Norwich charity plays key role in new China law
A Norwich-based charity has been instrumental in helping to formulate a new law which marks a watershed moment in the development of childcare in China. Keith Morris reports.
Care for Children has been working in China since 1998 helping to move children from institutional care into families, led by Norfolk man and former fostering officer for Norwich City Council, Robert Glover.
On December 1, a new law was passed in China, the first of its kind, which stipulates family placement (foster care) as a positive alternative to institutional care,” said Robert. “This is a hugely momentous watershed moment in China’s welfare and justice history, giving the most disadvantaged children in China the right to a family.
“Care for Children’s team has been instrumental in drafting both the previous temporary regulations and this new legislation that ensure family placement is offered as a positive alternative to institutional care.”
Departmental Deputy Director in China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs, Xu Jianzhong, said the new measures “will further guarantee the rights of abandoned children and help them to integrate into families and society. Moreover, compared with the current regulation the new one sets stricter qualification standards for foster parents.”
Robert, who was awarded an OBE for his work in 2005, said: “After 17 years of demonstrating the transformation that a family has on a child’s life, it is very rewarding to see the new legislation come into place.”
Care for Children works to give some of the most disadvantaged children in the world the chance to grow up in loving, local families who will nurture them to reach their full potential. The charity partners with governments in Asia to help them place orphans into good local families as a positive alternative to institutional care.
Care for Children’s vision is to see a million children moved from institutional care into families. Having worked in China since 1998, the charity expanded their work to Thailand in 2012 and continues to receive invitations from governments across Asia to replicate it.
Later this year it plans to launch a fostering project in Vietnam, in partnership with Unicef.
Inspired by his Christian faith, Robert first visited China in 1996. In a step of faith, Robert, his wife Elizabeth, and their six children moved to Shanghai in August 1998 to become a consultant to the Chinese government. Care for Children was founded later and the work has spread not only in China but throughout Asia.
Care for Children is currently advertising on this website for a Norwich-based Global Fundraising Manager
www.careforchildren.com
Pictured top is Robert Glover with foster families in China and, above, the charity's Norwich-based team.