Baiwan is one of the poorest townships in Guangdong province. The small, isolated community is home to many impoverished families, who often have four or more children. Much help is needed.

The original Board of Directors of the Sunbeam Children's Foundation traveled to Baiwan in November 1996, where they visited the ruins of a former school, that was at the time serving as a dormitory. There were no windows, no beds, and no proper kitchen. Malnourished children carried their own firewood on their backs, rain or shine, and at times on bare feet along a winding mountain path on their way to school.

Stirred by their living conditions, the Sunbeam Children’s Foundation saw the desperate need for new accommodation for the community’s children. Representatives of the local government offered a piece of land for our foundation right behind the new school, for a residential centre. Soon thereafter the building was designed by Canadian architect Mel Satok. The new building provided dormitory places for students of Nan On Primary School (formerly Kei Oi Primary School) as well as orphans and underprivileged children. Ever since, food, shelter, clothing and medical care have been provided in a supportive and nurturing environment.