Let’s shine the light together
My Story
My name is Mei Yang and I moved from China in 1999 to live and work in the Netherlands. For the past 25 years I’ve been facilitating intercultural cooperation between Dutch and Chinese companies, the last 18 years through my own consulting company IIBBOO.
As an intercultural family, we faced serious challenges when my eldest daughter was 15 years old. As traditional support was not the answer to the problems we were facing, I delved into the many facets of coaching and personal development to help my daughter and my family.
By using various coaching techniques, practicing and improving our deep listening skills, embracing unconditional love and acceptance, and consciously cultivating empathy and gratitude, we gradually turned the situation around and enriched our family relationship. I know that many parents have struggles like mine. After many incredibly difficult years, I want to share my journey and what I have learned to support others and help more families and children. So that they don’t have to go through so much pain.
As a volunteer, I used my insights to mentor teenagers in China who were struggling with their lives and help them move forward. I extended this support to Chinese parents of teenagers in the Netherlands through parenting workshops. By providing a safe and warm space for the parents, they found a strong sense of belonging. They opened their hearts, shared their challenges, and learned from each other. By practicing all kinds of skills in small groups, parents feel inspired and empowered to make changes at home. As a result, they deepened their relationships with their teens and enriched their family lives.
You can read more about these parent workshops and the stories shared by parents and different organizations in the parent testimonials section below.
My daughter’s struggles have helped me learn so much about the world and allowed me to develop a much deeper connection with her, with everyone in my family, and most importantly, with myself. The journey has not been easy, but it has been worth it.
What I have learned profoundly through supporting my family and others is that we all have innate wisdom and power within us to change and transform our lives. When we feel completely safe, seen, heard, and valued, we can tap into our inner source of wisdom and find answers.
I am truly grateful to be a facilitator of this process with the wonderful young people and parents who have come into my life. You are my inspiration and motivation!
Please join me on a journey to light up our children’s world and the world around us!
Reviews
Through these workshops I found like-minded parents. Mei provided not only theoretical support, but also practical guidance for real-life applications.
Hearing Mei’s personal stories and the struggles of other Chinese parents makes me feel less alone. Knowing that others have faced similar challenges gives me the confidence to believe that I can overcome them too.
Adolescents are at a very important but difficult time in their lives, especially for those of Chinese background who are growing up between two cultures. Through the workshop, we gained practical knowledge on how to help our children through adolescence. It was so valuable to interact and share parenting experiences with other Chinese parents.
The firsthand experiences and stories shared by each Chinese parent immensely inspired all participants. Mei orchestrated the interactive sessions exceptionally well, fostering a collaborative and engaging environment.
This resulted in a wealth of shared insights, fostering an atmosphere of collective learning and empowerment.
Mei not only attentively listened, but she also shared her parenting journey and experiences. Parents learned to engage actively and openly with their children, supporting them through the challenges of adolescence.
This session became an empowering and enlightening space, offering parents understanding, inspiration, and impactful support.
Mei shared invaluable insights with the parents on how to effectively communicate with their children during their puberty. Effective family communication and understanding foster stronger bonds between parents and children. This leads to more stable and supportive family units, which are the building blocks of a healthy society.
The workshop concluded with satisfied parents sharing new perspectives on how to connect with their family members.
Mei taught parents how to empathetically understand their children’s world and perspectives, and how to engage and guide their children to uncover their inner wisdom and explore solutions for the challenges together, rather than simply offering advice based on their own experiences, which may not always be relevant to their children.
The heartfelt inspiration from Mei has profoundly motivated many parents.
Let’s Contribute Together
I firmly believe that together, we can uplift the world!
As an individual in the society, I see it as my responsibility to contribute to supporting those in need.
Let me share the stories of a few remarkable individuals whom I’ve worked with in recent years. They’ve inspired the creation of MEEEI.
Join me in supporting them financially or volunteer your time!
Together, we can make a difference!
The story of Jinfeng, Jina and Yixiu
Jinfeng: “During my upbringing and my work as a child psychologist, I discovered that Chinese children in the Netherlands face unique challenges. They navigate between Chinese families and Dutch schools, grappling with cultural differences in search of their identity. This cultural divide, especially during adolescence, can lead to psychological or behavioral issues that affect their academic pursuits.
Due to language and cultural differences, obtaining appropriate help becomes difficult. Because Chinese culture emphasizes solving problems independently, it can be challenging for them to discuss issues or seek professional help.
To address this, we founded the Foundation Intercultural Participation of Chinese Families, aiming to support Chinese children and parents in the Netherlands.”
Click here to watch the interview with Jinfeng about the foundation
Jina: “During my work in Chinese schools and youth welfare organizations, I witnessed issues within Dutch-Chinese cross-cultural families stemming from cultural differences, identity, and a lack of parental guidance.
Due to a lack of relevant parenting and child psychology knowledge, coupled with unfamiliarity with Dutch culture and policies, communication barriers emerge. As a result, parents struggle to seek help, leading to psychological or behavioral issues in children.
Timely prevention and intervention can prevent a lot of pain for the children and families. Early awareness and support can help mitigate these challenges and provide families with the necessary information, training, and guidance.”
Yixiu: “For over ten years, I’ve assisted new immigrant families in settling in the Netherlands, which includes helping with language learning, home buying, and school selection. Additionally, I’ve served as an interpreter for various clients.
Through these experiences, I’ve observed the challenges faced by immigrant children, such as adapting to a new environment, learning a new language, and overcoming loneliness.
As a mother of three daughters born in the Netherlands, my family has also encountered and overcome various challenges. My children faced misunderstanding by us, confusion about their true identity, discrimination, and bullying at school. By joining the Intercultural Participation of Chinese Families, I aim to share parenting experiences and support others in effectively navigating parenthood.”
Foundation Intercultural Participation of Chinese Families (IPCF) aims to nurture empowered individuals and create cultural understanding. By supporting Chinese children’s development and assisting families in navigating cultural challenges, IPCF contributes to harmony and connections at home and in society!
The Story of Linda and Marije
Marije: “Linda and I have known each other since 2005 when we volunteered in Guatemala. The enduring friendship formed there has kept us connected. Over 17 years, we’ve worked closely as a team, driven by our shared love for Africa and the desire to contribute to a better world. Our joint passion led us to establish a shelter with Kenya Child Care, aiming to make a positive impact on the lives of boys and girls in Kenya.”
Linda: “In 2019, it became evident that receiving neglected and damaged boys and girls at our rescue center isn’t a solution. Prevention is better than cure. It’s more effective to address the root cause, leading us to establish an Outreach program for children during their development. This approach enhances awareness and resilience in boys and girls.”
With Rise Up Now, we want to contribute to the healthy, safe development of boys and girls and the reduction of delinquency. The goals are clear. We are going to help tens of thousands of children go through carefree, healthy development, full of self-confidence and fun. Together we can be a bright light in the lives of those children!
It costs € 10 for a child to access the Rise Up Now Programme.
5% of the turnover from MEEEI will be donated to support more children to get access.
Together, we nurture a generation of resilient and strong children!
MEEEI
Bridge Cultures, Build Futures
Support overseas Chinese parents to improve communication with their teenagers, cultivate strong family connections, and empower them for a brighter future.
0031 6 13163900
mei@meeei.nl
Van Hamelstraat 22, 3762 JD Soest
The Netherlands
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