Our One More Year Scholarship Program (OMY) partners with Shenzhen Charity Federation to support 500 qualified girls (and some boys) for “One More Year” in senior high school. If they successfully meet the scholarship requirements, we will continue to support them until they graduate.
Mei* (19) comes from a poor family of seven that gets by through home farming. Even though resources are tight at home, her parents still try their best to give them an education as much as possible because they believe that a girl’s education is one step to her freedom.
When we conducted a home visit, we immediately knew we were at the right place because we saw her and her mother by the roadside, waving to greet us. We walked through a narrow path before entering their home. As we went in, we were greeted by the living room with a small red bed and two other beds placed side by side. Their living room also served as their bedroom due to the limitations of their space.
Unlike many other Rural Chinese families, Mei’s mother was able to converse with us in Mandarin because she was able to learn it in school when she was younger. As we talked with her, she struck us as a truly intelligent and curious person. As if reading our curiosity, she briefly shared her own story. She was only able to complete primary school education because her parents could no longer afford it.
Although she is the youngest of all siblings, she had always done the heaviest work at home. Due to this, she would get back pain and cough a lot, translating into long-term health issues as she grew older. When she started her own family, she promised herself that her children would not encounter the same thing. No matter how hard life gets, she will always ensure that her children go to school—because she believes that only education can truly change the lives of people like them.
When we asked about Mei, she shared that she comes home every two weeks. Her school takes about two hours of travel, and when she gets home, she helps her mother with farm work. We asked her about her ambitions, and she shared:
“I hope to become a doctor someday…To have a stable job and be able to help others. My mother needs surgery, but we cannot afford it. One day we no longer need to worry about these things.”
She continues by expressing her heartfelt gratitude towards us. The sponsorship not only eased her family’s financial responsibilities, but also helped her feel less guilty about adding to their burden. Mei remains grateful for our help and hopes to give back in the future—towards girls with families like hers… Because if anyone can truly relate to these people, it would be people who lived these real experiences, like her.
*Name changed for privacy.
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RMB 3,200 | USD 40 a month is all it takes to keep a girl in school for ONE MORE YEAR, giving her the chance to learn, grow, and succeed.
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