Q1. What is CTEF?

China Tomorrow Education Foundation (CTEF) is a Seattle-based non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Our mission is to improve education in rural China and prepare children to become responsible global citizens by renovating schools, establishing libraries, providing teaching equipment, training teachers, funding scholarships, and promoting public awareness of education conditions in under privileged areas.

 

Q2. What are the programs CTEF offers to help education in China?

CTEF has several programs:

• School building projects renovate schools in rural China;

• The CTEF 1+1 Student Sponsorship Program matches up donors and students to assist qualified students with financial aid as well as moral support;

• The General Student Scholarship Fund program for donors who prefer to just donate money without matching up to students for 1:1 communication;

• The teacher award program

• The school uniform program

• And other projects including: book projects to donate books to schools and projects to donate clothes and other supplies to schools or students.

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Q3. How does CTEF operate?

CTEF is operated by volunteers. Volunteers not only contribute time to run the organization, but also contribute financially to cover all administrative expenses (events, marketing promotions, travel, website, etc.). This ensures that 100% of your donation will be used on programs to support schools, students and teachers who you want to help.

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Q4. Who are the volunteers in CTEF?

Our volunteers are from many organizations in the US and China. Lots of us are Microsoft employees in the US or teachers in China.

 

Q5. How does CTEF select students for the 1+1 Student Sponsorship program?

• Our local volunteers (e.g., teachers from rural schools) select student candidates based on certain criteria;

• Students fill in 1+1 program application forms;

• CTEF volunteers validate student information and post on our 1+1 forum;

• When a donor selects a student to sponsor, CTEF links the donor and the student with mutual communication information and sends the money to the student;

• The student writes to the donor to thank the donor for the support and report his/her progress in school and life.

For more information please take a look at the CTEF 1+1 Student Sponsorship Application Process document.

 

Q6. What are the criteria for CTEF Uses In selecting students?

The CTEF 1+1 program focuses on high school and college students from poor households who have the potential to get higher education, and are willing to use their own efforts to change their fate. Specifically, 1) Students who have very difficult economic conditions, such as low-income families, inability to pay tuition, fees, etc. 2) Students with academic achievements in the medium or above average level, reflecting their attitude in life; 3) Students who are honest, trustworthy, interested, and understand their own family's actual financial situation.

Students also learn about giving and pledge to maintain contact with sponsors and report periodically on their learning, so as to let the donors get to know the students better. For more information please take a look at the CTEF 1+1 Student Sponsorship Application Process document.

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Q7. How much should I donate to sponsor a student?

CTEF provides poor students with Micro Grants for up to 50% of their subsistence and school admission costs. Based on the average cost for schooling in rural China, we suggest donation amounts of: Elementary School & Junior High School Students: $170/student/year; High School Students: $400/student/year; College Students: $500/student/year.

 

Q8. How many years do I need to commit to support a student?

A donor/sponsor is committed to sponsor a student for one year. Many times, a sponsor will want to continue to support a student in finishing school, though it's the sponsor's decision. CTEF volunteers check students' status annually to help them get support if need.

 

Q9. How Do I sponsor a student?

1. You select a student from our 1+1 forum;

2. You can request more information about the student (the application form the student filled in) by emailing scholarship@ctef.org;

3. You donate the money to CTEF (and request a company match if your company offers that), email scholarship@ctef.org our 1+1 forum:

   • Your name used for the donation;

   • The total amount donated (please refer to Q7 for suggested amounts);

   • The matched amount you have requested, and the date for the match request;

   • The name of the student you are sponsoring;

   • Your email address for future communications with the student.

4. After we receive your email, we will link the sponsor and the student to establish the 1+1 relationship:

   • If the student has an email account, CTEF will link the sponsor and student through an email informing them that they has a sponsor now, and the amount CTEF will send to them;

   • If the student does not have an email, our local volunteer will call them to inform them of the sponsor’s information, and inform them of the CTEF China office mailing address for them to write letters to send to the sponsor;

5. Our local volunteer will send the money to the student and remind them to write to the sponsor once they receive the donation;

6. After you receive written communication from the student, you will know where your money went, and you and the student will continue communication through the year. If the student’s writing is mailed to the CTEF China office, our volunteers will scan it and email it to the sponsor.

 

Q10. How do I make a donation?

• You can donate online via PayPal

• You can donate through your company donation program tools

• You can mail a check to

  China Tomorrow Education Foundation 
  P.O. Box 1584
  Bellevue WA 98009-1584
  USA

 

Q11. What if I just want to donate some money but not do the 1:1 communication with students?

We have a General Student Scholarship Fund with “pooled” donations to support poor students without sponsors. We will send money to financially support them. This support is usually one time and the amount per student is no more than the amount for the 1+1 Student Sponsorship program.