Liu Yang, part-time vice-president of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) and the country's first female astronaut, holds a science popularization class for children at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, capital city of eastern Anhui province, on April 24.

 

Liu made the remarks at a science popularization class on China's space mission at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, capital city of eastern Anhui province, on April 24.

The science popularization class was organized by the China Children and Teenagers' Fund (CCTF), China's Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL) and the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange affiliated with the Ministry of Education to mark the 8th China Space Day, which fell on April 24, and plant a space dream in the hearts of teenage recipients of the Spring Bud project.

 

 

Liu spoke with teenage attendees about her decade-long training for and participation in China's space mission and shared with them her great sense of mission when she conducted extravehicular activities outside of the space station lab module Wentian as part of the Shenzhou XIV mission.

When asked about how she could overcome numerous difficulties and challenges, Liu said that she has gained tremendous strength and courage from the pursuit of dreams and the fulfillment of personal missions and responsibilities, and encouraged children to study hard and never back down in the face of any odds.

During an interview, a 13-year-old girl from Hefei Xingzhi School said that the stories of Liu have sparked her enthusiasms for space and enhanced her personal morale to study harder and overcome all types of difficulties on the journey ahead.

Another teenage interviewee said that she is lucky to receive financial assistance from the Spring Bud project and that she will follow the example of Liu and endeavor to pursue her personal space dreams.

 

Zhang Yanhong, secretary-general of the CCTF, said that the event aimed to further implement the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), respond to the proposals of China's First Lady Peng Liyuan on the organization and execution of the "Spring Bud Project—Dream of the Future Action," to strengthen ideological guidance of Spring Bud girls and raise their sci-tech literacy.

The event brought together about 500 Spring Bud girls, teachers and students in Hefei. It was also attended by other recipients of the charity initiative and children nationwide via video link.