Recently, the Academic Symposium on School Social Work and the Development of a Child Protection System in the New Era was held in Xi'an. Organized by the School and Youth Social Work Committee of the China Association for Social Work Education, with support from World Vision, the symposium brought together experts, scholars, frontline social workers, and child-focused practitioners from across China to share practical experiences in child protection and discuss future directions for the field.

World Vision China also participated through its Guarding the Future project, bringing three years of accumulated experience to this national academic exchange platform and fostering a two-way dialogue between grassroots practice and cutting-edge academic research.

Ms. Kou Wei, Programme Director of World Vision China, shares World Vision's experience in child protection system strengthening during a plenary session, presenting on “Guarding the Future: Upholding and Deepening Social Work Practice in Building Child Protection Systems.”

 1.0 Starting with Needs to Make Change Happen 

Looking back at the development of child welfare and protection in China, the sector has evolved from a focus on survival and basic protection to a more systematic and integrated approach to child protection.

While frontline practitioners are deeply committed to safeguarding children, challenges remain at the grassroots level, including shortages of qualified professionals and uneven service capacity across different regions. To address these needs, World Vision partnered with the Shaanxi Association of Social Workers in 2022 to launch the Guarding the Future 1.0 Project. Through training, practical supervision, and the development of localized resources, the project strengthened the capacity of grassroots child protection practitioners.

Over three years of implementation, the project achieved the following results:

A local partner organization supported through practical supervision leads a parent-child activity for families in the community.

2.0 Looking Ahead: Strengthening Child Protection Systems

Guarding the Future 2.0, implemented from 2025 to 2028, marks a shift from strengthening individual professional competencies to supporting the implementation of grassroots child protection policies and operational mechanisms. Building on the foundations established during the first phase, the project works with universities, professional associations, and local social organizations to strengthen community-based child protection systems that are both preventive and responsive.

Strengthen grassroots child protection workforce capacity

Explore locally adapted child protection mechanisms

Focus on safeguarding the rights and well-being of vulnerable children, including children in difficult circumstances, migrant children, and children with disabilities

Promote deeper integration among academic research, policy development, and frontline service delivery

Although the symposium has concluded, the work of protecting children continues. Through the Guarding the Future project, World Vision continues to foster collaboration between practitioners and academics, ensuring that frontline practice is informed by professional knowledge and that research remains grounded in the realities of grassroots child protection.

Together with our partners, World Vision is working to create safer, more supportive, and more child-friendly environments where every child can grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.