Chongqing– The online promotional campaign "Pastoral Aspirations" aimed at highlighting the achievements of rural revitalization across Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Shaanxi featured a visit to Longhe Township in Fengdu County to witness how this rural area has been revitalized through education, as part of a four-day itinerary for media representatives in multiple districts and counties across Chongqing Municipality.
Changling Primary School in Longhe Township has pristine campus facilities and a modern array of classroom equipment, including electronic blackboards, projectors, air-conditioning units, and bookshelves which have put the school on a more equal footing with its urban counterparts. During a school visit, pupils were helping each other build models of the Jade Rabbit moon rover amidst an enthusiastic atmosphere.
The Mutual Family Youth Education Program has organized volunteers to teach summer programs in Fengdu primary schools (Photograph provided by the Chongqing Municipal Cyberspace Affairs Office)
However, this class took place during the summer holiday under a new scheme known as the Mutual Family Youth Education Program, also dubbed the "Home of Swans." Zhu Juntao, an organizer present on the day, explained.
"This is a popular science class themed on astronomy. Now the summer holiday has begun, we invited several experts from Chongqing University to share their knowledge with left-behind children on a volunteer basis."
The Swan Education Fund has donated materials and equipment for primary and middle schools in the Fengdu Countryside (Photograph provided by the Chongqing Municipal Cyberspace Affairs Office)
It is understood the "Home of Swans" program was initiated by the writer Xu Peng, with support from the Western Returned Scholars Association and the Chongqing Family Education Association, focusing on the five critical areas of industry, talent, culture, ecology, and organization as part of an overall system of rural assistance.
Presently, the Chongqing Charity Federation has earmarked the initial sum of 300,000 yuan under the "Swan Education Fund," which aims to donate materials for primary and middle schools in the Fengdu countryside and establish a joint mechanism between universities to provide long-term assistance and volunteer educators so that left-behind children can open their hearts, widen their horizons, and develop their character.
Left behind, children from Dongzhuangping Village in Fengdu County enjoy the fun and warmth of an organized trip to Chongqing Sunac Land. (Photograph provided by the Chongqing Municipal Cyberspace Affairs Office)
Left-behind children are relatively common in Fengdu, as parents often have to seek employment in other regions. In this context, the Mutual Family Youth Education Program was set up as a non-profit organization to foster home, school, and society-based learning schemes for children and their guardians.
Thanks to special assistance from the Home of Swans program, the left-behind children of Fengdu now benefit from a warm and caring environment where they can develop well on both a personal and intellectual level to build strong foundations in the continued endeavor of rural revitalization.