On 19th September 2023, a ceremony commemorating the donation from the OUC Education Foundation to economically disadvantaged students at the Secondary Vocational School of Zhouqu, Gansu was held in Zhouqu County, Gansu Province.

The event was attended by distinguished guests including Ju Chuanjin, chairman of the OUC Education Foundation; Zheng Jie, secretary general of the Foundation; Caixiang Dangzhi, secretary of the Zhouqu County-level Party Committee; Liu Yuan, leader of the task team for paired-up assistance to Zhouqu by the Organisation Department of the Party Central Committee and deputy secretary of the Zhouqu County-level Party Committee; and Wang Tianfen, deputy secretary of the Zhouqu County-level Party Committee. Yang Shufeng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Zhouqu County-level Party Committee, presided over the ceremony. Also in attendance were Wang Haiping, director of the Zhouqu County-level Education Bureau; Li Weijun, principal of the Secondary Vocational School of Zhouqu, Gansu; the school's leadership team; middle-level officials; as well as all second-year students and their teachers from the school.

Ju Chuanjin, on behalf of Wang Qiming, the secretary of the Party Committee and president of the OUC, extended congratulations on the significant achievements made in revitalising rural education in Zhouqu. He also conveyed warm regards to all teachers and students at the school. Ju Chuanjin emphasised that education serves not only as an effective mechanism for breaking the cycle of poverty, but also as an integral component of the broader strategy for rural revitalisation. As a specific initiative within the partnership between the Ministry of Education and Gansu Province—aimed at bolstering the province's educational infrastructure—the donation also represented the OUC system's practical efforts to support rural revitalisation through educational means. It was expressed that students, in their forward journey, should leverage this assistance to focus on their studies, thereby facilitating both economic prosperity and moral development.”

Caixiang Dangzhi stated that the philanthropic efforts of the OUC Education Foundation exemplify the institution's commitment to education in Zhouqu. These initiatives highlight not only their genuine concern for students in the region but also promote the traditional Chinese virtues of unity and mutual assistance. Dangzhi expressed the hope that the grant recipients would maintain a sense of gratitude, remain aspirational, work diligently, and ultimately contribute to society in ways that benefit their country, community, and hometown.

Ju Chuanjin presented a donation check to Liu Yuan, while Zheng Jie and Li Weijun formalized the commitment by signing a donation agreement. According to this agreement, the foundation will donate grants totaling 480,000 RMB to support academically outstanding students from financially disadvantaged families in completing their education at the Secondary Vocational School of Zhouqu, Gansu.

As the spokesperson for the grant recipients, Ma Yulan, a second-year student at the Secondary Vocational School of Zhouqu, expressed her gratitude for the generous donation from the OUC Education Foundation. She pledged to exert her utmost efforts academically, aiming to contribute positively to society through exceptional performance.

Ju Chuanjin and the delegation visited the homes of students from poverty-stricken families to express sympathy and conduct field investigations into the issue of poverty.

 

The donation exemplifies the role that OUC and its Education Foundation have played in advancing rural revitalisation, enhancing rural education, and facilitating rural transformation through educational means. By offering both emotional encouragement and financial assistance, they have substantially aided underprivileged students in Zhouqu.

 

 Written by Gao Enze