Guangzhou Huiling
Guangzhou Huiling or Huiling (Chinese: 廣州慧靈) is a charitable organisation in Guangzhou that provides support for persons with mental disabilities, special education and other services. It was founded in 1990 by Ms. Meng Weina and Mr. Fernando Cagnini in Guangzhou and expanded in 2000 to Beijing and other parts in China.
Mission
Huiling’s mission is to improve the quality of the lives of the mentally disabled and their families. In addition, it seeks to establish a model of community-based, client-centered services that are replicable throughout China.
Affiliate
Huiling has established affiliates in other parts of China, including Xian, Qinghai, Tianjin, Qingyuan, Chongqing, Wanzhou, Changsha, Lanzhou and Hong Kong, in order to help more persons with mental disabilities through extending Huiling service network.
Services
Early Childhood and Children Education
- Integrated Kindergarten
It is a full-time kindergarten for children between two and six years old where Huiling integrates the mentally disabled and normal children in a common learning environment for the benefit of both. There are several classes for children, namely English class, painting, mental arithmetic class. Each class accepts mentally disabled children to promote the development of integrated education.
- Special Primary School
This facility caters for children aged between six and fifteen who are moderately and severely mentally disabled. It provides training, education and residence service. The students use learning materials especially designed for those with learning disabilities according to their ages and personalities. In particular, Huiling blends each student's individual education plan into daily course. Also giving help to autistic students, Huiling operate structural education by picture communication. The students usually graduate at fifteen, they are admitted to Youth Training Centre, Youth Sheltered Workshop, and Adult Care Residential Home to receive different levels of training after assessment.
Youth and Adult Services
- Huiling Adult Care Residential Home
This centre is for adults, above eighteen, with moderate and severe mental disabilities, aiming to provide training, nursing and accommodation services. From the perspective of communalization, the trainees are taught simple tasks and basic living skills at home. They are also allowed to visit market, shops and parks in the vicinity so that they can integrate into the local community. On the other hand, they offer specialized services, such as nursing service, physiotherapy, music and art therapy and counseling according to the different needs. All in all, these services are aimed at giving them a sense of security, strengthening their life value.
- Youth Training Centre
This centre was set up in 2006 for the purpose of providing vocational education, training and accommodation for the persons aged above 15, with mild and moderate mental disabilities. First, trainees are evaluated when they enter. Then Huiling makes individualized vocational training plans according to their ability and requirement. These trainings will help trainees develop vocational skills, community independent living skills and work behaviors, so as to match the needs of supported and community employment, with the aim of improving their life quality.
- Youth Sheltered Workshop
The centre is mostly for the people above the age of eighteen, with mild disabilities. It has the concentration of trainees with highest ability of working. They are taught skills such as sewing, handwork, packing, cleaning, cooking, computer operation, painting and art performance. Huiling operates Sheltered workshop mode, to help them to cultivate their abilities and improve their chances of getting a job. The persons with mental disabilities can gain money in return through their working. After above three years' training, they possibly get employment or semi-employment if recommended.
Other
- Education Institute for Autism
It was specialized at providing training to autistic students. This service was suspended in 2006 summer.
- Huiling Farm
It was set up in June, 2008, covering an area of 1.15 hectares. There are 800 fruit trees including wampee, longan and litchi trees. The farm was divided into three sections consisting of cultivation area, planting area and living area.
- Family Homes
The family home is the place where five to six trainees live a normal life with the help of a house mother. Trainees are able to learn how to take care of themselves and other individual living skills under an atmosphere with love. Also, They have right to share community facilities and maintain environmental sanitation. The first Family Home was established in 2001, and the Family Home Service Department was set up in 2005. Now, there are thirteen Family Homes for trainees with mental disabilities
Further reading
- Yiyi Lu (2008). Non-Governmental Organisations in China (China Policy Series). New York: Routledge. pp. 57–59. ISBN 0-415-45858-7.
External links
- Guangzhou Huiling Official Site
- Beijing Huiling Community Services for People with Learning Disabilities
- Xian Huiling
- Tianjin Huiling
- Qingyuan Huiling
- Hong Kong Huiling
- Chris Dalby (October 30, 2006). "Private Care Centers Give Lifeline to Chinese Mentally Disabled". China Internet Information Center.