sun village (太阳村) is a beijing based non-governmental charitable organization dedicated to providing foster care and education for the children of convicted parents. i visited there twice this year - july and december of 2007. i met the children, its staffs, and its founder zhang shuqin. i was deeply touched by what ms. zhang, its staff and supporters around the world are doing to support these needed children. they give them another opportunity to life.
we first met ping-ping in july during our first visit to sun village. she was 13 years old. she helped taking care the younger children in the village and many of them were as young as 3 years old. her mother was in prison for more than five years. ping-ping has been living in sun village during that entire time. we didn't ask about her father. may be because we didn't want to know or afraid to ask. she became our first sponsored child there.
i visited her again in december. i took her out for lunch in a restaurant close by. she told me her mother will be released from prison in a few months. she will be leaving sun village and will be staying with her mother. i was so happy for her. although the road will be tough ahead for her, i know she will be strong. she was sick that day so she went back to her room after lunch and we said good bye. it was a room where she shared with 4 other children.
i stayed for a while and was talking to the staff there. when i was leaving the village, i happened to pass by her room without knowing. she pounded the window and got my attention. she waved at me and i was able to see her big smiley face through the dusty window.
i know this could be my last time seeing her but i will always remember her smile ...
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