The lives of infants being cared for at the Hui Xin Orphanage in Shanghai are so much happier thanks to regular visits by employees from Akzo Nobel’s Marine & Protective Coatings.
The orphanage is home to more than 100 mentally and physically-handicapped infants, but it receives only a limited budget from the local government on which to operate. The money covers the basic cost of living – so Akzo Nobel employees decided to give some extra support.
During their time at the orphanage, they feed, cuddle and play with the infants, relishing the positive effects the attention and physical contact has on them. As well as visiting the children in the orphanage, the group takes them out to let them enjoy being part of the community and get closer to nature. Something as simple as taking a child’s photograph and showing it to them can bring immense pleasure to all involved.
As well as emotional support, the employees have provided practical assistance to Hui Xin. A leaking roof was repaired, insulation was installed to try and combat high temperatures on the upper floor during the hot summer, and a solar energy water heater has also been fitted which will solve the children’s bathing problems.
The employees took ownership of the whole process, from selecting suppliers to overseeing construction and quality control. They also used their own paint for the roof – which made them particularly proud of the project.
Production supervisor Zhang Jie has been instrumental in improvements at the orphanage. “I started visiting Hui Xin Orphanage by myself after Children’s Day 2005,” recalls Zhang.
“The conditions were poor, and I was very limited in what I could achieve alone. When Akzo Nobel launched the Community Program, I applied straight away.”
“Now there is a group of us who go to play with the children and take care of them. Many of my colleagues also take food, clothing and toys for them – we are very involved. As volunteers we obviously aren’t paid – the happiness we get from making the lives of the children better is our reward.
''Probably the hardest thing we have had to do is make sure they live more comfortably during the summer by installing insulation. It gets very hot in Shanghai and the children get sick – last summer they didn’t.
“I was so happy to learn we had won a prize in the competition. Hopefully the additional funds can be used for educational purposes for children from migrant workers.”
