Introduction

I should start by noting that there are two different acronyms commonly used to describe this type of institution, CWI and SWI. Pamphlets and other documents from the institution clearly describe the Gaoyou institution (in English) as the Gaoyou Children’s Welfare Institution (CWI). Another common term for the institutions is Social Welfare Institution (or SWI). My understanding is that "SWI" refers in an institution that serves adults also. Since CWI is the name I have found in print, I will be using it to reference the institution. I believe that SWI is also a proper term, addressing the whole facility of which the CWI is a part.

A Physical Description

The Jiangsu Gaoyou Children's Welfare Institute is located at No 40 Gaogongqiao Lu, which is on the western edge of the city, a short walk from the Grand Canal, and across the street from the Gaoyou Gymnasium.

The CWI/SWI consists of at least four buildings, some over 100 years old, with 9040 square meters (97,000 ft²) of floor space and 400 beds. Facing south on Gaogongqiao Lu are two buildings, the main institution building, and the Half the Sky Foster Family Village building. As viewed from the street looking north, the main institution building is on the right and the building on the left is the Half the Sky Foster Family Village. Both buildings are three stories tall and are connected by a short bridge at the third floor. The main building is faced with white ceramic tile and the Half the Sky building is painted an unusual (for China) pale blue.

Across a courtyard, behind the institution building, there is a third, somewhat newer, three story building that houses older children and some elderly. The interior was immaculate. We were shown a room that housed two girls and it looked very nice, similar to a college dorm room. There building also contained common areas, a library, and activity rooms.

A fourth(and possibly fifth) building, hard to see from the institution, that houses special needs children and adults that need long term care. The building(s) also include a factory so the residents can build items (It wasn’t clear what kind) “to give back to the community”.

In the main institution building, the first and second floors and contain offices and a reception room, while the nursery for the infants is on the third floor. The third floor consists of a central corridor with rooms to the north and south. On the south side of the building are seven rooms for the babies, on the north side are rooms for food preparation, diapers, and other supplies. The Half the Sky Infant Nurture Center is is located in a large room on the east end of the third floor.

Each of the seven nurseries has room for 10 babies, with two sharing each large crib. The rooms were about 8’ x 15’ so there wasn’t much extra room between the rows of cribs on each wall. The babies all appeared to be well tended to by caring nannies (阿ā + 姨yí = Āyí as the nannies are known by the children).

The rooms all had air conditioners, which I was told were donated by a group of Gaoyou families. Everything was clean and well taken care of. Even though the temperature outside must have been in the low 60’s all the babies were bundled up in the Chinese style to keep them warm in the unheated building. The Ayi’s often had some of the children in walkers during the day. The infants looked like pillows with stubby arms and legs protruding.

There were four other baby rooms that we were not able to visit, including an infirmary where sick children were cared for.

Impressions

The overall impression of the Gaoyou SWI is that it is a clean, well run institution, with adequately sized staff of nannies caring for the children. The nannies we talked to remembered our children and were excited that they were doing well. The building housing the infants appeared to be the oldest, and the HTS building the one with the most modern facilities.

Gaoyou CWI Director Wang FU Hai (Current to 9/2007)

Translations

The sign on column to the right of the main gate

高Gāo, 邮yóu,市shì = Gaoyou Shi or Gaoyou City

康káng, 复fù = Kangfu = Restore to health;

中zhōng = Public

心xīn = Center

 or Gaoyou Public Health Center

The name of the institution as it is used in its brochure.

儿ér; 童tóng = Ertong = Children

福fú = Welfare

利lì = benefit

院yuàn = Institution

or Children’s Welfare Institution

Downloads

Gaoyou CWI Brochure (822 KB PDF)

Brochure Translation (22KB  Word)

Mailing Address

Gaoyou Children's Welfare Institute
40 GaoGongQiao Road, Gaoyou, Jiangsu ,225600
Peoples Republic of China

高邮市儿童利 福院

 

Gaoyou CWI E-mail address: gychildren@yahoo.com.cn

More pictures and information on the Gaoyou CWI is on the Half the Sky page of this site