STAFF of the Shenzhen Welfare Center and the Shenzhen civil affairs bureau will visit the center's 400-odd orphans that had settled down abroad starting from Tuesday.

The visiting groups will be dispatched to countries including Australia, the United States, Britain and France to learn about the conditions of the kids who had found new homes.

As one of the 200 domestic welfare centers that deal with foreign affairs, Shenzhen Welfare Center had helped over 400 orphans find foreign parents from 14 countries including Canada, Denmark, Finland, Spain, France, Sweden and Ireland since its international adoption started in 1995. American families accounted for two-thirds of the foreign adopters.

The staff at the welfare center is very concerned about the conditions of these orphans and corresponded with orphans often.

A staff member said they started to prepare for the return visits half a year ago.

Sha Ti, one of the center's orphans, was adopted by an Australian family.

Her foster mother is an anchorwoman and her foster father is a lawyer.

Sha's family was excited by the visit of the center staff. They have invited the visiting groups and other families to her home to have a party.

As a reward for their hospitality, the return visit groups have prepared various gifts for these orphans including paper-cuttings of eight key scenery spots in Shenzhen.

The kids also told the center's staff via long-distance phone call that they had prepared gifts for the staff, such as their own photos, academic record sheet, and certificates of merits.

The visiting groups will not only visit the children but also exchange ideas with foreign welfare centers.

(Shenzhen Daily September 20, 2005)