‘Moms’ wanted at China’s SOS Children's Villages

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China’s SOS Children's Villages, the only legal non-governmental children's welfare institute in the country, are facing caring "moms" crunch in recent years.

A video circulated on China’s social media recently has made a group of special "mothers" known to the public.

Screenshot from the video featuring Zhang Yuxiao

In the video, 61-year-old Zhang Yuxiao, unmarried though, has a big family, as she has brought up 25 kids at the SOS Children's Village in Yantai in east China’s Shandong Province over the past three decades.

China introduced in 1984 the family-based care model SOS Children's Village International, originating in Austria, which is committed to taking care of orphans or children who could not get care from their parents.

Screenshot from the video featuring Zhang Yuxiao.

Caring "moms” take care of the daily lives of seven to eight children at a time, who are tasked with everything in the family from household chores to children’s school work. Among her kids, the oldest son is over 40, while the youngest is merely four years old.

Even though the family are not connected by blood, they are tied deeply with affection just like any common family. "My eldest son took his wife and child to visit me during the National Day holiday earlier this month. My other children have brought their loved ones to me as well," Zhang Yuxiao told Beijing Youth Daily.

"Caring mom" Zheng Zhongyan plays with her kids at Yantai SOS Children's Village./ Xinhua Photo

Zhang’s family members have also changed their attitude towards Zhang’s decision as a caring "mom,” and treat her kids as part of the family as well.

"My elder sister and my younger brother introduce my kids as ‘my nephews and nieces.’ I am really grateful for them because they help me out when my kids are ill or are looking for jobs."

Beyond the retirement age though, Zhang does not intent to quit and is determined to stay there as long as she could.

Children are playing with donated crabs at Beijing SOS Children's Village in 2011. /Xinhua Photo

It is a tradition to require caring "moms" not to get married and have their own kids for the entire life at the charitable organization, a rigorous policy that keeps many women away. To increase public involvement, China has launched a two-year program in recent years, which has loosened the regulation to "remain single during the tenure."

According to He Yuanzheng who is with Putian SOS Children’s Village in southeastern Fujian Province, it is still difficult to fill the huge vacancies in this field. "Most of the ‘moms’ are in their 40s and 50s, having been working here for more than 10 years. With a salary not competitive at all, the job needs a lot of love and patience to take care of five to eight kids. It is tough."

By the end of 2016, there are ten SOS Children's Villages throughout China, in various locations like Beijing and Shanghai. More than 2,800 children have been raised up, with many becoming part of the country's workforce in various fields.