More Than Two Decades of Dedication

Never Giving Up on What Is Possible

Prince of Peace Empowerment Center
Wuqing District, Tianjin

Every morning, just as the city begins to stir, the teachers at the Prince of Peace Empowerment Center are already on their way to work. Their journey takes more than an hour each way and over two hours round trip. Despite the distance, not one of them has walked away.

Outside the windows, the changing seasons pass by day after day. Inside, their thoughts remain with the same group of children—the children waiting to be awakened, cared for, and taught.

Daily lessons continue in the classrooms, but these are no ordinary classrooms. Each day brings unpredictable challenges. One child may suddenly cover their head and scream, shattering the quiet. Another may laugh uncontrollably, absorbed in a world of their own. Some make unusual sounds and struggle to understand instructions, while others leave their seats without warning and pace around the room.

Teachers must deliver each lesson while maintaining order and attending to every child’s safety and emotional well-being. By the end of a class, physical and emotional exhaustion is common. Yet when the bell rings for the next lesson, they are once again standing at the front of the classroom.

For 23 years, the Prince of Peace team has continued along this path. From welcoming its first group of children to serving the community today, the Center has gone through countless adjustments and periods of exploration. Along the way, it has also witnessed many small miracles.

Behind every seemingly modest achievement are countless repeated lessons, sleepless nights, and acts of courage—the courage to try again after being rejected or facing another setback.

Gordon is one reflection of these miracles.

When this quiet little boy first joined our community, his gaze often wandered, communication was difficult, and he could barely complete a sequence of connected tasks. But his teachers never placed limits on what he might achieve.

He began by learning to recognize coffee beans. Then came water-temperature control, grinding, extraction, and milk frothing. Each process was broken down into the simplest possible actions. His teachers demonstrated every step and practiced it with him again and again.

In the presence of patience, time itself seemed to soften.

Today, Gordon can independently prepare a complete cup of coffee. Standing behind the coffee machine, he is focused and composed—just like any capable barista. He may not have progressed faster than every other child at the Center, but his transformation has reminded us of something deeply important: every child has their own potential, and that potential deserves to be nurtured and protected.

Because we have seen Gordon—and the light emerging from so many children like him—we have never considered giving up.

We continue to hold on to hope. A child may not understand what we teach today, but perhaps tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or even many years from now, that lesson will take root and begin to grow. This hope sustains every member of our team through the long commute, the noisy classrooms, and the countless repetitions required in teaching. It keeps their passion alive.

Over the past two decades, Prince of Peace has continued to adapt and redefine its role. As society advances, disability services face both the pressure and the opportunity to transform. Yet no matter how the world around us changes, the Prince of Peace team remains together.

Our staff continue to serve on the front lines, expanding from child welfare into a broader range of disability services. The scope of our work may be evolving, but our original purpose remains unchanged.

Transformation is a trend. Staying and caring is a choice. We choose to continue.

Today, the children are enjoying their summer activities. During game sessions, teachers and children compete together, and the winners laugh with delight—a scene of simple, genuine joy. During film sessions, everyone becomes immersed in the story. Singing and dance classes are filled with off-key voices and uncoordinated steps, yet no one finds them unpleasant or out of place.

These activities may appear ordinary, but each one has been carefully designed by our teachers to combine rehabilitation with education. They also serve as a bridge, helping the children remain connected with the wider community.

In the children’s world, happiness is something tangible: having people who love them, companions who understand them, and the care and support of society.

The teachers who have accompanied them for 10, 20, or even more years have become the most stable presence in their lives. They are guides, comforters, and the people the children know they can always rely on.

Twenty-three years is long enough for a newborn baby to grow into an adult—and long enough for a mission to acquire depth, strength, and meaning.

Through the passage of time, Prince of Peace has demonstrated one enduring truth: commitment is not found in grand declarations. It is found in the teachers who arrive in the classroom on time, every single day; in the footsteps that have never faltered despite a daily commute of more than two hours; and in the unwavering hope they continue to hold for every child.

The road ahead is still long. But as long as even one person continues to believe in what is possible, the journey will continue.

And Prince of Peace will keep moving forward.