Chinese refer to migrants as “liudongrenkou” — the moving population.  It is estimated that in 2008, 225.42 million rural people moved to urban centers within China to improve their lives.  By 2030 it will be 1 billion. That’s 15% of the current world’s population! 

As the children follow their migrating parents, without residential status in the cities, they are often deprived of free medical services. If one person becomes sick, it can bankrupt the whole family. 

ActionLove was welcomed by the Shanghai government to launch the “Young Eagles Project” — providing health check-ups and basic preventive health care training to the migrant children and their school teachers.  At the first health check-up we came across Xiao Huang, a six-year old boy originally from De Yang, Sichuan, who was suffering from a life-threatening congenital heart defect. 

Xiao Huang’s family is severely poor due to cumulative debts from past sicknesses and accidents. His father has liver disease, so he can only take on part time construction work. All the financial burden rests on the mother who works as a street sweeper making no more than 1,000 Yuan (USD125) per month. When the teacher asked about Xiao Huang’s heart condition, in tears the mother requested help, as they had no way to save their son. Through ActionLove’s networks, Xiao Huang was sponsored to have the cardiac surgery he so desperately needed.  

Xiao Huang is now a healthy nine-year-old boy, full of energy.  During our recent visit to his home he said, “Thank you, for giving me a good heart. I want to share my blessings with others.” Shyly he gave me 50 Yuan – money he earned from collecting and selling garbage. “I want to give this money to a needy boy in Sichuan who has suffered from the earthquake.  It’s my gift of love just like I have received.” 

Xiang Huang has gained a new physical heart – and also a new heart of compassion and grace.