Stories
China
Sending Children to School
In the rural regions of developing countries, there’s a long list of possible reasons why some children don’t attend school. Some poor villages simply have no schools or the nearest one is too far a distance for a child to walk. When there is a school nearby, some families can’t afford to pay the tuition, or for required uniforms and school supplies. Other times, children (especially girls) need to work to help support their families, or spend hours a day on chores like fetching clean water—leaving no time for school.
Children from the Wenjia and Nanjia Villages in the Gansu province of China used to be able to say that all of the above reasons applied—but thanks to grants from Oprah’s Angel Network, Free The Children is improving access to education for the young people in this region.
- 10
Can buy a pair of shoes so a child can walk to school
- 25
Can buy school supplies for a child for one year
- 50
Can buy a uniform, giving a child the chance to go to school
The Wenjia Village
For children in the Wenjia Village, the nearest school used to be eight kilometers away—but in 2005, Free The Children built a primary school right in the village, making it possible for many more young people to attend.
But even with a school close to home, the poverty in the region still kept some students away, as they were busy working to help support their families. To break the cycle of poverty, Free The Children introduced an alternative income program in the village the same year the school was built. The three-year program provided families with pigs, as well as training from an animal husbandry expert in pig rearing techniques. By raising healthy pigs and then selling piglets and meat at local markets, families were able to increase their annual incomes substantially—and in turn, send their children to school. Now, 130 boys and girls attend school at the Wenjia Primary School.
The Nanjia Village
Located 35 kilometers from the nearest town center, Nanjia Village is located in the mountains of China, where weather conditions are harsh and the living conditions are poor. Some houses even have no electricity.
In 2007, Free The Children built a school in this mountain village with the help of local residents. Many of the village volunteers took pride in what they were building, restoring a hope in education for many. Today, more than 250 boys and girls attend the school.
- In just 5 minutes you can help by:
- IDEA 1: Instead of getting your child’s teacher an ornament for the holidays or a trinket at the end of the year, give them a gift card to an art or office supply store instead. Educators often pay for supplies out of their own pockets, so every little bit helps.
