HuaQiao Foundation

A Close Touch
- LongChuan Orphans Shanghai Visit
By Leo Hu
July 13, 2007

Kids from Yunnan and their guardians
at the Shanghai Hongqiao Airport

After weeks of preparing and expectation, the 10 kids and their supervisors from LongChuan, Yunnan had finally arrived in Shanghai, joined with another 3 children and their teacher Ms. Zhang from ShangShui, Henan to start the exciting and interesting experience with NBA Basketball without Borders Asia and Rotary Club Shanghai.

At the front gate of Asionics Technology Center

That night, invited by Basketball without Borders Asia, Mr. Yih and Jill of HQF along with Dr. Chen Qingling, the chief doctor of AIDS Care Center of Yunnan and Ms. Yang Xing who's the vice governor of LongChuan County, participated in the special screening ceremony of the documentary "The Blood of YingZhou District". It is a film made in China about the children affected by AIDS, which won an Oscar in 2007.

Next morning, kids from Yunnan had the luck to joined the Basketball without Borders Asia Camp with another forty teenagers from all over the Asia, not only spending time with many NBA players, also receiving hand-to-hand instruction on basketball skills like dribbling and shooting from NBA superstars Yao Ming and Scottie Pippen. And in course of the camp, children would learn more than just basketball, such as HIV/AIDS and how to take care of themselves. All kids surely had a good time and enjoyed this opportunity of a lifetime very much.


Kids singing with college students and volunteers	The kid Dong Mayong sent a silk flag to HQF on behalf of LongChuan County

In the evening of 8 July, Huaqiao Foundation hold a party on the top Penthouse of Mr. Frank Yih's Asionics Building in order to help men and women living in Shanghai get a close touch with the children affected by AIDS and poverty. Some members of RCS and HQF were invited to this party. And this activity also attracted attention from volunteers and college students. During the party, opportunities of introducing efforts and works to fight against HIV/AIDS were presented to the organizations and individuals invited, including Dr. Chen of AIDS Care Center of Yunnan, Yvvone Fang of Surrise Library, Jill Ji of HuaQiao Foundation, Lei Zhengyong who's a graduate student of Fudan Medical School, and Ms. Yue serving as a village doctor on the very frontier of struggling AIDS. Of course, kids from Yunnan and Henan were the VIP and the focus of the party. They performed wonderful acts, such as singing, playlet and folk dance in their ethnic minority costumes.


Children from Yunnan with foreign friend	Dr. Chen Qingling, Ms. Yang Xing and Mr. Frank Yih

After two fulfilled days, children finally had a chance to look at Shanghai. Guided by Jill Ji and Leo Hu of HQF, children visited Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, Shanghai Changfeng Park, Shanghai Museum during the two days. Moreover, they had the first-time extraordinary experience of taking Metro and Light Rail Transit. Among all the above activities, Shanghai Science and Technology Museum interested the kids most, so many novel things gathered together, such as 3D movie, Dinosaur Show, Robot Dancing, etc. Obviously, one day is far not enough to play it through. Hope these kids would come back one day to continue this amazing journey.


Having dinner at Thai restaurant	At Xing Hua Bookstore

In the evening of July 10, Rotary Club Shanghai invited children and teachers from Yunnan and Henan as guests to join their weekly meeting. Again, their singing and dancing with an ethnic flavour caught Rotarians' eyes. But the most impressive and touching party was the self-statement of the village doctor Ms. Yue who represents one of the most underprivileged groups in the fight against HIV/AIDS in rural China.


Yunnan kids singing at the RCS meeting	Picture with RCS Rotarians

Thus, all scheduled activities were finished and on July 11, kids from LongChuan Yunnan and children from ShangShui Henan left Shanghai for their hometown, going back to their normal life. Farewell!

Reported by
Leo Hu
HuaQiao Foundation
www.huaqiaofoundation.org

Tel: (8621) 3209- 5550
Fax: (8621) 3209- 5578

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