In China, the phenomena of left-behind children are becoming an increasingly major problem. This refers to those children who are left in the rural regions of China while their parents leave for long periods of time to work in the city.
Based on a report, the estimated left-behind children in this country is more than 61 million or about one-fifth of the children in China.
These children were left in the care of their relatives, mostly grandparents or family friends who choose to remain in the rural regions. In some cases, their relatives will only provide them with food during meal times and the children have to fend for themselves and take care of the household alone.
Niu Niu, a second-year student at the Central Primary School of Dasanjia Township, Beipiao City, Liaoning Province is one of the millions of left-behind children in China.
At the age of three, Niu Niu’s was left in the care of his grandparents when his mother moved back in the city with her family because she suffered from epilepsy. Niu Niu is now 8 years old, but he has not seen his mother for many years.
Recently, Niu Niu’s grandmother passed away and he was left with grandfather as the sole caretaker. After this incident, the young boy has become more reserved and always cry in the middle of the night thinking about his grandmother, while his grandfather and his female dog pooch will sit by him and comfort him until he falls asleep.
In front of his grandmother’s portrait, Niu Niu would always put his snacks as an offering for his grandmother. His grandfather will then urge him to keep the snacks for himself and not to offer it anymore to his grandma, because that would be what her grandmother would want to see.
The young boy never fails to visit his grandmother’s grave on his way to school and pay his respects every day.
Every morning, Niu Niu would walk about 6 miles to school together with his furry best friend, pooch. He has decided to bring his pregnant dog to school with him because there’d be no one to look after her at home.
His grandfather incurred a huge debt while paying off for his wife’s medication, that’s why he usually stays out late and works extra hard doing odd jobs in order to pay off that debt and provide for their needs.
After school, Niu Niu comes home and eats graciously the cold food prepared on the table by his grandfather. Then he will start doing his chores, he is a diligent student as he finishes off his homework in between doing his chores.
Although his grandparents offer him all their loving support and care, the young boys’ only wish is for his parents to come home so his grandfather can rest in his old age and he won’t have to be alone.