity and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," read the program's proposal.

On holidays and weekends, the host parents invite the Tibetan students to their homes to enjoy home-cooked food, take them to visit local scenic spots, and participate in various activities with them. It has become tradition that all host parents and Tibetan students make dumplings together to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Ciren Yuzhen, a 19-year-old Tibetan student, from Nyingchi, is a beneficiary of the program. She began studying at Hongshan High School in 2019. She was paired with Zhang Jiuhong's family.

"I spend almost every weekend at her home. They not only prepare hearty foods for me, but also take me to visit museums. She often calls me to ask about my studies and life at school," Yuzhen says. The family's care and kindness give her a sense of home-like warmth and comfort.

"My parents think it is a good choice for me to study here. There are good educational resources, and many people who care about me. My parents are very relieved and pleased," Yuzhen adds.

'Home-like Warmth'

Hongshan Women's Federation has been instrumental in the program's implementation. The federation has mobilized outstanding women to serve as "caring mothers" to the Tibetan students. After being recommended by the federation, more than 30 women, including entrepreneurs and executive committee members of women's federations, have become "caring mothers."

In October 2019, Wan Xun, an entrepreneur, fulfilled her dream of visiting Tibet. After she returned to Wuhan, she learned the federation was looking for caring mothers for Tibetan students. She volunteered, without a second thought. She also encouraged her entrepreneur friends to join her.

Wan was paired with a girl, Bianba Yangla, from Shigatse. With the school's consent, Wan often takes Yangla out for meals, shopping, sightseeing, and to meet new friends. After the COVID-19 epidemic broke out in Wuhan, in 2020, Wan donated beef and mutton, worth 2,000 yuan (US $307), to Yangla's school.

Yangla is now preparing to sit for the college-entrance examination, which she will write this summer. "She is a diligent student, with a good academic performance. I hope her dream of entering Wuhan University will come true," Wan says.

"Mom Wan is busy running her company, but she still manages to take time out of her busy schedule to care about my studies and living needs. We bonded through love, not blood. Mom Wan loves me like her own child. I will always cherish her love for me, study hard and be a useful person, and pass on the love to others in need," Yangla says.

"Hongshan Women's Federation has offered training and guidance to caring mothers in parenting skills. We have learned how to get along well with the Tibetan children. We are their families in Hubei, and we must give them home-like warmth," says Wan.

Wan Xun (R) and her Tibetan "daughter" Bianba Yangla

Promoting Healthy Growth

Hongshan Women's Federation recommended two doctors to be caring mothers this year. One was Wang Yijie, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Wuhan Zhen'ai Maternity Hospital. She was paired with Bumu, a girl from Jiangda County.

"I take good care of her, like my own daughter, and I pick her up from school to live with my family on weekends and holidays. Adolescents go through physical, psychological and emotional changes during puberty. So, I give special care to her physiological and psychological health. I hope she will live a healthy and happy life in Wuhan," Wang says.

Wang Yijie (L) pairs with Bumu.

Zhu Lingyu, Wang's colleague, was the other doctor paired with a Tibetan girl. "I give you a sandalwood comb. May it comb out all your troubles and worries, and may our 'mother-daughter' bond last a lifetime," Zhu said when she presented a sandalwood comb to Ciren Sangmu, the 15-year-old Tibetan girl with whom she was paired.

"Sangmu is a shy girl. I want to help her become more confident, and to bravely express herself. I will take her to participate in social activities and tour around the city, and I will help her blend in with the local life," Zhu says.

Zhu Lingyu (L) pairs with Ciren Sangmu.

As doctors, Zhu and Wang are fully aware of the psychological, physical and emotional needs and problems faced by adolescent girls. They will care for the Tibetan girls, and they will help ensure the girls experience healthy growth during puberty.

"The local governments cover the tuition fees and living expenses of the Tibetan students, and the living conditions at the school have also been improved. As caring mothers, what we need to do is give the students more emotional care," says Zhu. Zhu and Wang's children have befriended both Sangmu and Bumu.

Wang and Zhu have urged their colleagues to join the program, and to set up a "Caring Moms Group" at their hospital. They are committed to providing long-term support to the Tibetan students.

"When conditions permit, we will give health knowledge lectures and psychological courses in their classes, and we will set up a psychological health hotline for them," Wang says.

Passing Baton of Love

Xiao Yuping, Vice-President of Hongshan Women's Federation, is one of the caring mothers. Since 2018, whenever a caring mother has quit, due to unexpected reasons, Xiao and her colleagues have accepted the baton and cared for the Tibetan children. In 2019, Xiao was paired with Pingcuo Quzhen. Now, Quzhen is a student of Huazhong Agricultural University. She and Xiao stay in touch.

Xiao remembers she was the first person Quzhen contacted for advice about college. "Quzhen's parents were far away, in Tibet, and they hadn't received much education. She came to me at such an important time, and I was touched by her trust in me. My husband and I advised her to apply to Huazhong Agricultural University, in Wuhan. We were happy that she made it, and realized her dream of staying in Wuhan for further studies," Xiao says.

Xiao has accumulated rich experiences in her capacity as an organizer of the program, and as a caring mother, and her experiences have built a solid foundation for her future work.

"We recommend caring mothers who are patient, attentive, and who have happy families. Only with love and patience, can they give warmth and help to a child for three consecutive years. Only being careful, can they identify children's needs and problems, and offer help in time. Only from a happy family, can they pass on their family warmth to Tibetan students," Xiao says.

In the future, Hongshan Women's Federation will select more caring mothers for the program. "I hope caring mothers will influence children with their abilities, personality, and harmonious family atmosphere, and they will educate the children to love the Party and the country, and play a positive role in promoting national unity," Xiao says.

Caring mothers and Tibetan students make dumplings together.

Photos Supplied by Interviewees

(Women of China English Monthly May 2022 issue)