Hardly able to pronounce the name of the CTEF Uncle so far away, 14-year-old Chinese girl Qin Liu feels so close to him in heart every time she was handed the money the uncle donated to her through 1+1 sponsor program, and even more so when she reads his letter of encouragement.
Qin is one of the 109 Chinese students that have received finance help through CTEF’s 1+1 sponsor program. She was registered in the program with CTEF after she lost her father in the catastrophic earthquake in 2008 and her mother was diagnosed of cancer. But most importantly, she is willing to fight her war against all the difficulties and willing to carry on her education. That is an important criterion for CTEF to choose who to sponsor.
In September 2010, Qin wrote to her CTEF uncle, telling him how hard life was for her at that time. Her mother was getting worse every minute. Although she was doing her best to take care of her mother, she was scared of losing her soon. She was so depressed and desperate. It was heartbreaking to hear a little girl of her age having to bear so much on her own. And it was precious that she opened her heart to someone she had never met and even not known his name at the time she wrote the letter. That showed what she received from CTEF weighed more than simply money; it was hope and reliability that the girl needed in a situation like this. The CTEF uncle received her message and was so touched that he wrote back immediately with encouragement and more money to help her mother with medication.
Not long after that, Qin's mother passed away and she became an orphan. Quy Lee, the CTEF uncle who had been supporting her all along kept writing to her and made her feel the care and love from across the Pacific ocean. She wrote to Uncle Lee again in Jan. 2011. Although the poor girl had lost both parents, her letter was full of hope and determination. She told Uncle Lee (now she has learned his name), that she was determined to work harder at school and get herself ready for the high school entrance test in a few months. She promised she will not fail Uncle Lee.
When her letter arrived, everyone in CTEF felt happy for her change. We believe that the good wishes from all CTEF uncles and aunts will help Qin win her war against the worst misfortune in her life. And she will be strong in the future.
Qin is only one example of the many that CTEF has helped through 1+1 sponsor program. Most students that received help are in a similar situation. They are struggling at too young an age and may not be strong enough to stand the harsh test of life without an extra hand. The 1+1 program does not only give them money to help with their education, but also brings hope and future for all of them and people around them.
Just as Kuikui Han, another student that has benefited from this program and has now graduated from college puts it: "From my own experience I've learned that there are so many warm-hearted people in the world. They are so selfless; they are so great! They made me believe that love has no boundaries. ...I have always had a wish. I would repay the society by helping people who need help like I did. ...I will tell them never to give up no matter how hard life can be. Just keep trying and you will realize your dream!"
