China
Stories from change-makers in China
Xi is the newest programmer in her rural community in China.
She joined a girls’ STEM course run by Plan International at her school, and fell in love with robotic programming.
That’s a subject many believe is only for boys, including many teachers in rural China, and even Xi herself, before she joined the program. Xi lives in a more traditional household and she believed there were some things girls aren’t supposed to do. But her opinion on gender roles changed when she started learning STEM.
“I am now interested in things that people think only boys love doing,” Xi told us.
The teachers say the girls show the same level of passion and creativity as boys, and that their analytical thinking and imaginations have improved.
Besides the STEM project, Plan is also providing rural teachers in China with training on gender equality, child participatory courses and project-based learning.
So far, Xi and her team members have created products like an intelligent garbage can, a lighthouse and a cleaning robot.
“In the past, there was no chance for us to access things like computer programming.” Xi says, “Luckily, I have now found that programming is fascinating!”
Learn more about our Education work
That’s a subject many believe is only for boys, including many teachers in rural China, and even Xi herself, before she joined the program. Xi lives in a more traditional household and she believed there were some things girls aren’t supposed to do. But her opinion on gender roles changed when she started learning STEM.
“I am now interested in things that people think only boys love doing,” Xi told us.
The teachers say the girls show the same level of passion and creativity as boys, and that their analytical thinking and imaginations have improved.
Besides the STEM project, Plan is also providing rural teachers in China with training on gender equality, child participatory courses and project-based learning.
So far, Xi and her team members have created products like an intelligent garbage can, a lighthouse and a cleaning robot.
“In the past, there was no chance for us to access things like computer programming.” Xi says, “Luckily, I have now found that programming is fascinating!”
Dongmei has made a pretty major career shift: from traditional tea server to infant nurse.
Dongmei enrolled in a university infant care training course run by Plan International. It’s part of a vocational program that helps vulnerable young people build the skills they need to find stable employment and improve their livelihoods.
“We learned a lot about maternal and infant care, early stimulation and baby massage,” Dongmei said. “The practical visits to maternity centers have really given me more direction on my future.”
Dongmei now has a career ahead of her, and her work will help countless other women access quality maternal care.
“In the future, I plan to start my own child care business. I want to help mothers raise their babies in a healthy manner.”
Give to Skills & Work
“We learned a lot about maternal and infant care, early stimulation and baby massage,” Dongmei said. “The practical visits to maternity centers have really given me more direction on my future.”
Dongmei now has a career ahead of her, and her work will help countless other women access quality maternal care.
“In the future, I plan to start my own child care business. I want to help mothers raise their babies in a healthy manner.”
Plan International has been working to improve children’s lives in China since 1995.
Our work in China
Office & operations
Plan International China’s country office is in Xi’an, with program unit offices in Wuzhong, Jia Xian, Pu Cheng, Chun Hua, Xi Xiang and Kun Ming.
Technical areas
Early childhood education, protection, economic empowerment, disaster preparedness, social inclusion
Number of sponsored children
As of June 2022, people like you sponsor 16,762 children in China through Plan International.
Gender equality is a fight we must all take on together. Through sponsorship, you can change lives and create long-term impact in communities.
The full circle of Fate
When you sponsor a child through Plan, you form an incredible friendship.
But that’s just the beginning. With Plan, you also have the unique opportunity to:
Send them birthday gifts and cards.
Give them special holiday presents called Little Treasures.
Subscribe them to Plan’s educational kids’ magazine, Sunny Days.
Arrange a visit (pending any travel restrictions), with individual travel assistance from us.
Each gift offering is safely hand-delivered by us, and given to your child with personalized cards from you. It’s likely that the child you sponsor will have never seen anything like these gifts, and with the exception of Little Treasures they’re available year-round to make the bond between you and your sponsored child even stronger.
Meet a child to sponsor