Zhang Hefeng, director of the communication center for the CCTF, said these 1,000 to 2,000 children, below the age of 15, are orphans, or have been separated from their families in the quake.

They are now being cared for at the provincial women's association of Sichuan and will arrive in Beijing, probably by early next month, once local authorities complete registering their basic information.

More than 500 families have shown interest in the campaign since organizers opened three 24-hour hotlines two days ago. Most applicants live in Beijing, with others from Jiangsu, Anhui and Henan provinces.

A number of interested parties, such as companies and orphanages, are reportedly willing to take more than two children each.

Zhang said he was impressed by a young couple who visited his office with their 10-month-old son.

"The mother said she was so sad about those poor children that she has not been eating much these days," Zhang said.

"She promised to do her best to take care of the foster child, and they would drive the child home to reunite him or her with parents and maintain a long-term relationship with the family."

The center said it will thoroughly assess applicant families. The children orphaned or separated from families by the quake are supposed to stay with their foster families for at least two months before being sent back to Sichuan, depending on how soon and whether their custodians can be found.

The center will also visit the foster families from time to time to ensure these children are well taken care of.

Zhang adds that many applicants do not have children and want to adopt one. Such requests would be given priority when the adoption process starts.

Mr Li, a 40-year-old Beijinger who works for a foreign company, is among the many applicants unable to get through CCTF's busy hotlines.

Li, who did not want to give his full name, says he and his wife have been a DINK (double-income-no-kid) family for several years, as they wanted to spend more time on their own pursuits rather than raise a child.

A friend, who has just come back from Sichuan, told him about the young victims of the quake. The couple have changed their mind and now wants to adopt two victims between 5 and 13 years old.

"It is time we put our own interests aside and step up to do something for our nation," Li says.

"We are financially capable and we will give as much love and care as we can to the children."

(China Daily May 21, 2008)