Letters to left-behind children in rural China
Every child deserves someone who writes back.
Since 2014, our volunteers have written to children growing up while their parents work far away. A letter won't feed a child. But it can bring hope and light, warmth and attention, and the feeling of being seen.
- 11
- years
- 94
- schools
- 4,210
- volunteers
- 21,324
- children
- 75,233
- letters from children
- 57.8M
- words written back
Who is a CTSS volunteer?
A friend on paper, for as long as a child needs one.
A CTSS volunteer is someone who keeps a child company through letters. We write to left-behind and migrant children, month after month, for years.
We know a letter can never make up for a parent who isn't there. We only hope each child feels a little of the world's warmth, enough to accept themselves, believe in themselves, and grow into a strong, whole young person.
A letter will not feed a child, cure an illness, or teach a lesson. But it can bring hope and light, warmth and attention. It can build a circle of support around a child, and wake the strength inside them.
The children on the other side of the letter
Children are born artists.
They're no different from other children: just as mischievous, just as full of dreams, just as likely to have a favourite pop star and a worry or two. Many of the youngest can't write much yet, so their letters arrive as drawings. See more of their drawings
How a letter travels
From a school mailbox to a volunteer's desk, and back.
Collect
Every school has its own CTSS mailbox. Once a month, we collect the letters.
Photograph
Volunteers photograph every detail of every letter and upload it to our letter system.
Match
The same child's letters always go to the same volunteer, so a real bond can grow.
Reply
Volunteers reply within a week, from anywhere with a computer or a phone.
Check
A reply supporter reads each letter and works with the writer until it's ready.
Print and pack
Replies are printed and packed by hand, often by volunteers with their families and friends.
A letter from our founder
“Each one is a life longing to be seen.”
“Somewhere a child is waving and calling out, ‘Hey, CTSS volunteer, I'm here! Right here! This is me!’ They are only waiting for an answer.”
Li Wei, founder, August 2019
The book
Child, You Are Not Alone
100 letters from CTSS, chosen from more than 15,000, about what children care about most: their parents, who they are, schoolwork and friendships.
You can be one too
Has someone been like a CTSS volunteer in your life?
Help doesn't have to be something material. It can be careful listening, quiet company, a word of encouragement, a warm look. With kindness in your heart, anyone, including you, can be a CTSS volunteer for someone.