Editor's Note:
A car wash in Shenzhen, South China’s Guangdong Province not only offers a full-service shine, but also a sustainable way to employ China’s mentally challenged.
Xihan’er Car Wash has seen brisk business since opening its doors near Meilin subway station on August 8, thanks to the hard work of its eight employees, all of whom are diagnosed with mental disabilities.
The non-profit car wash was started by a group of parents seeking to leave their disabled children a means to survive.
“Some people say I’m idealistic. Others say it’s too difficult. However, compared to the difficulties our children will face after we pass away, which is more difficult?” co-founder Cao Jun told the Southern Metropolis Daily.
Cao and nine other parents of children with special needs are behind one of China’s first businesses that specifically employs the mentally disabled. Xihan’er charges 35 yuan ($5.47) for a basic car wash, the same as other car washes in Shenzhen, according to Shenzhen Daily.
“Instead of giving our sympathy and money, we should teach and train them to earn a living with dignity,” Cao told Shenzhen Daily on July 29.
The company provides desperately-needed jobs for China’s mentally disabled, who face unemployment rates as high as 98 percent.
Cao said he found impetus to start Xihan’er Car Wash earlier this year during a trip to Taiwan, where he visited similar projects run by social welfare foundations, such as restaurants, bakeries and farms.
“I was shocked. What I had been thinking was already a reality in Taiwan,” Cao said.
Approved as a non-profit by the local Civil Affairs Bureau, Xihan’er Car Wash was funded with one million yuan ($156,599) through a Shenzhen care center set up by the group of parents. All proceeds to go operation and to caring for the employees.
Liu Mozhuang (right), 47, leads others in washing a car on July 30. With the highest level of education and best communication skills among the employees, Liu leads the car wash team. Besides car wash duties, Liu also takes down vehicle information and helps manage the team. 
Chen Xingyou details a hubcap on July 30. As his disabilities are comparatively more severe, Chen is assigned less challenging work. 
While it rains outside, employees practice their writing skills in the car wash lounge on July 30. 
Employee Dong Wei works to solve a Rubik’s cube on July 30. It normally takes Dong only several minutes to solve the puzzle. 
Xihan’er Car Wash employees work on cars parked in several bays. Cao Jun and several other parents said they hope to also help educate employees on etiquette and hygiene so they have an easier time integrating into society.
“We want them to be people worthy of respect. Although they are a special group, they should be educated and polite,” Cao said.
Professional car washers assign the 10 different steps in the cleaning process to employees based on their strengths. For example, Chen Xingyou can only make circular motions when cleaning, so he is assigned to clean wheels. 
Team leader Liu Mozhuang records the number of cars coming to Xihan’er Car Wash on July 30. 
A professional car washer (middle) trains two Xihan’er employees on July 30. 
A special education teacher instructs employees to write at the car wash on July 30. Employees usually study basic life skills in their spare time. Four parents are also on duty at the car wash every day. 
Chen Xingyou writes the Chinese characters “Baba”, or “Dad,” in the car wash’s lounge on July 30. In addition to their work, the employees attend classes in writing, reading and other skills. On busy days, the employees are split into shifts that rotate between class and car washing every half hour. 
Liu Mozhuang takes his team members to have lunch at a nearby cafeteria on July 30.
