EGRC
4290 Dunbar St.
Vancouver, BC
Canada V6S 2E9
Tel 604-732-6778
Fax 604-732-6898
info@egrc.ca
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"Educated women have educated children."
Li Hui graduated in the summer of 2009 from Qingdao University of Science & Technology with major in English. She is one of the three students visited Vancouver in May 2009. Now she is working as a translator at Grace Vineyard in Shanxi Province.
From Lui Hui, December 2008
Dear Canadian Friends:
My name is Li Hui, a student from Qingdao University of Science and Technology, in Shandong Province, China. I am majoring in English. This July, I will graduate from my university. Just like my classmates, I am hunting for a job now.
My hometown is Dingxi in Gansu Province, China, a place which is very poor and dry. In 2005, I was admitted into Qingdao University of Science and Technology, but it was difficult for my family with a single mother raising three children. I didn't know what to do. I even thought about giving up. At that moment, I was told that I and other girls from poor families would be supported by a foundation established by a Chinese lady in Canada. Since then I began to know to EGRC and got to know that there are some generous and kind persons in Canada who are concerned about us.
I would say that your support and help really changed my life. Though we have never met, I will always remember all of you and your generosity which makes my life different. Rather than being that country girl who didn't know how to use a computer or how to take a bus in big cities, I have learnt how to face the difficulties in my life with smile and how to cooperate with others. I've also learnt that love is to give rather than to receive. I always tell myself I should help those who are in trouble if I can, just like you do.
Although I am not the top of my class at this elite university, I never lose heart. Instead, I work even harder than many of my classmates, because I know I am luckier than those girls who have to drop out school to work to support their families and there is no reason for me to give up.
Chinese New Year is approaching, on behalf of all the girls and in my own name, I really thank you for your help and kindness and what you have done for us over the past years, and sincerely I hope you will be happy in the coming year.
My best wishes.
Yours sincerely,
- Li Hui
Wang Bixia is studying at Shaanxi Normal University and major in camistry. She just completed her third year study. She initiated the EGRC Students Association and she is going to be the first president for two years.
From Wang Bi Xia,
October 2009
Dear Ms. Tien & Canadian patrons:
My name is Wang Bixia, a student who has been sponsored by the BC Society for Educating Girls of Rural China since 2006. I am studying at Shaanxi Normal University and major in chemistry. It is my honor to write to you as the first president of EGRC Students Association.
Firstly, I want to say “thanks” to all of you, on behalf of all the girls sponsored in Gansu Province. Thank you for your hard-working and contributions over the past years, so that we can receive our four year undergraduate study smoothly. All of us are from rural areas and were admitted into universities because of insisting of our dreams. But the expensive tuition is over-loaded to our families. EGRC’s help is really like a star from the sky, which gives us great courage and hope.
At the same time, I would like to say “thanks” to you on behalf of our parents. Thank you for doing them a favor when they were worried about their children’s tuition. Though they can not read a word and never leave the mountains, they all know that it is a good thing to go to a university. They have been struggling against the soil all of their lives and trying to create good condition for their children, but they failed finally. The families are too poor to afford the tuition. Your help is just like sending fuel in snowy weather, warming their families. As they all know, there are many kind people in a country called Canada who are concerned about the girls like themselves. Our parents will always remember you.
Actually we are lucky girls! Nevertheless our families are rather poor, we received your great help during our university years. Maybe poverty is really a perfect university which teaches us how to face life strongly and be optimistic. In the campus, everybody studies hard and most of us gain excellent performance. For instance, some got the first in the class every year, and some were elected as a tutor for the freshman during their third year. This year, many of us are getting ready for the postgraduate exam in 2010. We all try our best. Your help is our drive.
The EGRC Students Association is established in order to let all the girls keep in touch with EGRC and compose a unified team. This August, as the first president I traveled to Lanzhou, Yuzhong, Longxie and Dingxi with Ms. Tien to interview all the girls you have supported. We discussed about the development of the EGRC Students Association. Many girls expressed the desire that they are going to contribute to this organization in the future. Because of your help our dreams were accomplished. One day it will be the time for us to help others to realize their dreams, please believe us!
I know that all of you care about us, so words are not enough to describe our thanks for your support. I wish you a healthy, peaceful, prosperous and happy life!
-Wang Bi Xia
October 2nd, 2009
CLICK HERE TO READ THE CHINESE VERSION AS A PDF
Haixia Zhang is studying at Central South University major in Adminstration and just finished her second year study.
From Haixia Zhang, July 2009
Dear Auntie Tien:
How are you! I just read your email and the email you forwarded from Bixia, and I'm really moved, because this is something we really ought to do. I'm certain that each and every student you have sponsored feels the same way, and looks forward to being able to contribute in future.
Just thinking about Auntie Tien's impending visit gets me excited, but sadly I won't be able to see you this year, because I've registered for the Second Level Computer Examination, and the registration fee is 100 yuan, and with the exam on September 20th and a heavy course load next semester, I can only prepare for it in the summer, and since we have no computer to use at home I can only go back to school early, so I'll have to go back in late July. In addition to preparing for the exam, I'll also learn some more about computer programs like Word, Excel, PostScript, CAD, etc. I think if I can get a better command of such programs, it will strengthen my competitive position in job hunting later on. Everything else is just fine, except for the sadness I feel when I think how hard it is for you to come all the way out here and I can't even see you -- it's such a pity.
You have already subsidized me for two years, to the tune of 8,000 yuan, almost as much as my father earns at his job away from home in a whole year, and my whole family is extremely grateful to you. My mother would like to meet you. She hasn't seen much of the world and when she meets you she may not be much of a conversationalist, but she would really like to express her feelings of gratitude face to face. I'll give a copy of my transcript for the past year to my mom and she will pass on to you.
I'll send you a message after your arrival in China, and find a convenient time to phone you. I have some more thoughts to share with you which I will write down and ask my mother to give you.
Finally, please accept my best wishes for your work and for a smooth trip to China, with the hope that you will return to Canada with even greater confidence and motivation.
-Haixia Zhang
South Central University
 Sheng Xuxia is a second year student at Tianjin University of Economics. She wrote a letter to me back in March, but it took three months to get mailed. She needed three months in order to save up enough money for the postage (about 80 cents). In her two-page long letter, she told me details about her family life. Her mother has been chronically ill for years. Her father had been a carpenter. Unfortunately, he lost three fingers in an accident and lost his job. Her brother has a serious mental condition, but cannot afford medical treatment.
Sheng took the university entrance exam only because she wanted to prove to herself and her parents that she had the ability. Her description about receiving our sponsorship was like a star falling into her hands from the sky.
Du Xin is also a second year student. She is studying at Lanzhou University of Science & Technology in Gansu. She wrote to me after I visited her and four others in the same school in June 2007. She said her mother had just recovered from an illness and had found a part-time job. Because of this, she knew her situation was better than the rest of the girls. She then offered the sponsorship money, which she would receive from us, to someone more in need for the next academic year. Often I am in tears after conversations with these girls.
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