Over 300 college students built a partnership of paired assistance with rural children whose parents work away from their hometowns and who live in difficult conditions in their hometowns. It is a special initiative called "Safeguard Childhood." They come home from far-away universities during the winter holiday, and bring gifts and joy to rural children. 

The charitable initiative was launched by China Children and Teenagers' Fund (CCTF). They invited outstanding college students to visit rural children in their hometowns and give them donated items, such as basketballs, skipping ropes, painting brushes, drawing books, hats, scarves and spring couplets.

A total of 1,673 college students signed up for it, which eventually benefited around 900 children from 11 provincial regions. 

During a phone call with organizers of the theme initiative, Du Meijiao, a fourth-year college student, said she was fortunate to take part in the event for a sixth consecutive time in a span of four years.

The first child who was in his first year of middle school when he was paired with Du was very shy. He comes from a mountainous region; his family is eligible for subsistence allowances.

Thanks to Du's efforts, the boy became relatively active and eager to go out into the world at the end of the holiday.

This year, the partner of Du is a 7-year-old girl whose father and older brothers have worked in far-off places for most time of the year. She lives with her mother, who was found with liver cyst and diabetes last year, and a younger brother at preschool age.

The first-grade primary school girl was very optimistic and was delighted to receive lovely gifts. She said she will work hard in her academic studies.

Du said participation in the initiative will bring not only tangible gifts to recipients but also the ray of hope that they are not forgotten in the face of their harsh living environment.

Dai Jiale, a college student in Hefei Institute of General Professional Technology, is another volunteer.

Several years ago, Dai found that there were many children in his village whose parents work away from hometowns. He proposed to their parents that he would help them and act as private tutor for them. 

Dai quickly became a trustworthy person in their eyes of the children. He has persisted in visiting them from his university on all weekends over the past few years.

Xiaocheng is a teenage recipient of Dai's assistance. His father passed away several years ago.

Noting that Xiaocheng was an introvert and had less friends at school, Dai intentionally invited him to take part in more group activities and go out for picnics in a move to help him feel the love and kindness of people around him.

The participation in basketball games has broken down the psychological barriers between Xiaocheng and his peers, and enhanced his sense of belongingness. It transformed him into an outgoing boy.

Right now, Dai has fully gained the trust of Xiaocheng and helped him and his younger sister get the approval for national subsistence allowances and subsidies for orphans.

Like Du and Dai, a growing number of college students join the initiative to safeguard the healthy growth of children by conducting volunteer services in their hometown during the summer and winter holidays.

College students from Libo, a county of Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Southwest China's Guizhou Province, have committed themselves to doing something for their hometown.

A consensus was formed among them to extend love and warmth to rural children, enhance their sense of social obligation, help build their capacity of social activities, and accelerate local social and economic development during their participation in the initiative.

In an interview, Meng Sha, a student at Guizhou University, said that what has driven her to participate in the initiative is that she often saw the donations of stationery items and the visit of volunteers in her community. 

Since then, Meng has aspired to be a useful person like them and to do something for others. She said what has touched her most in the campaign was the bright smile and sincerity of the children.

Fan Ruiqi, a student at Guizhou Normal University, echoed the feelings of Meng and the importance of taking part in similar charitable activities.

Du, who also comes from a rural family and has benefited much from charitable funds, said that she has highly cherished each opportunity to join the initiative. She will exert her utmost efforts to help more needy children in the countryside and make them feel the love of other people.

These college students are just a group of energetic "children," who come back from the outside world to empower the development of their hometowns with concrete actions.