The public welfare initiative Building Bridges for Love has allocated 12 million yuan (US $1.69 million) to deliver tangible benefits to over 12,000 Chinese students since it was launched by the China Children and Teenagers' Fund (CCTF) and the Shiping Foundation in 2023.

Deputy Secretary-General of the CCTF Wang Haijing and Secretary-General of the Shiping Foundation Zhu Beina conducted an inspection tour of the implementation of the project in Southwest China's Yunnan Province in late March.

The project has further improved school facilities, supported students in need, extended psychological assistance to girl students, and injected new vitality into the revitalization of rural education.

Bringing Light of Hope to Students

Their first stop was Dali Nursing Vocational College, which was founded in 1953. About 82.57 percent of its students are girls and 38.5 percent of the students are from ethnic minority groups.

Assistance from the project has helped transform the life trajectory of the beneficiaries.

Xiao Xue (not real name), a first-year student at the college, is one of the 200 beneficiaries this year. She comes from a Yi ethnic family. She lost her father at 9. The harsh family conditions have firmed up her determination, rather than weakening her will.

"The financial aids from the project make me feel the love and warmth and help me get closer to my dream," she said.

Yan'er (not real name) is from a mountainous village in Mojiang Hani Autonomous County, in Pu'er, a city in the province. Her parents are physical challenged, and her family lives on basic life allowances from the government.

"In the past, I felt inferior because of my family conditions. However, the support from the project have brought me the hope, allowed me to continue with my studies, and provided me with opportunities to change my fate. In the future, I will devote myself to building my hometown and lend a helping hand to more people in making their dreams come true," said the 19-year-old girl.

Cai Dezhou, president of Dali Nursing Vocational College, said that the project has relieved the burdens of many students from in-need families and given them courage and strength in overcoming challenges and chasing dreams.

From 'Last Stop' to 'New Start'

The sound of reading broke the silence of the early morning when the inspection team visited the No.3 Middle School of Nanjian County on March 25.

The school, about 45 kilometers far away from the center of the county, used to be the "last stop" of some students there on their educational journey.

However, the implementation of the project has made a difference to the lives and education of students in Nanjian and other places of Yunnan.

In 2024, the project distributed subsidies of 180,000 yuan (US $25,352) to 100 students in the school, sent packages of hygienic health products to 500 girls and organized health lectures for them.

A third-grade girl in the school said that the package and lectures have helped her feel warmth and that the scholarship will basically cover her living expenses for a year. She said that she will use the money to buy some books in preparation for the upcoming high school entrance exams. "The kindness of caring people illuminates my way ahead like a light, and I want to be a light that illuminates others in the future," she said.

Zhang Zenggui, president of the school, said that the project has had positive influence on students. "The beneficiary students have improved their academic performance and become more optimistic and confident. Charity is not only about material support, but also about shaping a positive attitude towards life," he said.

'Hope Bathroom' Creating Safe, Comfortable Bathing Environment 

The CCTF and the Shiping Foundation have jointly launched the Weiqiao Hope Bathroom project to support education development in underdeveloped areas of Yunnan, improve school facilities, help students foster good hygiene habits, and enhance their life quality, mental and physical health. An annual donation of 600,000 yuan (US $84,507) will be made to implement the five-year project.

The inspection team paid a visit to Banhong Middle School, which is about 37 kilometers from Cangyuan Wa Autonomous County in Lincang, a city in the province. Students of the boarding school are from nearby rural families.

A group of students surrounded Wang and Zhu when they arrived at the school on March 26. "Thank you for installing new solar water heaters for us. Warm water will come out when we turn on the faucet. I dream to be a rural teacher and help more rural children embrace better lives," said a boy with a letter of thanks.

Zhu asked them about their living and learning conditions and encouraged them to study hard and chase their dreams.

Tian Zhixiong, principal of the school, said the school canteen has also changed its dining tables.

The Weiqiao Hope Bathroom project has also been implemented in Minzu Primary School in Cangyuan. Bao Guangming, vice-principal of the school, said, "Since the project was implement at the school in September last year, the fund of 187,000 yuan (US $26,338) have been used to install new solar heaters and 28 shower facilities."

He added that the school will further improve its bathroom management regulations to ensure the safe and orderly use of the bathrooms.

Creating Bright Future for 30,000 Children

At a summary conference about the implementation of the Building Bridges for Love and the Weiqiao Hope Bathroom projects, Wang said that the two public welfare initiatives have not only helped children address their pressing difficulties but also created a bright path filled with hope and opportunities for them.

Wang emphasized that the CCTF will remain true to its original aspiration, bear in mind its mission of serving the healthy growth of children, and maintain closer exchanges as well as cooperation with the Shiping Foundation in the smooth implementation of the two projects. She asked the women's federations of all localities in Yunnan to reinforce fund management and supervision, ensure transparent and efficient utilization, and deliver tangible benefits to all needy children.

"We have grasped a deep understanding of the value and significance of public welfare actions during the implementation. The visits to schools and exchange activities with teachers and students have made us more determined to move ahead," said Zhu, adding that the two sides will forge closer partnership in building a bridge for children in the realization of their dreams and injecting new vitality into the development of rural education.

The Building Bridges for Love project is scheduled to allocate a total of 30 million yuan (US $4.23 million) in Yunnan and other underdeveloped regions for five consecutive years since 2023. It aims to improve school facilities, support in-need children in compulsory education, provide adolescent girls with caring services, and help girl students in higher vocational education improve their occupational skills. It is anticipated that over 30,000 children will benefit from the implementation of the public welfare initiative.

Photos from CCTF

(Source: CCTF/Women of China)

Editor: Wang Shasha