Hidden scars

Any conversations concerning their parents are "taboos" for the children, even between themselves, Wusha said.

They loved being together due to their similar backgrounds, but were unwilling to share their stories, he said. "Also, they never mentioned that to me."

Some of them became silent when confronted with a question like, "When did you begin living with your grandparents?", while others simply said "I can't remember".

While struggling to combat poverty, the children also have to face discrimination from others, even though they test HIV-negative.

Zhang Lin, a worker with the foundation, said the children were unfairly treated when they attended a summer camp held in Beijing and Shanghai in mid-August this year.

"The travel agencies responsible for our trip insisted on reviewing the medical test results of the children, which is unacceptable from our angle," said Zhang, who accompanied the children to the Summer Palace, Tsinghua University, the Great Wall and the Shanghai Expo.

"The demand indicates the misunderstandings and discrimination some hold to AIDS-orphaned children. Knowledge about AIDS should be more publicized to prevent innocent children from having a stigma attached to them any longer," he said.

The children, deprived of parental love, are also vulnerable to insults at school.

"Sometimes, students from other classes would laugh at them for not having parents. Whenever it happened, they would suddenly become depressed, even tearful," said Wusha.

"I often shouted at the mischievous students, but it was already too late," he lamented.

Worrisome futures

"We want to help more students get into school and protect them from juvenile crime, drugs and other social problems," Ye said.

China implemented nine-year compulsory education, providing all children aged 6 and beyond with free access to primary and junior middle schools, but many AIDS orphans in impoverished families in Zhaojue still stay at home or have found a job outside their hometown.

Wusha never stopped worrying that he might lose some students before they graduated from the primary school.

His students were generally older than others in the same grade and some just couldn't wait to earn money, he said. "For instance, an 18-year-old boy in my class dropped out before he finished the third grade and left Zhaojue."

Wusha said he was more concerned over the future of the boys. "After aged caregivers die, the girls still have a chance to have a good marriage and join in a normal family. But what will become of the boys? Are they strong enough to head a family then?"

However, Wusha said he was happy to see the changes that came over the students after they returned from the summer camp. "It was the first time that they've ever been to cities, and that experience brought joy and inspiration to their lives," he said.

The students were especially in high spirits when visiting Tsinghua University, one of the most prestigious universities in China.

"I really want to get into a good university so I can make good money after graduation and repay the kindness of my uncle and aunt as soon as possible," said 14-year-old Niuri.

Zhihuo, the courageous girl, has made up her mind to have a career outside her poor hometown, instead of simply pinning hopes of her future on a "good marriage".

(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2010)