In Jinhua's First Children's Welfare Home, more than 60 children are divided into several groups.

They receive different care, education and training according to their age and physical condition. About 95 percent of the children are disabled or ill. Some have cerebral palsy, others have genetic conditions such as Down's Syndrome, while others have congenital heart disease.

With financial support from the government, the home has built a remedial treatment center for the children. Yu Huisheng, director of the home, said children who are introduced to remedial training at an early age enjoy better mobility and greater verbal fluency.

She said the home receives phone calls from prospective adoptive parents every day. "But most of them are elderly people who have lost their only child and just want a baby for company," he said. "Generally speaking, those families are not regarded as good adoption candidates because they are driven by loneliness, not genuine compassion."

She said one abandoned baby in the home was found in a graveyard, with ants and other insects crawling on his body. Some children and babies were found in dustbins, abandoned due to physical defects.

"Abandoned children have suffered enough pain in their childhood. They should not carry an extra burden imposed by the adoptive family," Yu said. "No matter how rich or well-educated an adoptive parent is, the most important thing is whether they can provide a healthy and happy family atmosphere to the orphans."

She said she had refused parents who suggested taking their own children to the home as "social education".

"Many parents just want to tell their kids to treasure their lives through seeing how pitiful orphans are," Yu said. "That is absolutely wrong. Even without parents, orphans should be given equal treatment."

(China Daily 04/10/2013 page6)