Strengthening Families Through Family-Friendly Spaces – The Story of Hao Mengchen

At 13 years old, Hao Mengchen, from Hechuan District, Chongqing, reflects on a decade of summers spent at ESCP’s Family-Friendly Spaces. Bold, confident, and curious by nature, Mengchen’s experience demonstrates how the program not only nurtures individual development but also brings families closer together.

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At our 10-year anniversary celebration, we spoke with Megchen to hear about the program from her perspective and what may have begun as a solution to childcare quickly grew into something much more – a second home.

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Early Beginnings
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Mengchen first attended the employer-funded childcare program, Family-Friendly Spaces, at just four years old.
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At the time, her mother had recently given birth to her younger sister who would be looked after by her grandmother when her mother went back to work. With limited access to childcare and not wanting to burden her mother, she decided to bring Mengchen along to her factory in Guangdong (14hr drive from their home in Chongqing), where she had heard about a new childcare initiative provided by her employer.
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The factory’s Family-Friendly Spaces initiative provides a safe environment for children to learn and play while parents work and quickly becoming a place of both learning and connection for Mengchen.

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Although she recalls being “excited, curious, and a bit nervous” on her first day, Family-Friendly Spaces soon became a central part of her life.

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Strengthening Family Bonds
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One of the most significant impacts of Family-Friendly Spaces for Mengchen has been on her relationship with her parents. The program intentionally incorporates parent-child activities into its structure. These shared experiences created opportunities for meaningful interaction that would have been difficult to achieve within her family’s busy routine. From Mengchen’s perspective: “Family-Friendly Spaces really increased the time I spend with my parents and strengthened our family bond.”
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Family-oriented events, such as restaurant visits and creative workshops, also provide informal settings for parents and children to connect, making the FFS a true extension of family life. Over time, these moments deepened her trust and closeness with her parents.
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Skills, Growth, and Friendships
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Alongside family connection, Family-Friendly Spaces offered opportunities for personal growth. Mengchen developed an interest in drawing and enjoyed creative activities like handicrafts. Hosting ceremonies helped her build strong public speaking skills, which she now shares with her younger sister by teaching her how to host. She also built long-term friendships, such as her close relationship with Su Hanyun, whom she met in the childcare program and still keeps in touch with.
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Mengchen also played a key role in supporting new children entering the program. Recognizing herself in them, “it felt like seeing a younger version of myself. I then took on the role of the “older sister”, caring for the new children just as someone once cared for me.” This not only reflects her personal growth but also highlights the culture of support fostered within the program.

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What does the next 10 years hold?
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Today, Mengchen dreams of joining the military. She thanks Family-Friendly Spaces for creating the environment that allowed her to grow in confidence, learn leadership skills, and, most importantly, build stronger ties with her family.
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She describes the program in three words: “Positive, joyful, friendly.” And she summarizes its role in her life with a powerful metaphor:
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“The Family-Friendly Space is like the sky protecting fledglings as they spread their wings. It gives care and nurtures us like young saplings.”

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Family-Friendly Spaces:
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Family-Friendly Spaces provide employer-funded, secure and well-equipped spaces, at factories and in communities, for children to learn and play while their parents work. The program promotes child-friendly employment practices, supports the United Nations SDGs: 3, 4, 5, 10 & 17 and allows parents to work free from the expense and burden of childcare. Learn more