The China Children and Teenagers' Fund (CCTF) and Hong Kong-based Chinese Estates Holdings Limited jointly conducted a public welfare initiative titled "A Journey of Tracing Love" under the Spring Bud project in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Southwest China's Sichuan province, from July 18 to 20.

The three-day inspection tour drew the attendance of Zhu Dongyun, deputy secretary-general of the CCTF; Chan Hoi-wan, chief executive officer of Chinese Estates Holdings; Judy Chen, honorary president of the Hua Jing Society and chairperson of the Hong Kong Committee for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF HK); and youth representatives from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

 

When visiting a community of relocated villagers, the inspection delegation held interactions with the Spring Bud girls and followed inheritors of intangible cultural heritage to learn the making of Yi-style embroidery products at a workshop organized by the women's federation.

Local Spring Bud girls said that it was interesting and meaningful for them to speak with aunts from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region about the Yi-style embroidery culture.

 

At a special service center for the Spring Bud girls in Zhaojue Middle School, teenage recipients sang a song, titled "Children of the Country", in the Yi ethnic language to welcome the visit of aunts from Hong Kong and show their strong love of the motherland.

Two children from Hong Kong talked with the Spring Bud girls about their participation in public welfare activities and invited them to visit the special administrative region on a study tour.

"It is the first time that I have ever been to the autonomous prefecture. I am deeply impressed with your deep love of the country and homeland. I hope that all of you people will study hard, acquire more knowledge and strive to have a bright future," said Chan Hoi-wan at an interview with the Spring Bud girls.

Judy Chen related her own experience to encourage local children to rise up to the challenges and setbacks ahead, seek assistance from their families, teachers and students, and forge new strength of their self-development.

Zhu called on the Spring Bud girls to bear in mind great expectations of them from Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and channel enormous strength from the love and caring of the Party and people from all social sectors in the midst of doing something good for the society and moving ahead in their life’s journey.

Zhang Xiaowen, president of Liangshan Women's Federation, gave an introduction to the year-long implementation of the public welfare project on promoting the education of disadvantaged girls in Liangshan under the Spring Bud project.

 

 

 

 

During their stay in Liangshan, the inspection team organized a study tour at Sanhe village in collaboration with the Spring Bud girls and sent to them special gifts as well as snacks. Chan Hoi-wan also distributed her self-made bags and shoes to disadvantaged girls.

Those in attendance of the inspection tour included Li Min, vice-president of Sichuan Women's Federation; Sha Ying, member of the Standing Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the Liangshan Autonomous Prefectural Committee of the CPC; and Liu Na, vice-mayor of Liangshan and director of the Liangshan Autonomous Prefectural Working Committee on Children and Women.