While Rich Dad, Poor Dad, a book by United States author Robert Kiyosaki, was a hit in China, another book, We Have No Rich Dads had a quiet debut.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad recounts what the rich tell their kids about money that poor and middle-class parents do not.

The latter is a collection of 93 essays written by students at the Beijing Guangqumen Middle School.

These young authors all come from families living in utter destitution, and the published essays concentrate on how they fought and survived poverty.

With the rapid development of the Chinese economy in the past two decades, many have neglected the existence of a huge number of poverty-stricken population.

State and local governments have strived hard to alleviate poverty, yet there are still 30 million people living with an annual income less than 635 yuan (US$77).

Even in big cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Shenyang, many still live in poverty.

In the capital, it is estimated there are more than 55,000 unemployed workers from State-owned enterprises, whose monthly income is less than 210 yuan (US$25).

In 1995, in order to help poor students whose families could not afford an education, Guangqumen Middle School decided to open a special Hongzhi Class. Students attending Hongzhi Class receive three years of regular senior middle school education, and do not have to pay for it. In addition, students can receive 120 yuan (US$14) per month for living costs. The main source of funds is through donations.

Only students from households with per capita monthly income below 300 yuan (US$36) will be admitted to the Hongzhi Class. In addition, their academic results at junior middle school is another important factor.

Students educated at Hongzhi Class are putting as much back into society as they are gaining.

Since the class was launched in 1995, all the students have been admitted to university, and 85 percent of them have been admitted to the so-called "key universities" -- in China where many middle school graduates cannot attend university. This is a remarkable achievement.

Published by the Dazhong Arts and Culture Publishing House, We Have No Rich Dads records many small but significant details in the daily lives of Hongzhi Class students -- how they came to realize the cruelty of life, how they summoned up the courage to fight against poverty and how they managed to cope with the difficulties they faced.

"The book will give illumination to kids who are spoiled by their parents," said Li Jingfeng, editor-in-chief of the publishing house.

(China Daily January 16, 2002)