The China Celebration of the 2022 International Day of Education was held in Beijing on March 30. The event was an important move to implement the spirit of Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech at the General Debate of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly and promote the realization of the goals of the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development.

With the theme of "SHE Transforms: Girls' and Women's Education and Sustainable Development", the meeting, which was livestreamed, aimed to share the experiences and practices of various countries in the development of girls' and women's education, explore effective approaches to strengthen educational fairness in the digital society, and underscore the roles of people from all walks of life in the building of an inclusive educational system.

A group photo of attendees at the China Celebration of the 2022 International Day of Education in Beijing on March 30, 2022. [CCTF]

Stefania Giannini, assistant director-general for education of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and Liu Limin, president of the China Education Association for International Exchange, addressed the meeting. Tian Xuejun, vice-minister of education and chairperson of the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, gave a keynote speech.

Zhu Dongyun, deputy secretary-general of the China Children and Teenagers' Fund (CCTF), gives her speech at the China Celebration of the 2022 International Day of Education in Beijing on March 30, 2022. [CCTF]

Speaking at the meeting, Zhu Dongyun, deputy secretary-general of the China Children and Teenagers' Fund (CCTF), briefed attendees on the development of the charitable organization and its Spring Bud Project. She shared Chinese experiences and practices in achieving poverty alleviation through education, empowering girls and promoting girls' all-round development.

During the past 33 years, the program has been committed to safeguarding the health and growth of underprivileged girls by further enlarging its scope and coverage, adhering to the principles of fairness and accessibility, exploring more social resources and expanding its social influences.

Peng Liyuan, a UNESCO special envoy for the advancement of girls' and women's education, witnessed the launch of the Spring Bud Project - Dream of Future Action at a meeting in September 2019.

She called on the public to extend more support to the program upon the arrival of the 10th International Day of the Girl Child, which fell on October 11, 2021.

By the end of 2021, the Spring Bud Project has been implemented in 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions as well as Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.

The program has benefited 3.96 million girls, provided vocational training to 527,000 girls, offered 120,000 girls customized counseling services, supported the building of 1,811 schools, and distributed 2.17 million copies of publications on protection of girls. A total of 2.586 billion yuan ($407 million) has been allocated to the program.

The program has greatly improved the education of girls, bolstered their social status and the capabilities in the participation of social and economic affairs. It has ensured a bright future for them, narrowed the gender gap in development, and made positive contributions to promoting gender equality and sustainable development in China.

Standing at a new historic starting point of its 40th founding anniversary, the CCTF will act on the spirit of key instructions made by President Xi and fully leverage the important functions played by charitable organizations in the promotion of common prosperity.

It will continue to implement the Spring Bud Project - Dream of Future Action, and contribute to the realization of the specific goals of the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development related to girls' and women's education.

Li Yonghua, a former recipient of the Spring Bud Project, talks about her stories with the program via video link at the China Celebration of the 2022 International Day of Education in Beijing on March 30, 2022. [CCTF]

During the meeting, Li Yonghua, a former recipient of the Spring Bud Project, shared with participants her growth story.

Li was at risk of dropping out of school due to poverty when she was a third-grade primary school student. With the support of Spring Bud Project, she continued her studies and was eventually admitted to Peking University.

Li attributed her success to the program and said that she will pass on its love and kindness to more people.

More than 50 people from governmental departments, foreign embassies and consulates in China, China offices of international organizations, schools, social organizations and enterprises, attended the meeting.