Student’s offer to pay with ‘ten years’ of her life for a medical loan shocks Internet users

Since it was posted online three weeks ago, this video has been viewed almost 700,000 times and provoked more than 1,000 comments. It's an appeal for help by a young Chinese student unable to afford treatment for her mother's leukaemia. The girl, Kong Jing, describes the abject poverty and the state of desperation her family has been reduced to. But it's her last statement that has shocked the Chinese blogging community. "I'm ready to sell ten years of my young life to whoever can help me," says Kong. Poverty in China is so pervasive, it's often overlooked. But the plight of a young woman forced to prostitute herself to get medical care for a parent has really upset Chinese bloggers.

A cry for help

Kong Jing's parents have worked for the state for all their lives. Now, they're both unemployed. Kong Jing needs €20,000 to pay for her mother's treatment. She says she'll work for the next ten years for any business or ‘any person' that can give her the money immediately.

Excerpts:

The fees for my mother's treatment have forced me to take this action, I stand by my word: I'm ready to pay with ten years of my life. It's a huge amount of money; I simply don't have the means, I need someone to help me out. I'm a student, I have exploitable capacities, I can work for that money (...).

"I got this idea when I found out about my mum's disease. My relatives have helped me a lot, but the medical bills have increased. At the moment, we have to pay almost €400 per day. (...) I'm ready to devote everything to my mum's needs. Parents give us life and feed us...My own life and everything that I have, I got from them. They never ask to be paid back. The day our parents need us, we should devote ourselves entirely to them."

Post your questions to Zhang, our regional editor for China.

Comments

Why isn't there a website set up to get donations for her mom...

Submitted by Christopher Baughman (not verified) on Thu, 20/12/2007 - 01:31.

I did a quick search that I kept adding to to shorten the results and I still can't find a website to donate money. So I would appreciate it if France24 would post it so people don't feel so bloody helpless.

Unregistered user

In China, it is illegal for

Submitted by A Chinese (not verified) on Thu, 20/12/2007 - 10:05.

In China, it is illegal for citizens or grassroots NGOs to collect donations from the public. Public donation can only make to government controled organizations, such as the Red Cross and the China Charity Federation.
We can donate privately to target people. We also initiate some activities to attract public attentions, building a bridge between the donor and the person in need. Or, get permission form these government controled organizations, let the public transfer money to their bank accounts.
Kong Jing has published her mobile phone number in the video. It is 86-13201463028
Here is the following up of her story.http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_cb00XMTI2MzgyMTY=.html.

Unregistered user