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  • JUDE5
    Points:53
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    A short documentary about a China\'s left behind children

    Since the beginning of last year, I’ve been trying to dive into the phenomenon of the inner migration in China. Those people who migrate from their home villages to the big cities, searching for better opportunities.
    Some are young people who just finished high school (or never started it), and want to earn a bit more money than they would in the village.
    Other are a little bit older, having children of their own, who migrate with their families, hoping for a fresh start.
    But among those, there are the ones who can’t take their children with them.
    Life in the city is expensive, work is unstable, and the migrants don’t enjoy the same benefits as the people who were born in the city.
    Tens of millions of children, who grow up without their parents. Most live with their grandparents, others with different relatives, and a minority of them has to raise itself.
    In today’s reality, these families are in a complicated situation. The Corona virus started just before the Chinese New Year, when all of those migrant workers go back to their families in the villages. They usually stay for a few weeks, and then go back to the city to work.
    As of today, most migrant workers haven’t gone back to the cities yet, though that is likely to start happening soon.
    One of the families that I’ve documented live in the western part of Hubei province. The same province that is notoriously known today for being the birth place of the Covid-19 pandemic.
    I visited them a few months ago (before this all began).
    Seven-year-old Wu Feihang lives with his paternal grandparents in the village, while his parents work in the far-away Guangdong province. They left home when he was one month old, and go back home every year for a several weeks. This year they went back straight into lock-down. How long will this last, and what will they do once it’s over – no yet knows.
    But among the fear and uncertainty, Wu Feihang and his parents have been staying together for over three months – The longest period of time that they have been together since they day he was born.
    The short film that I’m sharing here (link below) was filmed during October-November of last year, giving a glimpse into the daily life of the family, before anyone knew about a virus that might appear.
    I hadn’t planned one sharing this film at this time, but circumstances have changed a bit, so here we are.
    This is one of several families that I’ve documented during the past year, and will keep documenting as soon as it becomes possible. 
    I hope you find the film interesting, and I wish good health to all.                   https://vimeo.com/399359998
    4 years agoin Culture-Beijing
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  • Hardeep
    Points:30
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    yeah, Education is expensive, even the early years, and is carefully doled out to the child who has the best academic potential. the one most likely to succeed. My friend is female, one of 4 children. Her older sister was traded away (sold) in her mid-teens to a neighboring clan to become a carpenter\'s wife during a lean year in order to have enough food to keep the rest of the children alive.
    4 years ago
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  • Harvey
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    Good job! I am glad you are documenting this phenomenon. Thank you for posting. Enjoyed the video. Very well done!

    I have several friends in Kunming who have come here from their remote villages seeking a better life. One such friend must ride the bus (actually more than one bus) 11 hours to get back into the mountains to see her family at Spring Festival. In point of fact they are Hani minority people 哈尼族 and celebrate their new year in November, so that\'s when the extended family re-unites 团聚。

    4 years ago
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  • Hasiba
    Points:45
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    Thank you for sharing this story. Migration to the cities has become easier in many ways, but there are still big challenges for the individuals and the families that choose to do so.
    I\'m glad that you enjoyed the film, and thank you for commenting.
    4 years ago
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