Freeing Children of Convicts: In China, the disgrace of imprisoned parents is passed to the offspring, who are often shunned. A private shelter offers love and protection by Ching-Ching Ni

Unlike in the West, China has no laws that require the state to care for children left behind by incarcerated adults, estimated at 300,000 annually. Nor can the children rely on friends or relatives in a culture that believes in guilt by family association. Some children drift from one abusive home to another; others wander the streets or become criminals themselves.

Zhang Shuqin, a 53-year-old former correctional officer runs several homes for such children.

It is not easy to run a nonprofit in China. Philanthropy is still a foreign concept in a society that is new to personal wealth and unfamiliar with nongovernmental organizations. Every year, Zhang must raise at least $430 per child to cover food, school fees and other living expenses. About 60% of her funding comes as gifts from foreign enterprises and aid groups and the rest from Chinese donors.

The shelter also rents farmland where the children grow their own vegetables and tend thousands of date trees as well as about 100 ducks, chicken and pigs. In the summer, they bring the produce to market or sell it on the street. All those older than 10 help for four hours a week "so they understand that money doesn't come easy," Zhang said.