Educate and Equip Girls in Rural China

For a high school student living in a remote border county, the world can feel very small. It is often limited to the walls of a classroom, the pages of a textbook, and the rugged mountains that surround their hometown. The "Gaokao" (college entrance exam) is the only bridge out, but it is hard to cross a bridge when you have never seen what is on the other side.

This summer, we had the privilege of helping bridge that gap. From July 19 to 23, 2026, ten exceptional students from Funing No.1 Middle School and Funing Ethnic Middle School, alongside their teachers, embarked on a life-changing 5-day study tour to Kunming: the "Chase Light & Pursue Dreams" Summer Study Tour.

This is the story of what happens when you give a child from the borderlands a window to the world.

Redefining the "Why": Lighting the Fire of Purpose

For many students, history is just a list of dates to memorize. But standing on the grounds of the Former Site of the National Southwest Associated University, something shifted. They read the final letters of martyrs and learned about the ultimate sacrifice of figures like Wen Yiduo. They weren't just learning history; they were feeling a profound sense of patriotic duty.

At the Yunnan Military Academy, the textbooks came to life. Long Huanyu, a student from Funing Ethnic Middle School, shared, "The on-site experience is totally different from textbook learning. I truly perceived the indomitable backbone of the Chinese people. Knowledge comes not only from books; seeing things in person deepens understanding."

Visualizing the Future: Walking the Halls of Universities

The heart of this tour was visiting Yunnan University. As they walked up the historic "95-step staircase" and strolled down Ginkgo Avenue, the abstract concept of "university" became a tangible reality.

What inspired them most wasn't just the architecture, but the people. Seeing postgraduate and doctoral students studying diligently in the library during their summer break was a powerful spiritual shock. It showed these border-area students that hard work doesn't end with the Gaokao—it is a lifelong pursuit.

The tour didn't just give them a break from studying; it gave them a destination.

A Shift in Perspective: From “Only the Rich Can Help” to “Kindness Starts Small”

Many students held a common misconception: that charity and public welfare are things only wealthy people can do. Through a dedicated exchange session, they learned about how CWEF operate. They realized that public welfare isn't just about writing big checks. Comforting a discouraged classmate, caring for someone in need, or simply volunteering time are all acts of charity.

Teacher Yin reflected, "The students grew more confident about their exam preparation and clarified their aspirations. My own understanding of public welfare has also evolved: public welfare work is not exclusive to wealthy people."

Expanding Their World: Nature, Culture, and Unity

Beyond universities, the students were exposed to the rich history of Yunnan at the Provincial Museum, marveling at Cambrian fossils and Qin Dynasty coins that made their biology and history textbooks "come alive."

At the Yunnan Ethnic Village, they explored the Bai people's wedding customs and the Dai people's Water-Splashing Festival, breaking down stereotypes and deepening their understanding of ethnic unity. And for the first time in their lives, these inland students saw marine life at the Sunac Ocean Center and wild animals at the Yunnan Wildlife Zoo, relieving their intense senior-year stress and instilling a respect for nature.

Thank You

We extend our deepest gratitude to you for funding this life-changing opportunity. Because of you, ten students from the remote borderlands saw a world beyond the mountains—and they are now armed with the courage to chase it.Thank you for being a part of their journey.