The Women's Federation in central China's Hubei Province is calling on male volunteers to care for left-behind children.

Many locals are employed outside Hubei Province, which has led to a rapidly growing number of left-behind children. Over 1.35 million children live in Hubei without their parents' care and company. Some of them haven't seen their parents in years, local Chutian Golden Newspaper reported on Tuesday.

These children are in urgent need of psychological care. Related organizations have initiated several activities to amass "volunteer moms," who offer a loving hand to lonely children.

This time, the Hubei Women's Federation is recruiting 10,000 "volunteer dads," whom the organizations hopes will pair up with left-behind children in rural areas.

"Volunteer dads" are expected to contact their children regularly via telephone or mail, visit them frequently, and guide them through any difficulties they may encounter, the report said.

Men interested in the project can submit their names at the federation's office before 5:30 p.m. on June 13.

(CRI English June 11, 2008)