"Pass the ball! Over here..." A highly-pitched shout pieced heat waves of Nanchang, capital of East China's Jiangxi Province, in the afternoon. On the training field, Lai Peijia, who comes from Jiangxi, successively dribbled a football and got pass two defenders. Muhelisai, who is with the Xinjiang girls' football team, quickly ran into a defense position with full attention. It was the Spring Bud Girls' Healthy Growth public welfare project that brought them together.

The project was jointly launched by the China Children and Teenagers' Fund (CCTF) and Chinese sportswear brand Anta Sports in October 2024 to distribute education aids, organize sports growth camps for girls and support girls' sports teams in 31 provincial-level regions across the country.

The growth camp, which was held from August 16 to 21, drew the attendance of 65 girl football players from schools in Xinjiang, Guizhou and Jiangxi. They embarked on a journey of learning, friendship and growth.

Chasing Dream on the Pitch

"I want to be a good football player and dream to enter national team in the future," said Lai on the first day of the camp. She left a deep impression on the audience with her extraordinary performance and skills. The girl not only scored a goal but also made a crucial assist in the match against the Xinjiang girls' football team on August 17.

Zhu Yiyi, from Guizhou, has gained rich experience though she began football training two years ago. She said that football has enabled her to be more self-confident and embrace a larger world.

Muhelisai said the reason she likes playing football is that it is really cool to play football.

It took only half a day for the girls to get familiar with each other. They showed their respective strengths during the half-day training. Football became their common language.

Winning or losing was no longer important for them since they grasped a deep understanding of growth, friendship and dream in the midst of competition and cooperation. They were full of confidence and felt satisfied with their performance.

Benefiting from Study Tour

In addition to football matches, the special growth camp also brought the girls to an immersive study tour imbued with history, technology and culture.

The girls visited the Tengwang Pavilion, the Nanchang August 1 Uprising Memorial Hall, the Nanchang Destroyer, the Nanchang Relic Museum of Haihunhou State of Han Dynasty, and the Jiangxi Science and Technology Museum during the study tour, which opened a window for them to embrace a larger world and forging deep friendship.

Striving for Better Future

The strength of women is not limited to the football field. Zhang Tong, former member of the Chinese national women's football team, told the girls, "Life is like a big stage, and that there are many ways for us to realize our potential — it could be football or anything you are passionate about. In any case, always maintain a passion for learning, a focused attitude, and don't give up easily"

"It was the first time for me to be coach of a girls' football team. The tenacity and wisdom demonstrated by the girls often exceed my expectations. They proved that they could not only withstand rigorous training but also stand out in it," said a coach of the Jiangxi girls' football team.

"I hope that the girls can acquire professional football training knowledge and experience, hold an open mind and optimistic attitude, realize that good life doesn't come easy, and remain grateful to others," said chief of the Xinjiang girls' football team.

During the six days, the girls forged deep friendship and took care of each other. At the end of the camp event, members of the Xinjiang girls' football team sent well-prepared hats to their peers from Guizhou and Jiangxi. The girls from Guizhou sang a song as a way to bid farewell to their friends. Many of them gave each other a hug and shed tears.  

Although the growth camp was concluded, the path paved for them is still extending beneath their feet, and the dreams, like seeds, are taking root and sprouting in their hearts. As a coach said, "Football is not merely a competition but also an education. Football matches have allowed girls to embrace a bigger world and go further." All the girls of the growth camp are winners because they have gained new skills and friendship and become more courageous and confident.

Since October 2024, the project has provided scholarships to 300 girl university students and 300 girl high school students in 12 provincial regions, and delivered material support to more than 10,000 Spring Bud girls nationwide.