Going the distance for children

When Stern sophomore Simon Li was 15, he took a month-long service trip to China.

"I was bored, so my dad suggested I do some community service," Li said. "I figured that at least it would look good on a college résumé, so why not?"

For Li, what was initially a résumé boost ended up changing his life.

That was the first time Li heard about the China Care Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing medical care for special needs Chinese orphans.

Currently, there are more than 15 million orphaned children living in China. China Care identifies those who are most in need of medical attention, many of whom were born with severe birth defects, and rehabilitates them at their facility in Beijing.

Soon after returning to the U.S., Li started a China Care club at his high school in New Jersey. Over the next three years, the club attracted over 100 members, raised more than $3,000 and provided aid for six orphans.

China Care has chapters in more than 90 high schools and colleges throughout the U.S., including NYU, where one was established in 2005.

"What really attracted me to China Care was just being able to help these children," said Li, who is now co-president of NYU China Care. "Every penny we raise goes toward them."

Since its inception in 2000, China Care has raised over $100,000 for orphans, according to Katerina Kruzykowski, China Care's youth program coordinator. She said that while the organization has helped hundreds of orphans so far, the number of children receiving aid differs from year to year, depending on the required medical procedures.

"It could be a relatively cheap, simple surgery, or it could be expensive," said Kruzykowski, explaining that China Care helps children with a variety of different afflictions. "Heart surgery could cost $20,000, while casting for a clubbed foot could be $1,000."

Kruzykowski said that, in addition to helping children in China, China Care operates a subgroup called Dumplings, which helps adopted Chinese children in the U.S. Only some China Care chapters, including NYU, feature Dumplings.

Dumplings was designed as a program for parents and their adopted Chinese children to learn about Chinese customs. Because these parents are often not Chinese, Dumplings enables their adopted children to better understand their backgrounds. During meetings, children learn basic Chinese words and numbers, are taught ancient Chinese myths and eat traditional Chinese foods.

The NYU chapter of Dumplings held its first meeting Oct. 3 in the Kimmel Center.

"It's a nice way to introduce her to her cultural heritage. It's a mix of both cultures, so to speak," said Kathleen, a parent in the program, of her 5-year-old daughter Julia.

Kathleen said that, despite the long trip from their home in Glen Ridge, N.J., Dumplings was worth it.

"[Julia] seemed to really enjoy meeting the girls, learning the language, doing the crafts," she said. "We'll be coming back."

Li, who saw success with the Dumplings program in his high school, added: "It's a great program, not just because we get to act as peer mentors, but also their cultural mentors."

Both China Care and Dumplings have had their first meetings at NYU this semester, and Li is working to encourage more student interest in the organizations.

"Working with China Care has been a really rewarding experience," Li said. "There are many issues in this world, but through China Care, I have realized that every one of us has the power to positively change another's life, no matter how far away."

The next NYU China Care meeting is Oct. 15, and the next Dumplings meeting is Nov. 7. For more information on China Care, visit chinacare.org .