A-Gang, a 38-year-old mentally challenged man makes hair accessories at a training centre for people with intellectual disabilities at the Fengyuan Street residential area in Guangzhou on Monday, November 10th, 2008. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com/Zhang Jin]

Related: China Discusses Goals for Helping Disabled

Based in the old town of Xiguan in city Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, the Fengyuan Street residential area is so popular not only for its historical buildings but also for the various welfare services it offers its residents.

At a training centre for people with intellectual disabilities, A-Gang, a 38-year-old mentally challenged man was making small hair accessories.

Despite the difficulties at the beginning stage of his training, the skilled man can now produce 500 such accessories per day after five years working at the training centre.

Such kind of works bring these intellectually disabled a fairly low income (0.01 yuan for two accessories), but the money they earn is not the most important thing, according to A-Jun, the director and one of the centre's trainers.

"What we want to do is to help make them fit into society better by making themselves involved into the work processes. Besides that, they are also able to obtain an income through work and then use their own earnings."

At present, a total of 69 local residents, like A-Gang, are receiving training lessons at the centre. According to A-Jun, their lessons regarding working habits and skills are aimed at helping enhance these trainees' social skills as well as their passions. Training regarding living skills, such as using public transportation and supermarket shopping are also offered.

Moreover, the training centre also holds regular activities for their trainees to connect with other parts of society. They often hold charity events, for instance, so that the trainees can sell their products they made, after which they donate the earnings to welfare programs.

The way the trainees make their products in front of other residents can well demonstrate their confidence in mastering the skills, said A-Jun.

"They can send a message through what they are doing, that they are not the burden of the society. While accepting helps from others, we can also contribute to the society."

Such welfare services are not unique at Fengyuan Street. The residential area now owns fifteen volunteer groups offering different services. The area receives warm support from local residents.

Seventy-two-year-old Chen Jieyu has been a volunteer for ten years. He's now a member of the senior citizen volunteer group of the area where all members are over 60. The group was set up in 2002 and is the first volunteer group of its kind in Guangzhou. At the same time, Chen's wife and daughter also attend the family volunteer group to offer their own time and help.

The Fengyuan Street residential area covers an area of less than one square kilometre. Among its population of 65,000, 27 percent are senior citizens of over 60 years old and over 3 percent are individuals with living difficulties. However, welfare services those are now operating in the area has kept it a young and vibrant place in Guangzhou.