Lou Yajia, head of Wandi'ai, the only municipal-level child welfare institute in Lishui, Zhejiang province, accompanies children at the institute.

From model workers and master craftsmen to factory hands and gig-economy workers, China's vast workforce is the bedrock of national development. Launched by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, this series shines a spotlight on the responsibility and resilience of the modern Chinese working class, documenting their struggles and stories from the front lines to showcase the dedication, craftsmanship and pioneering spirit driving progress across every sector.

For 27 years, Lou Yajia has served children with special needs in Lishui, Zhejiang province, guiding generations of them toward happy, healthy lives.

Lou is now the head of Wandi'ai, the only municipal-level child welfare institute in Lishui. To every child who has passed through its doors, whether they have since flown the nest or are still there today, she is simply "Mom".

"I did think about leaving at first, but the children's cries kept me here. I love this work so much. It is enough for me to do one thing well for a lifetime, and since I have merged my passion with my career, I will do all I can to fight for these children," Lou said.

At the welfare institute, Lou is not only a guardian but also a guiding light for the children. With her love and patience, she helps them overcome physical and psychological barriers, allowing them to feel the warmth of a home.

"My door is always open, no matter the hour," Lou said.

Guided by her philosophy of "opening up the institute to the community", Lou and her team have pioneered a more inclusive approach to childcare. They took the lead in the province by centralizing the care of orphans and disabled children from nine counties, cities and districts, becoming the first in Zhejiang to pilot both the "adding wings" plan and the "quality improvement and transformation" of child welfare institutions.

Under her leadership, the scope of services has expanded beyond orphans to include disabled children from disadvantaged families, children whose parents cannot care for them, and is now extending to support left-behind and migrant children.

In its early days, the welfare institute primarily cared for orphans and abandoned infants, most of whom suffered from severe illnesses or disabilities. Many of the medical conditions that sound unfamiliar to the average person were quite common within the institute's walls. Over the years, Lou has never refused or given up on a single child.

"We started with just over 10 rehabilitation rooms converted from existing spaces, and now we have a brand-new second-phase building dedicated to rehabilitation and education," Lou said. "We began with just eight children, and to date, we have run over 30 phases of the 'adding wings' program, benefiting 1,131 children."

As the number of abandoned children declined, Lou turned her attention to bringing joy to more youths. She saw that "children whose parents cannot care for them" were also the future and hope of the country.

"Due to various reasons, these children lack proper guardianship," Lou explained. "Compared to the children raised in the welfare institute, it takes much more time and effort to truly reach their hearts. What they need to heal is not their limbs, but their souls."

Lou has championed the cause of these vulnerable children, integrating them into the welfare system for proper care and schooling. So far, 26 children have thrived under the institute's residential care.

"Over the years, I have moved house several times. No matter where I live, I always keep a room in my home for the children from the institute," Lou said. "Children who attend regular schools also crave the experience of a small family life. So, based on their grades and behavior, I would arrange for them to come home with me. Taking this as an incentive, the children happily take turns, waiting for their chance to visit my home. For more than 20 years, group after group of children have spent their weekends at my house."

Today, Lou continues to mobilize support from all sectors of society, rallying more people to care for children in need. At her initiative, a volunteer association was founded. What started as one person's mission has now become a collective effort. Its services have reached far beyond the institute's walls to children in the wider community. So far, the association has run 264 events, touching the lives of 19,500 children.