In order to recognise outstanding women individuals, set examples for the others, and inspire women to cultivate self-respect, confidence, independence, and self-reliance, as well as to encourage them to forge ahead on a new journey and contribute to the new era by actively participating in the modernization of China, the All-China Women's Federation recently held a commemorative event for International Women's Day (March 8th) and an Awards Ceremony in Beijing.
A total of 15 students or graduates from the Open University of China (OUC) system were awarded the “National March 8th Red-Banner Holders”. Let us listen to the inspiring stories behind them.
LOU Yajia, a student majoring in Chinese Language and Literature at Lishui Open University (OU), Zhejiang Branch, currently serves as the Director of the Wandi Children's Welfare Home in Lishui City.
Rooted in the cause of children's welfare for 26 years, LOU has always adhered to her original aspiration, spreading warmth into the hearts of special children. She has never refused or abandoned any child, having raised over 400 disabled orphans, nurtured the first batch of orphan university students in Lishui, and accompanied numerous special children through their happy and fulfilling development. She is affectionately known as the "Most Beautiful Mother."
To help severely ill and disabled children, LOU has strengthened cooperation with the "Chunhui Bo'ai Foundation," connecting with major medical institutions across the country to secure surgery and rehabilitation opportunities for severely ill and disabled children, enabling over 100 abandoned special children to return to their families. In 2015, LOU proactively undertook the pilot work of Zhejiang Province's "Wings Project," creating the "Lishui Model" without any prior experience for reference. In 2021, she secured the "Child Nurturing Project," a collaboration between the China Social Welfare Foundation and the Ministry of Civil Affairs, making the welfare home one of the first five pilot institutions nationwide. LOU also initiated the establishment of the "Love Volunteer Society," providing compassionate support to 13,500 children! In 2023, LOU was awarded the “National May 1st Labour Medal” and the title of “Zhejiang Province Model Worker”; in 2024, she was named an “Outstanding Alumnus of the Open University of China”. Over the course of 26 years, she has devoted the prime of her life to the education of special-needs children in remote mountainous regions. With unwavering dedication and boundless compassion, she has not only provided orphaned and disabled children with the support they need but also penned a stirring ode to the spirit of labour in the new era.
Joint Planned by Department of Student Affairs and Teacher Development
Source: Yongjia Release, Zhejiang Rule of Law, Lishui OU, Tongling Women