Jinnan Subdistrict in Lin’an District bridges urban and rural areas, covering four communities across 5 square kilometers. The subdistrict is home to 5,330 households and a permanent population of 18,000, with children aged 0 to 18 accounting for 30% of the total. Ensuring coordinated, child-friendly development across urban and rural regions has become an essential priority.

Since the launch of the Future Community initiative in 2021, Jinnan Subdistrict has placed child-friendly development at the forefront. Guided by the principle of “providing what residents need,” the subdistrict has made significant investments of both financial and human resources. “Child-friendliness” has been positioned as a defining feature of the Future Community initiative, with efforts focused on evolving child-friendly spaces from isolated “unit-based” and “neighborhood-based” models to a comprehensive “region-wide” approach. This initiative aims to promote equal development opportunities for children in both urban and rural settings, fostering a more inclusive and balanced future.

Building a Comprehensive Child Protection Network to Foster Child-Friendly Growth

Robust Infrastructure Support
The child-friendly development philosophy has been seamlessly integrated into the subdistrict’s overarching growth strategy. Key documents, including the Jinnan Child-Friendly Subdistrict Construction Project Design Outline and the Lin’an Jinnan Child-Friendly Subdistrict Planning, Design, and Operations Integration Project Plan, clearly outline core construction strategies, development goals, and a cohesive brand identity.

To tackle space constraints, localized adaptations of public spaces are underway, aligning with ongoing initiatives such as the Future Community program and village scenic area upgrades. This approach emphasizes creating child-friendly environments through adaptive reuse, promoting the gradual opening, sharing, and multifunctional use of various facilities.

Sustainable Financial Support
Alongside bolstering government funding for Future Community projects, the subdistrict is pioneering a self-sustaining public welfare model. The establishment of the Jinnan “Common Prosperity e+” Public Welfare Foundation introduces an innovative “space-for-service” mechanism, whereby a portion of third-party revenue is reinvested into the foundation. This ensures a continuous funding loop to support public welfare projects and secure the long-term viability of child-friendly services.

Comprehensive Personnel Support
The initiative is driven by the Party Working Committee, in collaboration with villages, communities, schools, enterprises, and allied partners. Industry experts lend their expertise to strengthen the talent pool necessary for sustained child-friendly development. Additionally, reputable social organizations, including Curiosity Notes, Positive Education, and Youth Activity Centers, have been enlisted to manage and operate children’s facilities across the subdistrict.

Through platforms such as the local People’s Congress and the CPPCC (Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference), district leaders and relevant departments are regularly engaged to provide strategic guidance and oversight. The Rainbow Volunteer Service Team further amplifies efforts by fostering an extensive, community-driven child-friendly service network.

Establishing a Comprehensive Child-Centered Collaboration Mechanism to Safeguard Children’s Rights

Building an IP and Integrating Resources
Drawing from Jinnan’s spatial layout—urban in the north and rural in the south—and reflecting the area’s youthful, diverse, and expanding population, the concept of “home” has been reimagined to emphasize its deeper significance and value. Rooted in Wu-Yue culture and centered on the idea of children “taking the lead,” the “Wu-Yue Little Chef” child-friendly brand was introduced. This initiative has attracted 12 pioneering organizations from various sectors and departments, laying the foundation for an interconnected urban-rural-enterprise collaborative network.

Safeguarding Rights and Linking Services
Child services have been seamlessly integrated into the Future Community development framework, maximizing the benefits of the “Five-Sector Linkage” model. A series of inclusive programs—including early intervention, physical fitness, and experiential learning—has been implemented to meet diverse needs. In partnership with the District Procuratorate’s Juvenile Protection Office, the “Tianmu Seedling Protection” practice station has extended its outreach by launching the “Little Prosecutor” experiential program. Active fundraising and resource mobilization efforts continue to provide essential support to disadvantaged and special-needs children. Initiatives such as “Micro-Wish Fulfillment” and “Pairing with Little Migratory Birds” have been introduced to foster compassion and provide long-term care services.

Multi-Stakeholder Engagement and Shared Health Initiatives
To cultivate a child-friendly environment conducive to healthy growth, the subdistrict leverages the strengths of its thriving health sector. With support from Hangzhou Medical College and the Maternal and Child Health Hospital, regular health check-ups and wellness courses for children are organized. A Family Education Guidance Station has been established, staffed by three distinguished provincial and municipal psychologists. Additionally, a professional psychological counseling agency has been engaged, forming a dedicated team of nine psychological counselors and family education advisors. Over the past year, more than 600 counseling sessions have been conducted, offering critical psychological support to children and families, enhancing overall well-being and resilience.

Creating a Comprehensive Child Participation System with a Focus on Inclusive Engagement

Establishing a Children’s Observation Group – Empowering “Wu-Yue Little Chefs”
Through a combination of village and community recommendations, self-nominations, and final elections, the inaugural “Wu-Yue Little Chef” Children’s Observation Group was officially established and awarded. A formal charter outlining the group’s roles and responsibilities was developed, accompanied by the launch of exclusive public welfare courses tailored for children. Regular achievement reporting conferences are held to foster the group’s growth, continuously enhancing children’s skills in observation, advocacy, and practical engagement.

Developing “Little Promoters” to Amplify Child-Friendly Awareness
The “Wu-Yue Little Chef” mini-program was launched, featuring seven dedicated sections — Child Fun, Child Benefit, Child Voice, Child Alliance, Child Rights, Child Travel, and Child Guest. This digital platform facilitates event announcements, service reservations, knowledge sharing, and social interaction, offering children opportunities to engage in community activities and document their experiences from their unique perspectives.

Involving Young Designers – Advocating for “My Space, My Rules”
Children are actively involved in on-site surveys of school routes and are encouraged to design safe crosswalks, warning signs, and road markings. Imaginative ideas, such as the “Elephant Slide,” have been incorporated into these public design projects, empowering children to shape their surroundings and reinforcing the importance of safety in their daily commutes. This initiative successfully introduced the “Worry-Free Learning Path,” connecting the Lan-Jin Future Community Neighborhood Center to the Jinnan Subdistrict Central Kindergarten, creating a secure and engaging pathway for children.

Implementation Results

In 2023, Lan-Jin Community in Jinnan Subdistrict, Lin’an District, was selected as part of the fourth batch of leading provincial Future Communities, with child-friendliness recognized as a defining feature. On November 28, Jinnan Subdistrict officially launched the Integrated Planning, Design, and Operation Project for a Child-Friendly Subdistrict, unveiling the “Wu-Yue Little Chef” child-friendly brand. The brand was introduced at five pilot sites, including Jinxi Children’s Sports Park, Lan-Jin Future Community, and the District Procuratorate. This initiative drew coverage from over 30 media outlets and attracted the attention of leaders from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). On December 9, these leaders visited Jinnan for an on-site inspection, commending the subdistrict’s achievements in fostering a child-friendly environment.

In February 2024, the “Jinnan Study+” initiative under the Wu-Yue Little Chef program—focused on the “4:30 Classroom” exploratory practice—received official commendation and approval from provincial leadership.