There is no better way to start this article than to say that we had an awesome and impactful summer! This summer, Lantern Foundation for Children conducted 3 rural outreach trips across 3 different provinces in China, aiding over 50 children and donating 600 school supplies, hand-made bracelets, toys and stuffed animals, and clothing.
Additionally, even more exciting news, we had our first group volunteer trip to Gansu in which Valerie Li traveled with five other Lantern volunteers: Benson He, Shelley Chen, Effie Yin, Bryan He, and Angela Chen.
Guangzhou, Guangdong (June 2025)
At the beginning of June, Shelley, Angela, and Valerie worked with our local Chinese volunteers in Guangzhou to package gift bags for the children we were planning to visit. In total, they packaged over 80 gift packages, each of which included pencils and notebooks, games and stuffed animals, water bottles, and more! The process was lengthy as the trio not only packaged the items but had to resolve logistical problems of bringing the gift packages from Guangzhou to the different provinces.
Watch a time-lapse of our volunteers hard at work on our Instagram!
Linxia, Gansu (July 2025)
On July 20th, our volunteers met up at the Lanzhou International Airport to begin our journey in Gansu. Over the span of 3 days, the team met 7 different families and more than 25 kids, learning about each family’s situation and connecting with the children.
We encountered a wide range of personal journeys among the families. Some of the children were born with cleft lips and palates or have battled leukemia. Many of the others we met were “left-behind children,” meaning they are raised by relatives or grandparents while one or both parents work far away. Two of the families were single-mother households, each raising a young daughter on her own. We also met a boy living solely with his grandparents.
An extremely unique feature of this trip was the experience for our volunteers to connect with the children in rural China. Reflecting on the lessons she gained from the trip, Angela explains, “This journey really showed me the deeper meaning behind caring for others.” Similarly, Effie notes how she learned the importance of gratitude and giving back.
Watch our recap video from our Gansu trip on our Youtube channel! (Video posted soon)
Guiping, Guangxi (July 2025)
In late July, Valerie and our local Guangxi volunteers also traveled to Guiping, meeting 4 families that we have been aiding over the past year and 2 new families. Each family we met had a different story and set of challenges. Some children have parents with mental illnesses that prevent them from working. Across families, we also heard about widespread struggles with low self-esteem and depression.
One story that deeply moved our team was that of Peng Wenhui, a 13-year-old girl battling leukemia. Her older sister passed away from the same illness, and both parents disappeared after learning of their daughters’ diagnoses. Wenhui is now cared for by her grandmother, who is struggling physically and financially as treatment costs continue to rise. On top of this, Wenhui faces the urgent challenge of finding a suitable bone marrow donor.
Kaili, Guizhou (August 2025)
On August 1st, in collaboration with the Beijing SmileAngel Children’s Hospital, Valerie and our Guangzhou-based volunteers traveled with Dr. Chen and volunteers from the hospital to Kaili to treat children with cleft lips and palates. Because this region is dominated by ethnic minorities such as the Miao people, the risk of cleft lips and palates becomes genetically higher.
Collaborating with a local TCM hospital, we conducted medical checkups for kids with cleft lips and palates. These checkups are vital because many families lack access to specialized medical care and health insurance to cover treatments for cleft conditions. Without proper resources, some families turn to untrained or low-cost practitioners, which can result in painful complications or ineffective surgeries. Our screenings ensure children receive safe guidance and are connected to qualified care.
During this trip, we also initiated our partnership with Kaili-based volunteers to begin providing monthly nutritional aid to malnourished children in the village. One family that we visited in particular consisted of 3 children who had just lost their mother to cancer. Their father had to quit his job to take care of them, while the grandmother who also lives with the family is experiencing cognitive decline and difficulty walking. With limited ability to earn income and a one-year-old not yet in school, the family is facing immense hardship. To support families like theirs, our Kaili volunteers deliver eggs, milk, and other nutritious foods to children in the village on a bi-weekly basis.
This summer reminded us that while distance separates us from the children we serve, empathy and action can bridge every gap. Every conversation, every gift delivered, and every moment spent listening affirmed why Lantern Foundation exists: to shine light where it’s needed most. And this is only the beginning. With the continued support of our volunteers, donors, and community, we look forward to expanding our impact and bringing even more hope to rural children across China.
If you are interested in joining us on a trip next summer, we highly encourage you to volunteer for our upcoming events and join the Directors Team (Applications posted soon)!
