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, the China Children and Teenagers' Fund (CCTF) launched the Spring Bud Project in 1989, to help impoverished girls return to school, and to promote girls' education in disadvantaged areas.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, in 2012, with the attention and concern of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, and with the strong support of Peng Liyuan, special envoy of the Spring Bud Project for promoting girls' education, the project has carried out various actions, focused on girls' education, safety and health, to care for and support girls. During the past decade, the project has supported 1.76 million girls, and it has provided one-on-one companionship services and personalized psychological counseling to 133,400 girls. After they receive support from the project, the Spring Bud girls never forget to give back to society. With love and various actions, the girls have demonstrated the Spring Bud spirit of "unremitting self-improvement, striving for excellence, developing stronger virtues and pursuing better lives."

Today, we introduce a new 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. Ju Youxiang is one of them.

Ju Youxiang (left) talks with farmers about planting traditional Chinese herbal medicine. [CCTF]

Ju Youxiang, a beneficiary of the Spring Bud Project, is committed to helping with the continued development of the collective economy of Yong'an, a village in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, in Southwest China's Yunnan Province. She is also committed to leading residents in promoting rural revitalization and creating a better life.

Ju comes from a rural, ethnic Yi family in Yong'an. There used to be limited industries in the village, and residents' lives were difficult.

Ju studied hard and performed well at school when she was a child. Nevertheless, she was afraid she would have to drop out of school and stay home to help her parents with the household chores.

Ju cherished each day of her last year in primary school. In 2000, the Spring Bud Project approached her, like a ray of sunshine, as she was about to quit school.

In 2000, Ju and 10 other girls in the village became beneficiaries of the project after a Spring Bud girls' class was set up in Yongji Junior Middle School.

The Spring Bud girls' class left a deep impression on Ju, and created many beautiful memories for her. Back then, teachers often recommended her to give shows at cultural and/or artistic events on campus, and she received several prizes in recognition of her singing and dancing.

Ju Youxiang attends a meeting with villagers. [CCTF]

Ju was admitted to Dali Agricultural School (predecessor of Dali Vocational and Technical College of Agriculture and Forestry) after she graduated from Yongji Junior Middle School. In 2005, she found a job with Dali Wahaha Food Company.

Two years later, Ju quit her job to return to her hometown to become a village committee employee. "With my knowledge and experience, I want to lead the village in shaking off poverty, and I want to help local residents work toward a better life," Ju says.

Ju says she never regrets her decision to work for the village committee, even though her salary is about one-fifth of what she earned in her previous position.

Throughout the years, Ju has assumed various positions with the village committee. She completed an adult-education program, and she became a member of the CPC.

Last year, Ju was elected secretary of the general Party branch of the village, and head of the village committee.

"I am grateful to the villagers for their support and cooperation concerning the work of the general Party branch, and of the village committee. I will endeavor to meet the villagers' expectations, and I will strive in unity with them to create a bright future for our village," Ju says.

Currently, Ju is preoccupied with the construction of concrete roads, applying for temporary relief funds for villagers with disabilities, removing unauthorized structures and several other issues of interest to the public.

Thanks to the concerted efforts of villagers, Yong'an has made great strides in infrastructure construction, industrial development, improvement of residents' livelihoods, and the protection of the rural environment.

Ju attributes the village's tremendous development to the unyielding spirit of the residents, and to their strong resolve to create a better future, which closely aligns with the spirit of the Spring Bud Project.

"The importance of a job is not only to make a difference for people, but also to exert a positive influence and become a source of strength for the growth of others," Ju says. She adds she is grateful for the Spring Bud Project, and she vows to work hard to give back to society.

(Women of China English Monthly June 2023 issue)