Forty-nine Spring Bud girls from Lanzhou University, Guizhou University, Guangxi Medical University, Mashan Middle School of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Suichuan Middle School of Jiangxi Province attended a study tour held by the Spring Bud Girls' Healthy Growth public welfare project in Xiamen City of Southeast China's Fujian Province from July 7 to 11.

  The Spring Bud Girls' Healthy Growth project was jointly launched by the China Children and Teenagers' Fund (CCTF) and domestic leading sportswear firm Anta Sports in October 2024 to extend care to and promote the healthy growth of girls in difficulties. The latest study tour in Xiamen aimed to build a broader growth platform for beneficiary girls and help them further enlarge personal horizon, become more confident, and take a proactive attitude to embrace a fulfilling life.

Journey of Chasing Dream

Deputy Secretary-General of the CCTF Wang Haijing addresses the opening ceremony. [CCTF]

At the opening ceremony on July 7, Deputy Secretary-General of the CCTF Wang Haijing asked the girls to cherish the opportunity, open their heart to each other, forge friendship, share learning experience, exchange ideas, and achieve common development with mutual encouragement.

Ren Xinzhao, Senior Director of Corporate Social Responsibilities in Anta Sports, addresses the opening ceremony. [CCTF]

Ren Xinzhao, Senior Director of Corporate Social Responsibilities in Anta Sports, encouraged the girls to engage in active reflections, get fully immersed in relevant activities, forge new strength from their experience and feeling for the pursuit of dream, and channel sports spirit into the motivation for the journey ahead.

Under the guidance of staff workers there, the girls took part in a series of innovative activities in four groups, which successfully narrowed their psychological distance and ignited the spirit of friendship and cooperation.

After the opening ceremony, the girls embarked on a dynamic sports practice session. Under the companionship and guidance of volunteers, they took part in various sports such as yoga and golf and learned the standard utilization of different body-building facilities in the gym. 

Listen to Stories of World Champion, Experience Hokkien Culture

The girls visited the brand-building center of Anta Sports, which is an experience center integrated with exhibition functions and intelligent sports and installed with digital and smart technologies to create immersive and interactive scenarios.

 

Spring Bud girls experience indoor rock climbing and simulated skiing. [CCTF]

They took part in indoor rock climbing and simulated skiing, showing no fear and cheering for their partners.

The girls visit Ding Hemu, founder of Anta Sports, during their study tour in Xiamen. [CCTF]

Four girls paid a visit to Ding Hemu, founder of Anta Sports, talked with him about their academic performance in school, and conveyed thanks to him for his donation of a public welfare award of US $190,000 to the Spring Bud Girls' Healthy Growth project in 2024.

Chen Lu, China's first Olympic medalist and world champion in figure skating, gives a lecture to the girls. [CCTF]

Chen Lu, China's first Olympic medalist and world champion in figure skating, spoke with the girls about the development of the country's figure skating sector, her decades-long devotion to the sport, and related personal stories to inspire them to keep optimistic and remain committed to their dreams.

Chen's inspiring stories and speech left a deep impression on the girls. Li Xiangyu, a student from Lanzhou University, said that Chen's growth experience encouraged her to hold steadfastly personal objectives and strive for a bright future in the professional field.

The girls dressed in traditional costumes pose for a group photo in Wudian of Jinjiang, Fujian Province. [CCTF]

Dressed in traditional costumes and headwear of Xunpu women, the girls also visited historical and cultural streets in Wudian of Jinjiang and appreciated unique charm of Hokkien (Minnan) Culture.

They watched the performance of intangible cultural heritages, which included fire play, chest-patting dance, string puppetry, Nanyin (traditional Hokkien music), ocarina, cloth bag puppetry, held interactions with practitioners, and experienced the essence of traditional handicrafts.

"I cannot imagine how could string puppetry performers give their show with 32 strings. I was in a great bustle when I used just a few strings. They must practice for a long time before they are able to present such a wonderful performance to us," said Chen Kexin, a student from Guizhou University. 

Wudian, the birthplace of Jinjiang Culture, has a history of over 1,300 years. Escorted by tour guides, the girls strolled around the ancient town, listening to the echoes of the history and admiring the integration between tradition and modernity.

Attend Lectures on Career Planning and Traffic Safety

During their visit to Xiamen University, the girls attended a lecture about career planning in the guidance center for students' employment and entrepreneurship. A teacher surnamed Ren talked with them about the importance of setting targets and how to formulate their objectives, and advised them to integrate personal strengths and the understanding of the world with career planning.

A girl from Suichuan Middle School said that her ideal university is Xiamen University and that the study tour has further bolstered her determination and motivation.

The girls visit the university history hall at Xiamen University. [CCTF]

They also visited the university history hall, Lu Xun Memorial Museum and Tan Kah Kee Memorial Museum on the campus.

Police officers talk with the girls about traffic safety. [CCTF]

The visit also brought the girls to a publicity and education training base of traffic safety in Xiamen, where they took part in various traffic safety scenarios, posed for photos with women traffic police officers, and attended a lecture about safety education and anti-campus violence.

Police officers guided them to download an anti-fraud app to guarantee their telecommunication security.

Follow the Example of Role Models 

Xiamen Blue Sky Rescue is a professional non-governmental and public welfare rescue organization founded by Chen Suzhen, a winner of the 8th National Moral Model Award. During the past decades, it has lent a helping hand to thousands of people in distress or danger.

In their visit to the headquarters of Xiamen Blue Sky Rescue, the girls found a number of high-tech rescue equipment such as "Qianjiao" underwater rescue robots, remote-controlled lifebuoys and sonar underwater rescue facilities. They also visited the hall of role models in Xiamen's Siming District to learn the inspirational stories and deeds of Chen.

The girls perform at the closing ceremony of the study tour. [CCTF]

 The girls pose for a group photo at the closing ceremony of the study tour. [CCTF]

The girls pose for a group photo at the closing ceremony of the study tour. [CCTF]

At the closing ceremony, the Spring Bud girls put on their traditional costumes and displayed talent in singing, dancing, crosstalk and others, sending best wishes to their peers.

They pledged that they will adhere to the guiding spirit of the Spring Bud Project, study hard, and endeavor to lead a fulfilling life.