supporting Zheng Sheng 支持正生會

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D

ear Sir/ Madam,

Some papers have alleged

that the Zheng Sheng AIDS school in Henan mistreats the children and that the Zheng Sheng association is dishonest in its finances.  The purpose of this letter is to share with you my own and my friends’ experiences at the two Zheng Sheng schools in Fujian and Henan.

Fujian School

Our church, Solomon’s

Porch in Sheung Wan Hong Kong, has visited the Zheng Sheng school in Fujian 3 times, in June 2008, December 2008 and July 2009.  I was part of our church team in December 2008 and subsequently made a second visit in April 2009, when I went on my own, unannounced beforehand and planned very last minute.

Regarding allegations

that the Zheng Sheng schools do not feed their children properly and only put on a show for visitors, I find that to be untrue.  The food served when I visited as part of a group and when I visited alone was almost the same.  The quantity and quality of food was plentiful and nutritious on both occasions.  I always ate with the children, and there was no difference in the food served in the presence of visitors. 

Regarding allegations

that the teachers and caretakers often yelled at the students, I myself have sat in during the children’s classes and found them very similar to my own primary school classes in Hong Kong.  I understand that a few days at these schools cannot be taken as conclusive evidence, but to believe in certain magazines which cite anecdotes from a dismissed teacher is perhaps even more unreliable?

During my visits, we have

had extensive conversations with the caretakers (Chinese “爱心妈妈/爱心爸爸”).  It is so obvious from conversations with the caretakers that they love and cherish the children.  They want the best for these children and often encourage the children to work harder at their studies.  Anyone who has been to the Fujian school will tell you that the children there are happy, well-mannered and playful.

Henan School

In

May 2009, my church visited the Zheng Sheng AIDS school in Henan, which also has an in house clinic.  The students there appear healthy and it was difficult to tell that the children were ill.  With medication provided by the government, Zheng Sheng helps the students live life to the fullest. 

Responding

to allegations about the lack of food at the Henan school, when we visited, there were two volunteers who had been there for 3 months and they told us that the food served when visitors were there was the same as that served normally.  Zheng Sheng’s goal is not to provide luxury accommodation but to provide shelter and education to children who would otherwise be abandoned.

They had a great time

with the children, who were eager to play and laughed readily.  Whilst it is possible for adults to put on a happy front, it is almost impossible for 60 to 100 children, at each of the schools in Henan and Fujian, to show emotions they are not feeling.

Conclusion

Previous allegations that

Zheng Sheng was operating a karaoke in China were proved false when Zheng Sheng produced a certificate from the PRC provincial bureau stating that Zheng Sheng had only borrowed the address for business registration purposes, and was not the owner or operator of the karaoke.

We, as outsiders to Zheng

Sheng's finances, cannot make a judgement as to the accuracy of financial statements.  Perhaps we should wait for legal action, if any, by the ICAC before any conclusions are drawn regarding Zheng Sheng's integrity.  Innocent until proven guilty. If Zheng Sheng is willing to give drug addicts and orphans a second chance in life, shouldn't we also extend some of the grace that they have shown to underprivileged children?

In a society where a rare

few have sacrificed their time and careers for neglected groups, should we not applaud them for their efforts and vision instead of blindly believing a smear campaign?

Yours

sincerely,

Mary

Koo

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