Working in an orphanage in China is really depressing. Especially as a Psychologist. 3 weeks ago 3 of our children were taken back to their old Chinese-run orphanage. Why? Because their old orphanage in Xining received donation from the Government to revamp their orphanage. Thus, they need more children in their newly renovated building to show visiting officials that the money did somewhat go towards the greater good (these were the words of the apologetic Xining orphanage representative when we explained that we can care for the children better). Last week, 3 more children were taken back to their orphanage, apparently for similar reason. And this morning, a child I worked closely with took a train back to Hefei with his previous orphanage caretaker.
None of the children wanted to return to their old orphanage. I work at a foreign-run NGO, and we rescue visually impaired children from various orphanages in China. Locally run orphanages are usually corrupted and use beating as a method of punishment. We have children arriving at our site bruised, battered, balding. Seeing a 3 year old child running around with a bald patch on his head caused by repeated cigarette burn can really break anyone’s heart. We also have young girls who have been molested and one was subjected to having shower with different “Uncles” at her previous orphanage.
I already knew China was fucked up. I just didn’t know how much.
And now. My colleague sent me an article (read here) about an utterly disturbing scheme where Chinese parents create deals with their local orphanages and send their children off, wishing their children (who are now officially orphans as the parents have relinquished any rights to them) would be adopted by lovely white foreigners.
Fair enough, poor Chinese parents just want their children to have better lives, you might say. No. China is the only country where adoptive parents are required to donate 35,000 RMB (or approximately US$5,600) to the orphanage where their adopted child comes from. It is a lucrative business. A disgusting, dirty trade only conceivable to people who deserve to die and rot in hell. To those thinking of adopting children from China, perform your due diligence, dilligently! Until you are completely certain that your potential future child is a true orphan in every sense aside from his or her paperwork declaring so, do not proceed with the adoption. Paperwork means shit here, and they are easily faked. You would be involved in human trafficking, and would directly be assisting several scums of the Earth in having better lives.
I have two children in my care coming from the orphanage mentioned in the article. I hope they are not one of them.
The article is rather long, but do read and spread it around. I am just one person in Beijing complaining about injustice. Only in numbers could we (perhaps) make a difference. Thank you for reading.
……..
And let’s hope I’m not going to get deported for writing this!
TasteTalks 
Wow! I hear you. I agree that fighting in numbers is the way to bring about change, but then we might get dismissed as just another group of ignorant foreigner, haha. Thanks for sharing the story; it shocks me everyday to realize that extremely terrible things actually happen in China and people get used to it, what?!
Wow this was such an old post, that I completely forgot I’ve ever felt that way. In the end I quit my job, and moved out of China. Not because of China btw, but more of my disillusionment of the whole charity industry. Foreign bosses are as prone to corruption as local orphanage officials, and grass-root NGOs are as badly managed as multinational NGOs. Some of the nicest human beings I’ve met are the local Chinese ladies working their asses off and always working overtime with no complaints for a minimum wage. So each country have their own shit story to tell, just have to live there long enough to see the bad and the good 🙂 Thanks for reading!