Tong Jiqing | Commentator for China Women’s Daily

At this important moment of celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Spring Bud Project, which is an act of love and kindness, has turned 30. This social welfare project aims to help girls out of school in poor areas to go back to school will turn to a new page.

Today’s girl are the women of the future, whose qualities affect the destiny of individuals, the lives of families, and the future of nation. The Party and government have always attached great importance to the development of girls, made equality between men and women a basic national policy, to make great efforts to promote equality in education, to build a new system for the participation and support of the whole society in education, and to ensure girls right to education. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party has given priority to education and integrated the development of children’s programs into the overall plan for national economic and social development.

Education is the most fundamental cause of a nation, and to improve the women’s quality must start with girls’ education. With the basic national policy of equality between men and women clearly defined as a legal system and implemented as a practical right, the education gap between men and women in China has been basically eliminated. However, due to the unbalanced economic and social development and other factors, there are still a group of children on the verge of dropping out of school because of poverty and other reasons. 30 years ago, face the grim fact that the high proportion of girls in the dropout children, CCTF launched the “Spring Bud Project” under the lead of All-China Women’s Federation to help those girls return to school. The project has undertaken many public welfare responsibilities, such as focusing on girls, developing education, helping the poor and promoting gender equality. It has transformed the lives of many girls and won wide praise from home and abroad.

1989 – 2019, 30 years in a snap. The Spring Bud Project has clearly proved that the education of girls and women is a noble cause, which has a long way to go.

3.69 million girls received assistance, 1,811 schools were donated, 527,000 girls received vocational education and training, and 2.17 million sets of Bud Care Manuals were compiled and distributed. Behind these figures are the extensive participation and support from all sectors of the society and the selfless dedication of thousands of volunteers. Under the support of the Spring Bud Project, the poor girls become doctors, teachers, village cadres, scientist, etc. They love the motherland, and be grateful to the society; they use their knowledge and skills to block the intergenerational transmission of poverty, so that the civilized concept of equality between men and women can take root and sprout; they contribute wisdom and talent to all occupations, and contribute women to the realization of the Chinese Dream. 

Over the past 30 years, Spring Bud Project has fully integrated into the overall development of the cause of the Party and the country, becoming a classic example of China’s NGO promoting the development of girls.

From Spring Bud Girls’ Class to Spring Bud School, from adolescent education to Spring Bud Healthy Growth Project, from Green Poverty Alleviation Project to Spring Bud Practical Technical Training, from funding girls’ studies to protecting girls’ safety… With the expanding of Spring Bud Project’ s view, the beneficiary including girls from primary school to high school, female college students, students from poor rural families children, left-behind children, and floating children, and form a special brand of public welfare.

Over the past 30 years, the Spring Bud Project has shown a new situation of vigorous development as it keeps pace with the times, and has become a golden card of improving women’s living quality in pioneering and innovation.

Charity is the traditional virtue of the Chinese nation, and the transmission of love is the spiritual force needed for the progress of civilization. Standing at the new historical starting point, the Spring Bud Project will surely gather more loving forces, enable fair and quality education, support the wings of brilliant dreams of life, and support the bright future of the nation.

May the buds of hope bloom in warmth.

May the beautiful dream fly under the care.