(From L) Wang Shen, Zhang Zan, Li Dongmei and Jia Tingting celebrate the International Children's Day in Shenzhen on Sunday. Li Zhong FOUR children who survived the May 12 Sichuan earthquake are expected to be fostered by Shenzhen families, the city's civil affairs bureau said Sunday.

The four teenagers, two boys and two girls, were invited to Shenzhen to celebrate International Children's Day on Sunday.

They would become the first group of quake children to be fostered by local families if they are willing to stay, Liu Runhua, the bureau chief said. Alternatively, they could be sponsored to finish their studies back in their hometowns. Each resident is able to sponsor only one child by offering 500 yuan (US$71) a month to the sponsored child.

More than 1,000 Shenzhen families have applied to foster quake children so far, according to the bureau.

Jia Tingting, 17, a native of Dujiangyan City, and Zhang Zan, 13, who had attended Beichuan Middle School, were orphaned after their parents went missing during the quake.

Wang Shen, 12, a Grade 5 primary student of Shifang City, lost his father while Li Dongmei, a 14-year-old girl, has been living with her grandmother since her mother died in the quake.

(Vivian Li)