For the past three years a group of American and Chinese students have volunteered in a targeted Chinese orphanage every Saturday in collaboration with the Beijing Initiative for the Care of Chinese Orphans. This orphanage has a very minimal staff and children were not attending any sort of formal schooling. Since our work began our group has raised enough funding to replace dangerous building conditions, provide new washing machines and dryers and enough funding to send the children to school. However, there is ongoing need at this orphanage as new children are still being brought in weekly.  

This group is overseen by Iris Chin Ponte Ph.D., a postdoctoral student in the Department of Child Development at Tufts University. The group provides important weekly support to the staff and has organized crucial fundraising to help the children receive needed goods and services. 

The orphanage has 50-65 children at any given time between the ages of birth-16 years old. Some of the children are typically developing while others are severely handicapped.   

All of the volunteers commit to a year of service and a minimum of two weekends a month. Activities for the infant/toddler room include songs, one-on-one play time, exercise and hygienic care (i.e. nail cutting, diaper changing and washing). Activities for the pre-K/grade school children include, songs, introduction to writing, reading and mathematics, one-on-one playtime, exercise, and hygienic care. This group also hosts fundraising events throughout the year to support activities such as dental visits, doctor visits, classroom materials, personal care items, clothing and orphanage renovations. For more information, please contact Iris Ponte.