Shanghai Charities: Kid Strong Roots & Shoots

Shanghai Roots & Shoots’ Kid Strong program has been running in Shanghai for four years, improving the quality of physical education and hygiene education for many migrant students. Grace and I came to be involved with the organization through a development exchange program offered through our universities. Queens University in Canada and Fudan University in Shanghai offer a unique development program which allows fourteen students from each school to come together, share their experiences and learn about development in one of the fastest growing nations in the world, China. Along with our daily studies we have the opportunity to intern at an NGO based in Shanghai.

We have been working together with the Kid Strong program since mid-September. So far our work has granted us access to two schools, Jin Hu kindergarten and Ma Qiao primary school. Both schools are located in the far south west region of Shanghai called Minhang district. This district is home to many migrant workers who work in the surrounding factories or commute to the city for their small businesses. The area itself is in a state of development and is very different from the rest of Shanghai. The living conditions in the area resemble that of a slum-like environment and the area seems to be in a constant state of assembly. Due to severe poverty, migrant workers and their families lack access to basic human needs and do not possess the adequate knowledge to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Our main purpose is to aid with the well being and healthy development of migrant children by focusing on nutrition, health and personal hygiene education in order build a brighter future for migrant children.

Every Tuesday, Grace and I make the three hour trek from Fudan University to the migrant school. There we normally teach two classes according to material given to us by Roots & Shoots. With the class we go through a brochure which teaches children proper hygienic techniques such as the appropriate way of washing your hands and brushing your teeth. We teach the children about nutrition and play educational games. One student from Ma Qiao Primary School commented to the effect that, in comparison to what he had learned from our hygiene class, his previous knowledge about health was minimal. We believe that this program is benefiting the children and even though our time with them is short, they are responsive to our teachings and seem eager to learn more. Many of the students expressed that our teaching methods were fresh and interesting, mentioning that due to the entertaining elements of the class they will try to pursue and maintain healthier habits.

After speaking to the children and learning of their perspectives on the course material, we wanted to ask Headmistress Jing at Ma Qiao Primary School what she thought of the program and its potential benefits to the school and the children: “Our hygiene course is very important.” She said. “Parents, who are migrant workers, may not have a good educational background and may not have adequate knowledge about health and hygiene. By teaching the children, the school tries to influence the parents, hoping they can build good habits, maintain them and pass their guidance on to their children.” She also mentioned that the school makes sure that children wash their hands to diminish the spread of disease and germs.

Overall, Grace and I believe in the program’s effectiveness in building and maintaining healthy habits among migrant children. We think that implementing knowledge about health and hygiene is imperative to the achievement of a better and brighter future for these children and that these proactive measures to reduce the likelihood of disease and unhealthy living are essential to progressive development. Ultimately only long term enforcement of these teachings will lead to the eradication of unhealthy lifestyles amongst children. Hopefully with our help, this program may become a permanent fixture in all schools.

For more information, visit Shanghai Roots & Shoots or contact Catharine Gong at catharine.gong@jgi-shanghai.org.

You can also support the Kid Strong program by attending the 1st Annual Indoor Rowing Charity Challenge on Saturday November 13th. The event will be held at the Shanghai Sharks Practice Facility at 1333 Bai Se Road. See Shanghai Indoor Rowing Charity Challenge for details.