Graduates from China's first school for students with HIV/AIDS

The one and only "Red Ribbon School" for students with AIDS in China had their first class of high school graduates.

Graduating students attend one of their last lectures at the Linfen Red Ribbon School for students with AIDS on May 24, 2017. [Photo: Xinhua]

16 students attended a special graduation ceremony on Friday. They will take part in the infamously difficult Chinese national college entrance examination in 11 days.

Graduating students perform a duet together and other students and teachers look on at the Linfen Red Ribbon School for students with AIDS on May 26, 2017. [Photo: Xinhua]

An unofficial school opened in 2005 by Linfen city's People's Hospital in North China's Shanxi Province, and in 2011 the Linfen Red Ribbon School was officially established China's first and only school for children affected by HIV/AIDS. By 2014, the school had 16 junior high graduates, and this year all 16 students graduate from high school.

A student is awarded his diploma at the graduation ceremony for the Linfen Red Ribbon School for students with AIDS on May 26, 2017. [Photo: Xinhua]

Now, the school has a total of 36 students in multiple grades, and 18 teachers and staff members.

Graduating students pose for a graduation photo, holding textbooks on the campus of their school, the Linfen Red Ribbon School for students with AIDS on May 24, 2017. [Photo: Xinhua]

Red Ribbon school principal Guo Xiaoping said that with the increase in people's awareness of AIDS, children have more and more opportunities for communication with the outside world, and whenever volunteers come to school, the children are particularly happy.

Graduating student gives a speech during the graduation ceremony at the Linfen Red Ribbon School for students with AIDS on May 26, 2017. [Photo: Xinhua]