What are conditions like in the orphanages?
There have been some negative reports in the popular media about bad conditions in Chinese orphanages. These reports have been greatly exaggerated. While life in an orphanage in a developing country can be quite harsh, and while some orphanages do a better job than others, overall orphanages in China are adequate places staffed by caring people. Further, the donations and contributions made by parents adopting children are having a real impact on the lives of the children who remain behind. Staff-to-child ratios and basic nutrition is very good. Positive changes are being made to facilities (we saw open sewers being replaced with a new, underground sewer system at one orphanage), and there are improvements and additions to equipment. Many children are placed in foster homes by the orphanages, giving each child more attention and care in a family environment. We believe that care for children without families is better in China than in any other developing country. We strongly recommend
