Wei Zhen and some of his colleagues from Microsoft HPC Shanghai team went for a morale trip in 2009. During their trip, they happened to learn about a “Couple-Run School” in Zhen’s hometown from a local newspaper’s report. They visited the school and this leads to the life changing event for many children.
The mountain area has only agriculture as the major industry. While the main incoming comes from migrant labor force working in big cities far away, the average incoming is about 600 RMB (less than 100USD) per month. 3 years ago, many students there discontinued studies because it’s too far away to go to the only one central primary school ran by government. At that time, 2 teachers (husband and wife) founded this small school outside of government education system by themselves. They want to keep the education for the local children -- the hope for many families. It is a hard journey. The teachers are running this small school with 250 RMB per year for each child from country finance and kindergarten students’ tuition fee. This small amount has to cover rental and operation of the whole school. Due to limited income, they have to rent 2 terrible-condition classrooms from a peasant and barely able to afford the increasing rental fee. During the trip, Zhen and his friends are deeply moved by the children’s desperate desire for learning and the teachers’ devotion for education. They donated over 7K RMB on the spot.
A “Couple School” that in the faraway for children that cannot go to central elementary school.
Volunteers visit the school
Zhen, a CTEF volunteer, then decides to lead the project to build a real school for the students. CTEF join the effort with Microsoft HPC to help with fund raising and share the experience in school renovation projects. Zhen leads the fund raising effort in China and U.S. alike, with CHIME’s help. He also tracked donation usage, monitored the construction and reported progress periodically.
On 25th, September 2010, 4 volunteers, Stephanie Zhang, Sherry Xiong, Yingbin Zhao and Wei Zhen visited the school again. The road is muddy in the rain and the trip is very slow. Still, they were greeted by the long waiting kids singing songs on the road side. “爱心叔叔来了吗？爱心阿姨不怕苦，我们大家学习他，学习他们的好榜样，我们在学习上要努力，长大了不忘记，不忘记叔叔的爱心，学习他的好榜样”. This is a song written by the teachers. After carefully consult with multiple channels for new school house’s quality, they attended the opening ceremony of “Tang Fang Village China Tomorrow School”. They volunteered teaching and bought many more gifts with them such as clothes, Ping Pang sports apparatus, and stationery.
This school brings hope to many students. What can we asked for more than the smiles on the children’s face? Zhen said in his blog “We do not have to be rich to help and make a change.” I cannot agree more. CTEF is special in that we are mostly come from working class, with a common goal, we come together to help.
New school in the woods
Happy students in the new class room
Teacher leads the kids for welcome greeting
