Key Terms

• AIDS Orphans: Children who have become orphans due to the death of their parents from AIDS. They are the core group of concern in this discussion.
• Chi Heng Foundation: A non - profit organization founded by Mr. Du Cong. It is committed to supporting and caring for AIDS orphans and affected children through education and other means.
• Educational Support: The core strategy of the Chi Heng Foundation. It believes that education is the key way to change destinies and achieve long - term social impact.
• De - stigmatization and Psychological Empowerment: Refers to eliminating social discrimination against AIDS and helping affected children build self - confidence and overcome psychological barriers.
• Dr. Gao Yaojie: A well - known AIDS prevention activist in China. She is a pioneer and spiritual mentor who has had a significant impact on Mr. Du Cong and his cause.

Abstract

This podcast features an in - depth interview with Mr. Du Cong, the founder of the Chi Heng Foundation. He shared his journey from being an elite in the financial investment banking field to unexpectedly turning to the public welfare cause. For over two decades, he has been dedicated to helping AIDS orphans in Central China resulting from the blood - selling economy. Du Cong emphasized that the core strategy of the Chi Heng Foundation is educational support, aiming to help children change their destinies and achieve long - term social impact by providing continuous educational opportunities. The interview not only reviewed the development of the Chi Heng Foundation and the challenges it faced (such as social discrimination and stigmatization), but also explored Du Cong's personal philosophy of life - seeking inner happiness rather than external material satisfaction. He also shared his deep friendship with the late Dr. Gao Yaojie and her contributions to the AIDS prevention cause. The content touched on issues such as gender equality, value conflicts, and the development of civil society in China, demonstrating the complexity and far - reaching significance of long - term commitment to public welfare.

Insights

This interview reveals the practical models and challenges of long - term and in - depth intervention by non - government public welfare organizations in the specific social context of China. The case of the Chi Heng Foundation shows that simple material relief is difficult to eradicate inter - generational poverty and social exclusion, while continuous educational investment combined with psychological empowerment is an effective way to promote the social integration and upward mobility of vulnerable groups. Du Cong's experience also reflects the possibility for individuals to find the meaning of life and social value in the tide of the times. His transformation from a financial elite to a full - time public welfare worker in itself constitutes a reflection on the mainstream narrative of success. In addition, the social stigmatization issue, the value differences between urban and rural areas, and the recent changes in the public welfare environment mentioned in the interview all provide a specific and microscopic perspective for observing China's social changes and understanding the development of civil society. The remembrance of Dr. Gao Yaojie also reflects the great efforts and sacrifices made by the pioneers of China's AIDS prevention cause, which has important historical value.

Views

01 "Education is the fundamental way to change the fate of AIDS orphans"

Du Cong believes that in the face of the tragedies caused by AIDS in rural areas, the most far - sighted investment is education. By funding children to complete their studies, they can not only acquire knowledge and skills but also build self - confidence, get rid of fatalism, and ultimately achieve personal development and give back to the community. This is the key to achieving "maximum social impact".

02 "Fighting discrimination is more difficult than solving poverty and disease"

Du Cong pointed out that AIDS orphans face multiple difficulties such as poverty, interrupted education, and diseases (some children are also infected themselves). However, the most difficult problem to solve is the discrimination caused by social ignorance and fear of AIDS. The Chi Heng Foundation has invested a lot of energy in psychological construction and anti - discrimination activities, aiming to help children overcome their inner fears ("the mice in their hearts") and build a strong self - identity.

03 "True happiness and abundance come from the heart, not from material things"

Du Cong compared his life in the financial industry and the public welfare field, emphasizing that material things are not the ultimate source of happiness. He cited research to show that using resources to help others can bring more lasting happiness. He encouraged children to find their own inner "happiness points", think independently, rather than pin their happiness on the external environment or others' evaluations.

04 "Adhere to direct funding to ensure effective delivery of resources"

To avoid possible interception or abuse of resources in the intermediate links, the Chi Heng Foundation adheres to directly distributing scholarships, living expenses, etc. to the assisted students or their guardians. Through a strict review mechanism (such as report cards and school certificates), it ensures that the funds are used for educational purposes, reflecting the principle of high - level responsibility to donors and recipients.

In - depth

From Wall Street to the Rural Areas of Central China: Du Cong and the Chi Heng Foundation's 25 - year Long - distance Run in Helping AIDS Orphans

"If you had told me at that time that I would be doing what I'm doing today, even I would have thought it was as incredible as a show." Mr. Du Cong, the founder of the Chi Heng Foundation, looked back on the past with a touch of emotion in his tone. His life trajectory unexpectedly shifted from the financial center of New York to the remote villages in Central China, closely connecting him with a group of children who became orphans because their parents were infected with AIDS. This "adventure" that has lasted for more than 25 years has not only changed himself but also profoundly influenced the fates of tens of thousands of children.

Origin: An "Abnormal" Turn

From the late 1990s to the early 2000s, in some rural areas of China, the large - scale spread of AIDS was caused by irregular commercial blood - donation for compensation (commonly known as the "blood - selling economy"). Many families were broken up, leaving a large number of AIDS orphans without care. At that time, Du Cong, who was working at the Hong Kong branch of UBS, accidentally learned about this situation and had the opportunity to visit the "AIDS villages" in Henan and other places in person. The sight in front of him deeply shocked him: "I saw a lot of human suffering, a lot of children becoming orphans, and many families having AIDS patients... Many had already passed away, or were lying in bed dying." Different from many people who chose to donate money and then returned to their normal lives, Du Cong made a decision that seemed "abnormal" to others - leaving the high - paying financial industry and fully devoting himself to the public welfare cause of helping these children. In 1998, at the age of 31, Du Cong founded the Chi Heng Foundation. He admitted: "When I saw these children, I just felt that I couldn't wait... If I really earned more money... they would have grown up and missed the opportunity to be educated." This sense of urgency prompted him to give up the "smooth path" of personal wealth accumulation and embark on a public welfare road full of unknowns and hardships.

Core Strategy: Education, the Lighthouse Lighting up the Future

Facing the complex situation - widespread poverty, dying patients, desperate orphans, and the local government's concealment of the epidemic at that time, Du Cong and the Chi Heng Foundation determined the core strategy: educational support. He deeply realized that simple material relief could only solve the immediate problem, and only education could endow these children with the ability to change their own and their community's fates. "If we want to achieve the so - called maximum social impact in these areas 20 years later... it is to revive these communities." Du Cong explained, "Whether these rural areas can be revived depends on the children I saw back then, who were eight or ten years old, and are now in their twenties or thirties." Therefore, the hundreds of millions of funds accumulated by the Chi Heng Foundation have been mostly strategically invested in the education field. They provide tuition and living expenses for children from primary school to university, on the condition that the children must continue to study at school. This "conditional funding" model has effectively pulled a large number of children on the verge of dropping out back to the classroom. So far, the Chi Heng Foundation has cumulatively supported more than 37,000 students. It is worth noting that the Chi Heng Foundation did not choose to establish centrally - managed orphanages or schools but insisted on letting children integrate into local ordinary schools and the social environment. "We hope they can integrate into society as much as possible and complete the socialization process. We don't want them to be isolated and managed in a closed way." This approach helps to avoid labeling and promotes the socialization process of children.

Overcoming Difficulties: A Long - Term Struggle against Discrimination

In addition to poverty and dropping out of school, social discrimination is another heavy burden on AIDS orphans and their families. "At that time, I saw the eyes of many children, and they were very desperate." Du Cong recalled. This discrimination stems from the public's ignorance and fear of AIDS. It permeates neighborly relations, schools, and even family relations, causing great psychological trauma to children. Du Cong believes that solving the discrimination problem is more challenging than solving material shortages and is also the top priority of the Chi Heng Foundation's work. "The problems caused by discrimination are, in my opinion, the most difficult problems. They are also the most difficult, and I think they are what we at Chi Heng have done best and what makes me most proud." To this end, the Chi Heng Foundation has carried out a large number of psychological construction and anti - discrimination activities. They organize summer camps and workshops, encourage children to write the "Listening to Hiv/Aids Stories" commemorative albums (similar to exposure therapy) to let them face and understand their family's experiences. At the same time, they mobilize the assisted college students to return to their hometowns as "little teachers" to set role models for younger siblings and convey hope. Du Cong used a vivid metaphor: "If AIDS is a mouse... (the approach of many institutions is) you must never let our children see this mouse... But can we kill all the mice in the world? No... We should use the time when they are still being supported by us to slowly put the mouse in the room and let them gradually overcome their fear of the mouse." The goal is to make the children's hearts strong enough so that they can face discrimination calmly in society in the future without being hurt by it. Fortunately, this in - depth work has achieved remarkable results. Many assisted children have not only successfully completed their studies and achieved success in various industries (such as pilots, judges, coaches, etc.), but more importantly, they show a confident and cheerful spirit. Currently, up to 70% of the employees of the Chi Heng Foundation are former assisted students. Their choice to come back and give back is the most powerful proof of the Chi Heng Foundation's work concept and effectiveness.

Collision and Adherence of Values

Du Cong's work not only helps children materially and psychologically but also promotes the change of concepts invisibly, which inevitably collides with local traditional values. For example, the Chi Heng Foundation adheres to the principle of equal educational support for both genders, enabling many girls who might have sacrificed their educational opportunities in traditional concepts to continue their studies and perform excellently. However, this has also brought some "sweet troubles". A girl who was assisted and became a judge after studying law has not married for a long time because of her broad vision, which made the elderly in her family anxious and complain: "It's all because of you, Mr. Du. You have trained my daughter so well. Now when she comes back for the Spring Festival every year to go on blind dates, she looks down on all the men in the whole village!" Du Cong hopes to cultivate children's independent thinking ability and the ability to pursue personal happiness, but this sometimes conflicts with the rural elders' expectation of "getting married and starting a family early and carrying on the family line". This difference in urban - rural concepts and generational conflict are the realities that the Chi Heng Foundation must face and reconcile in practice.

Personal Philosophy: Inner Abundance

The huge gap in identity from a high - salaried investment banker to a "penniless" public welfare worker is often exaggerated by the media. There were even false rumors that Du Cong himself was infected with AIDS. Du Cong seemed quite calm about this. He clarified that he was not infected but also emphasized that there should not be excessive fear of AIDS. He thought that part of the reason he could make a smooth transition was that even in the financial industry, he was not a person who pursued a luxurious material life. "The things that make me happy are very simple, maybe just ice cream..." he shared, "In fact, we shouldn't seek happiness from the outside... Why should we pin our happiness on how others treat us? Can't we find our own happiness?" He cited a study to point out that the happiness brought by using money to help others is more lasting. This pursuit of inner value and altruistic spirit constitutes the source of his personal happiness and also runs through his teachings to children.

Paying Tribute to the Pioneer: The Spiritual Legacy of Dr. Gao Yaojie

In the interview, Du Cong affectionately recalled the late AIDS prevention pioneer Dr. Gao Yaojie in China. Dr. Gao was an important guide and spiritual mentor for Du Cong to embark on the public welfare road. "For me, there are several people who have changed my outlook on life and values... Dr. Gao Yaojie is one of them." Du Cong told the story of his in - depth visit to the epidemic - affected villages under the leadership of Dr. Gao back then and witnessed that painful history together. In her later years, Dr. Gao entrusted some of the AIDS orphans she had contacted to Du Cong for continued support. This trust also became his motivation to persevere. Du Cong admired Dr. Gao's integrity, perseverance, humor, and the ability to "find joy in suffering", believing that these qualities are crucial for long - term work in a difficult environment. Dr. Gao Yaojie's experience, from being a respected doctor within the system to being suppressed for exposing the truth and finally leaving the country, forms a certain isomorphism with the development trajectory of China's civil society. Du Cong attended Dr. Gao's funeral in New York and chose to share these stories on the 49th day after her death. It is not only a memorial to his teacher but also a complex emotion towards the future of the AIDS prevention cause.

Challenges and Prospects: Moving Forward in Uncertainty

When talking about the present, Du Cong's tone became a bit more solemn. In recent years, affected by multiple factors such as macro - environment changes, the epidemic, and social events, the Chi Heng Foundation has also faced unprecedented challenges. It has had financial deficits for five consecutive years and has had to use its reserve funds to maintain operations. "Based on what has happened in the past one or two years, I really can't judge what will happen in the next one or two years... The future of this society is really unprecedented for me." Du Cong admitted that the space for civil society and the vitality of the business field seem to be narrowing, which brings great uncertainty to many public welfare organizations including the Chi Heng Foundation. Although the future is full of variables, the 25 - year perseverance of Du Cong and the Chi Heng Foundation has left a deep mark in the history of Chinese public welfare. They have not only provided tens of thousands of AIDS orphans with the opportunity to change their fates but more importantly, they have explored and practiced a path of in - depth intervention centered on education, focusing on psychological empowerment, and facing social stigmatization. The story of the Chi Heng Foundation reminds us that real social progress not only requires economic development and breakthroughs in medical technology but also needs the depth of humanistic care, the inclusion of marginalized groups, and the continuous efforts of civil society. In an era full of uncertainty, this action that originated from individual conscience and has persisted for a quarter of a century is particularly precious and thought - provoking. The road ahead may still be rough, but as Du Cong said, we can only "take one step at a time" and continue to light up the hope for the children in need while adhering to the original intention.