Warning: This report contains details of physical and sexual abuse and discussion of suicide.
Baobao's heart still races when she smells soil after morning rain, taking her back to the military drills and constant fear that marked every one of her days at Lizheng Quality Education School.
For six months, she was trapped in a remote school where young people were sent for correction. Students faced severe punishments, including physical abuse so intense that some could not sit or sleep properly.
An investigation by the BBC uncovered numerous allegations of physical abuse and abduction across multiple schools in the network operated by military veteran Li Zheng. Despite corporal punishment being illegal in China for decades, testimonies from 23 former students revealed a grim culture of violence, including sexual harassment and assault.
The booming industry of disciplinary schools thrives on parents' fears regarding their children's behavior, and often victims are coerced into attending with false representations from officials or even parents. Baobao and fellow former student Enxu have been vocal about their experiences, calling for systemic changes and the closure of such abusive institutions.
Enxu's escape was aided by friends who alerted the police after she smuggled letters detailing her predicament. Today, both she and Baobao continue to raise awareness about their ordeal, challenging the normalization of such schools and advocating for a better future for youth, free from violence.
