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So, I was wrong about the bunk beds. They are now neatly assembled and behaving themselves and once again Jo’s first impressions are wrong!… Read the rest

My planning for this weekend involved Calvin (a different Calvin from model Calvin) writing me a rough itinerary over a dinner of Chinese style fondued lamb.… Read the rest

After being woken up at an ungodly hour by a mixture of the crying baby and the screaming grandmother, I headed out as soon as I had brushed my teeth and went to find some dumplings to eat for breakfast.… Read the rest

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So the first child arrived today who will be living in the school.… Read the rest

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So, this is the last week in Yong Qing and its going out with a bang!… Read the rest

I had planned the night before, having previously forgotten it was a weekend and therefore not organised anything, to go to Ping Liang in the morning.… Read the rest

Over the summer holidays Sister Tian organised a trip for local AIDS orphans and children of families affected by AIDS.… Read the rest

Xiao Hua* is 12. Her father died when she was 3 and her mother when she was 9.… Read the rest

Xiao Hong* is only 11 but her situation is very difficult. In her own words she describes her life: ‘There are many people in my family: there is father who has a brain thrombosis, my mother who has a mental disorder, my aged grandmother, my seven year old little sister, and there are also my two uncles with AIDS.’ This would be more hardship than many people face in a lifetime, but the social impact continues to make life even harder.… Read the rest

I have been ‘offline’ so to speak for about a week or so because I needed to go home at the last minute, but I’m back in action now, you’ll all be happy to hear.… Read the rest