A YOUNG MISSIONARY'S remarkable solo efforts to care for some of China's forgotten children has been spotlighted in the world's most widely read magazine. Chan Kit Ying's work - which has led to more than 500 abandoned babies being adopted by overseas families - was featured in the January edition of the 27 million-selling Reader's Digest.

The six-page article told how the Hong Kong-Chinese Youth With A Mission worker's determination to help some of the thousands of babies surrendered to overcrowded orphanages has led to a thriving program which sees many youngsters fostered and adopted.

Chan first visited China in 1991, after hearing of the plight of children in the state orphanage in Nanning - across the border from where served as a social worker at Mother's Choice, a Hong Kong child care center founded by YWAM in the early 1980s.

Many of the children at the Nanning home - mostly girls, with a few handicapped boys - had been handed over by their parents because of China's one-child policy and traditional preference for a male child.

Shocked by what she saw - babies lying five to a cot, unattended for long stretches - she asked permission to take one undernourished little girl back to her hotel to look after her. She cared for the child, and eventually managed to help arrange the baby's adoption by an American couple.

Chan later returned to Nanning to volunteer at the orphanage, developing a network of local foster homes and helping form a new orphanage, Mother's Love, which cares for around 200 babies. As word of her work has spread, the 35-year-old has been invited to other provinces in the country to talk about her work, and provide training for staff at other orphanages.

"I consider it a privilege to serve in this work for China and for the children," said Chan, who was born and raised in Hong Kong. "Our desire is to share God's father heart with the orphans and the people, and to see this work multiplied across the country."

Her love for children in need was fueled by seeing the hurts caused by a family divorce. "Even though we have our earthly parents things can go wrong and it's the children who suffer most," she said. "I know that only God can fulfill all of our needs, and I am touched by his deep commitment of love to us."

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