Summer camp for children from AIDS affected towns
- By Wu Jin
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E-mail China.org.cn, July 26, 2012
Discussing the camp and its aims, Wix commented that it is more difficult to encourage awareness of and support for certain social problems, and the problem of children born in AIDS-afflicted families is one which poses challenges in terms of generating help and support. It is because of this that Wix decided to help. Wix said, he wants to help.
"Children are more intelligent and creative," said Wix, who has been in China for about 16 years and subsequently expanded his business training programs to Japan, Thailand and Philippines. The energy and enthusiasm of the children was, Wix said, the main reason why he was so keen to join the program and spend time with them, despite his tight schedule.
Certainly the children seemed to be rewarding his commitment. Slender and tall, Xiao Yuan (alias) was exhausted at the end of the day's activity. Despite running and playing for 45 minutes, his face lit up in excitement.
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Volunteer Michael Wix (the first from right) gives instructions to students at a summer camp sponsored by Hong Kong’s Chi Heng Foundation before starting a game at the National Stadium or the Bird’s Nest in Beijing on Monday, July 16, 2012. The students are from AIDS impacted families in Henan Province. [Pang Li/China.org.cn] |
"I'm dreaming to be an economics student at Renmin University (one of Beijing's top universities, and famous for its business and journalism schools)", he said.
"I'm good at math you know," said the bespectacled senior high student from Henan.
Many of the children from the AIDS-affected villages had parents who were exposed to the disease by unsterilized needles used in the blood-selling business. Many of them subsequently died. However, the children now have a new destiny, thanks to To Chung, a former Wall Street banker and the founder of the Chi Heng Foundation. He started the foundation 15 years ago.
Stung by the underprivileged lives of the AIDS affected families, the Harvard University postgraduate gave up his lucrative career and focused on the education of the children from those families, some of whom are orphans.
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Students at a summer camp sponsored by Hong Kong’s Chi Heng Foundation play a teamwork game at the National Stadium or the Bird’s Nest in Beijing on Monday, July 16, 2012. The students are from AIDS impacted families in Henan Province. [Pang Li/China.org.cn] |
In addition to its regular funding, the foundation has organized countless educational programs to boost the children's confidence. It's clear from the hopes and ambitions expressed by the children that the foundation and its programs are having a positive effect.
"Either a doctor or a nurse would be my future careers," said Xiao Min (alias), beaming at the thought.
Yet, despite all her confidence and courage in pursuing a life full of dreams and ambitions, Xiao Min was still wary of revealing the name of her hometown. According to Chi Heng, divulging such information could cause problems for the children, especially in light of the widespread public ignorance and prejudice where AIDS is concerned.
"[AIDS] is not an easy start for anybody," said Royce Derbyshire, a doctor of western medicine and an aborigine from New Zealand. "The organization tries to give some hopes…it's good…[actually] it's not their fault."
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Students and volunteers at a summer camp sponsored by Hong Kong’s Chi Heng Foundation playing an Easter egg hunting game at the National Stadium or the Bird’s Nest on Monday, July 16, 2012. The students are from AIDS impacted families in Henan Province. [Pang Li/China.org.cn] |
"[We need] to work on the change for people involves in [helping] the AIDS [affected patients]…to start with the education for conceptual changes."
Derbyshire said, the discriminations on AIDS/HIV carriers are decreasing in China as it is can proved by the participants of the volunteers from various groups, and the changes are similar to the transition of the western society in the past four decades.
A friend of Wix, Derbyshire joined his New Zealand friend in entertaining the kids. And his amiability guaranteed that the children were relaxed in his company.
"May I just get a touch of your hair?" A boy asked him in McDonalds. And without sufficient time to think over an answer, his tightly curled plaits were in the boy's hand.
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