A file photo of Yu Han, a former recipient of the Spring Bud project and vice-president of the trade union in the administrative committee for Ganlanba State Farm Community in Jinghong city of Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, Southwest China's Yunnan province

"It's been raining for days and the weather is cool in Xishuangbanna," said Yu Han, vice-president of the trade union in the administrative committee for Ganlanba State Farm Community in Jinghong city of Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, Southwest China's Yunnan province, during an interview.

Yu comes from the Blang ethnic group and is a former recipient of the Spring Bud project, which was launched by the China Children and Teenagers' Fund (CCTF) in 1989. It is designed to help girls who have dropped out return to school.

Welfare program lights up the journey of education

It is still fresh in Yu's mind about miserable experience and poverty in her childhood. The four-children family heavily depended on tea plantation to support them.

Yu's family is about four kilometers from her primary school. At that time, she often went to school on foot and the road would become muddy on a rainy day. Her shoes and feet were always dirty when she came home after school.

During the weekends and holidays, Yu often lent a helping hand to her parents to plant and pick up tea in the farmland. Her living expenses were only two yuan (about US$ 0.3) per week and they were entirely composed of dimes.

A staff worker of the township women's federation in Yu's hometown asked local school authorities to recommend to her schooling girls for the Spring Bud project after she transferred herself to Jinghong Women's Federation.

Yu replied yes when a teacher found her and told her the news. It was a hard-won opportunity for her to go to a school in the city, though it was far away from home. Her parents were very supportive.

Welfare program benefits four people in Yu's large family

In September 2004, Yu formally entered a Spring Bud class at the age of 11. Supported by the welfare program, the school waived all tuition fees and living expenses of Yu in the following two years, fundamentally easing the economic burden of her family.

Yu cherished the study opportunity very much in the Spring Bud class. In each course she had an independent teacher.

The students were taught flower-arranging and other crafts. Yu and her classmates sent their self-made creations to their financial contributors to convey thanks to them.

Meanwhile, Yu's young sister and two nieces were also awarded with financial aid by the Spring Bud project for their outstanding academic performance.

Yu said that staff workers from the women's federations and charity-minded individuals often paid home visits to her and sent to her family such living necessities as rice, flour and edible oil, and inquired about her academic studies.

Yu often told her sister and nieces that they shall remain grateful to the Spring Bud project and financial contributors, study hard in school, and convey the love and warmth of the welfare program to more needy persons.

Strive for a new life and ignite new hope

Yu Han, a former recipient of the Spring Bud project and vice-president of the trade union in the administrative committee for Ganlanba State Farm Community in Jinghong city of Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, Southwest China's Yunnan province, takes part in a legal publicity event.

The Spring Bud project has planted the seeds of love and benevolence in Yu's heart. Right now, she has been helping out in the society.

Apart from raising funds for unknown people via the internet, Yu has also taken part in the 99 charity project under the operation of Yunnan Women and Children's Development Foundation. She often said to others that it is the Spring Bud project that has saved her from dropping out of school and allowed her to embrace a new life.

After college graduation, Yu worked as a village official for three years. At that time, she persisted in conducting a home visit to the poverty-stricken families, inquired the growth of their fruits, vegetables and farming, and helped them apply for medical assistance when they encountered major diseases.

Furthermore, Yu was very patient and skillful when she talked with villagers about their life and difficulties. It was a huge sense of accomplishment for her to gain their trust.

Now Yu is in charge of building a peaceful society, law publicity and education, dispute mediation. She is very satisfied with her current work and life, though the giant workloads consume a lot of her time and energy.

When talking about her future, Yu said that she is looking forward to raising a child and writing a new chapter in her life.