Longwan Home: Story of Meng Tianming

Longwan Caring Home is located in Dahua County, which was listed as one of the poorest counties in Guangxi Province. Longwan Caring Home is a big family consisting of orphans, single parents, and abandoned children. The normal expense of the Home is sustained by plantation, breeding, and small business.

Tianming came to Longwan when he was in grade 3. His father is a migrant worker and his mother is in poor health. His grandmother does field work alone in their hometown. He is the second one among 6 children. Life is hard for the family. He and other 2 brothers live and study in Longwan.

Tianming upgraded to grade 7 this year. He was admitted by No. 4 Middle School of Dahua County. He has been doing excellent in Longwan. His brother is in grade 6 and does as excellent as him. 

Tianming felt pressure, for his brothers are in primary school and the economic burden falls on his father alone. He said he would like to go back to school in his hometown, for the expenses would be cheaper. We are not sure about his future if he goes back to his hometown. Education is not the only way out, but it will the best for Tianming. We will create the opportunity for him.

The family is in poverty and he has 5 brothers and sisters. They are getting along well with each other. Like most of the children in Longwan, he has to take some responsibilities as taking care of the younger and helping with housework. He just like a big brother who does laundry, cleaning, tutoring, etc.

We often saw Tianming working in kitchen. He used to cook for the other people in Longwan when he was back from school, for we did not have a full-time cook in the kitchen. The children had to do the job themselves. Tianming was a little man at that time. In 2014, Longwan wanted to improve its environment, so the dorms and kitchen were renovated. During the construction, the children were involved in.

Tianming also likes playing basketball and is good at it. He jumps higher and dribbles skillfully. He is the backbone of the basketball team. Everyone in Longwan likes him. Hope he would not give himself more pressure and would focus on study, for good days will come anyway. 

Original Article Written by Banai Hua, translated by Maggie Li, edited by Yanyan Zhang

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Tianming is the backbone of the basketball team.

Tianming used to cook for the other people in Longwan after school

Tianming helped to cut hair for others