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. Luo Dejuan is among them.

"The Spring Bud Project gave me the opportunity to complete the three-year, highschool program. Without the project, my life would have been completely different. The project is like a shining star in the night sky that illuminates my way as I march forward," says Luo Dejuan, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China Committee of Rongdu Town, in Ceheng County of Southwest China's Guizhou Province. 

Luo comes from a rural family in Yata, a town in the county. When she was young, her mother was the only breadwinner in the family, as her father was unable to do farm work because of a serious illness. 

Luo's mother had to take several odd jobs, in addition to completing the household chores and performing the farm work, to earn more money for the family. Despite the family's difficulties, Luo's parents supported her efforts to get an education. 

"At that time, I put all of my energy into studying, thinking that I must enter a good university, find a good job, and help ease the burden of my family," Luo recalls. 

When she entered high school, Luo felt stress, as her family had to pay more for her education. After Luo's teacher, surnamed Zhang, learned about her family's situation, she comforted Luo, and she told Luo she qualified for assistance from the Spring Bud Project.

Luo was overjoyed to hear the good news, and she submitted the application, and required materials, with her teacher's help. Luo's application was approved, and she received financial aid from the project. 

Cadres with the local women's federation paid home visits to Luo, and they encouraged her to study hard, and to meet the expectations of her parents and those who had lent her a helping hand. 

In 2009, Luo was admitted to the School of Economics and Management at Guizhou Normal University, in Guiyang, capital of Guizhou Province. 

During her stay at the university, Luo studied even harder than before, and she participated in various public-welfare activities to help the others. 

After her graduation, Luo became a public servant, in her hometown. Luo has always adhered to the principle of serving the people wholeheartedly. At the end of 2022, she was promoted to her current position, in recognition of her outstanding performance and pragmatic working style. 

Luo has remained grateful for the Spring Bud Project for its tremendous support, and she has been engaged in various charitable activities to pass on love and care to more people.  

Source: CCTF

(Women of China English Monthly January 2024 issue)