I did this at the request of a number of parents in the U.S.A. of abandoned Chinese children from Hong Hu City in Hubei Province.
The subject of abandoned children in China, is a re-occuring 'discussion topic' in all of my Conversational English Classes, and it is amazing that so many students, simply do not believe that child abandonment is still a common practice.
This evening, I sent a number of students an email, requesting that they click onto the link provided, and read for themselves, about abandoned children in China.
This website was brought to my attention by one of the parents of the Hong Hu Adoptees. Love without Boundaries is an organisation that seeks to assist children in China, specifically, those suffering from medical afflictions.
As their own site says, they are "dedicated to caring for critically ill babies and children and to providing them with the surgery, rehabilitation and loving care needed to help them reach their fullest potential".
Henji Village via Wu Gou Hong Hu Hubei.
Love Without Boundaries "began when a group of adoptive parents met one small orphaned boy in need of heart surgery. Hundreds of people around the world sent donations to save his life".
Being an organisation relying of public support, you can well imagine their financial difficulties, but as they point out, "Surgical costs in China are so much lower than in other parts of the world", that "no gift is too small when it involves the health of a child".
They are currently attempting to raise funds to build an extension to the 'Hope Foster Home' in Beijing, in order to care for critically ill and disabled children - you know! - the ones that absolutely nobody wants.
Celebrating Children's Day June 1st
My American born Chinese friend Judy, who both taught in Hong Hu and studied with me at Wuhan University, once told me that Chinese people, even in the west, are not apt to 'adopt' children, and if they actually do, that child will be a 'boy'.
I have a friend who once introduced me to his 'cousin'. Now in 'chinglish', the Chinese refer to cousins as 'brothers'. Later in the day, he pointed out that his 'cousin/brother' was literally his 'cousin and brother', for, since my friend's aunty could not have children, his own mother had a secret child, and 'gave the baby to her sister!'.
More Lovely Children in a tiny tiny village whose name I have forgotten.
Being the child of a 'stranger', adoption is not a likely prospect for any child in China, least of all, those with medical conditions. Unlike other Chinese children who spend a lot of time in care in places for example like kindergartens, abandoned children don't get the opportunity to 'go home' occasionally. And unlike healthy kids, abandoned 'sick' children don't have the opportunity to run around the place freely, making mischief as they go.
So far, Love Without Boundaries "has raised the first $65,000 on the way to the total of $138,000 required" to complete their current undertaking, and is seeking additional help. They 'simply cannot provide this service on an ongoing basis without additional space and personnel'.
The following are some sample costs of medical treatments:
Heart surgery: $3-5,000
Cleft Surgery - $350-500
Hernia Repair - $500
Corneal Transplants - $1000
Anal Atresia - $1500
With the Chinese Yuan (RMB - Renminbi) at 8 to US$1, One hundred American dollars is equal to almost two (2) months of a workers minimum salary. Under the new Chinese taxation laws, workers are now considered to be earning too little to be taxed, if they earn under US$200 per month.
In China, an American Dollar goes a long way. $10 goes even further. There is provision on their website for Visa/Mastercard donations, and as someone who sees the poverty of the average 'healthy' Chinese peasant on a daily basis, I can fully appreciate both the compassion and financial need of these wonderful people at Love Without Boundaries.
R.P.BenDedek is from Brisbane Australia and is the author of 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran' at http://www.kingscalendar.com His academic articles set forth Apologetics for and results of his discovery of an "artificial chronological scheme" running through the Bible, Josephus, the Damascus Documents of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Seder Olam Rabbah.
He writes photographic 'Stories from China' and social editorial commentaries, both at KingsCalendar, and as a contributing newspaper columnist. He currently teaches Conversational English in China and in addition to his English Lessons at KingsCalendar, he has created specific sites for Students of English.
