On January 24, “Devotion of Love for the New Year” sponsored by the Ministry of Civil Affairs was held in Tianjin Children’s Welfare Institution. Present at the ceremony were Dou Yupei, vice-minister of the Civil Affairs, group members of the Ministry’s greeting delegation, officials from Tianjin Municipal Department of Civil Affairs, orphaned and handicapped children and staff members of the Tianjin Children’s Welfare Institution, representatives from the institutions receiving the donation and some staff members from China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA).

“Devotion of Love for the New Year” was initiated and organized by CCAA, which also donated 200 thousand yuan. Apart from this, adoption agencies and individuals from over 30 countries such as the USA, Canada, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Belgium and Iceland etc. also supported and participated in the activity. Altogether 1.2 million yuan was raised to purchase facilities for nurturing, medical care and recovery worth 2 million yuan (including 36 incubators, 20 washing machines, 30 sets of recovery facilities, 800 quilts and blankets). 75 orphanages from 16 provinces (including Chongqing, Sichuan, Jiangxi, Guizhou, Henan and Hunan, etc.) benefited from the donation.

Dou Yupei, vice-minister of the Civil Affairs, with the greeting delegation of the Ministry, was present at the ceremony and addressed the children in all the orphanages nationwide on behalf of the delegation and extended their sincere greetings for the New Year, wishing the children good health and a happy development. He also conveyed sincere greetings to the staff members in the child nurturing field and expressed his appreciation and respect to foreign adoption agencies and families for their kindness and love. Vice-minister Dou stressed that social welfare, with its weak foundation, is in great need of investment. That from the government is far from sufficient. He acknowledged CCAA’s efforts in fund raising, broad mobilization, extending participation and serving the orphaned and handicapped children and hoped that more attention and support will be given to the healthy development of these children.

Kids from Tianjin Children’s Welfare Institution gave a passionate and happy dancing called “Happy New Year” for the present representatives and officials, which brought the ceremony into a climax and a wonderful completion.