Editor's Note

With the care of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and under the leadership of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), the China Children and Teenagers' Fund (CCTF) launched the Spring Bud Project in 1989, to improve the education of girls from disadvantaged families. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, in 2012, CCTF has implemented the Spring Bud Project — Dream of Future Action, and it has conducted various activities focused on girls' education, safety and health. For more than 30 years, the Spring Bud Project has offered care and support to about 4.2 million in-need girls. After they receive support from the project, the Spring Bud girls never forget to give back to society. With love and concrete actions, the girls have demonstrated the Spring Bud spirit of unremitting self-improvement, striving for excellence, developing stronger virtues and pursuing better lives. Women of China introduced a section, Spring Bud Blooms, to share stories about Spring Bud girls who have grown up and become contributing members of society, and to encourage society to care for the development of girls. Chen Na is among them.

Chen Na, 20, a beneficiary of the Spring Bud Project, is from Qujing, in Southwest China's Yunnan Province. As a student majoring in nursing at Beijing-based Peking University, Chen says she is determined to return to her hometown, and to contribute to its development, after she finishes her studies.

While Chen still lived in Yunnan, her father worked away from home and her mother stayed home to do the farm work and take care of Chen and her brother.

Although the family was not well-off, Chen felt happy and at ease, as she had loving parents and a lovely brother, and they gave each other warmth and support.

Chen was admitted to Peking University in September 2022. Not long after she began studying in Beijing, her father had an accident and broke his arms. The high cost of the surgeries and his rehabilitation made life even more difficult for the family.

Chen realized her family's financial situation was dire, as the family lost its main source of income after her father's accident, and as her father's medical expenses created a huge burden for the family.

Nevertheless, Chen's parents never complained to her about their difficulties, and they continuously supported Chen in her effort to get an education.

During her winter vacation in January 2023, Chen received a phone call from one of her former high school teachers. The teacher, who had learned of Chen's family situation, wanted to inform Chen of the Spring Bud Project.

With her former teacher's help, Chen submitted her application for Spring Bud support. On March 14, 2023, Chen received a subsidy of 6,000 yuan (US $845) from the project, and that amount was almost equivalent to her family's annual income. The subsidy greatly eased the family's financial woes.

"I really appreciate my teacher for introducing the project to me, and I am grateful for the support of the project," Chen says. She adds the project gives her spiritual strength, and it inspires her to keep moving forward.

Chen sent a special letter of thanks to the CCTF. In that letter, Chen described her recent learning and living conditions, and she expressed a strong desire to participate in public-welfare activities.

In the reply Chen received, staff of CCTF encouraged Chen to remain optimistic and live her life to the fullest, and they invited her to get involved in CCTF's charitable activities.

Chen says she is lucky to be a member of the "big family" of the Spring Bud Project, and she always feels the love and warmth from those operating the project.

Chen has studied several optional courses of interest to her, such as public health. She also runs a social-media account, with her classmates, to promote health-related information among netizens.

When talking about her future, Chen says she wants to return to her hometown, to help improve local medical and public-health services after her graduation.

"Spring Bud Project offers an important opportunity for girls in difficult situations, like me. After I finish my studies and get a job, I will do my part to help more girls pursue their studies and realize their dreams," Chen says.

Source: CCTF

(Women of China English Monthly February 2024)