Wang Bixia is the first EGRC Sponsored Girl to study in Canada

Bixia Wang’s journey to graduate school is filled with firsts. She’s the first from her family — and her village — to graduate from university.

Her path wasn’t easy. When she was accepted to Shaanxi Normal University, her mother was hospitalized and her construction worker father brought home $200 per month, carrying 20 kilogram cement sacks all day and earning 90 cents per tonne carried.

She couldn’t afford to pay her tuition, but a fortuitous connection was made for her with Vancouver philanthropist Tien Ching, the founder and president of the BC Society for Educating Girls of Rural China (EGRC). The charity is only six years old but in that short time, it’s helped 286 young women from impoverished rural areas of Gansu Province in Northwest China to receive university educations.

More firsts: Bixia is the first president of the EGRC Student Association and the first of the sponsored young women to go on to a graduate degree. Because of her hard work as an undergraduate (including a paper published in Sensors and Actuators B), she received funding and admission offers from SFU and the University of Alberta. She’s chosen to study in Dr. Zuo-Guang Ye’s lab and continue her research in SFU’s Department of Chemistry.

Other firsts have followed quickly. In the last two weeks, she’s experienced her first journey by plane, her first sight of an ocean and first time to try sailing, and a first time to eat western foods.

She adds, “I like this city and this university — the blue sky, the clear air, the quiet environment and pleasant people. Ms. Tien has collected some furniture for me and I have settled down in the campus residence. I have confidence that I will have a happy life and can make new friends here. And I can help Ms. Tien as much as possible. I am excited.”

We’re delighted to welcome her to Simon Fraser University and we’re looking forward to seeing many more firsts for her in the future.

Jia Liyan is going to graduate from Sun Yat-Sen University in the summer of 2010 and majored in International Relations

Dear distinguished sponsors,

Just over one year ago I visited Vancouver with two other sponsored students. During our visit we met many of you and attended the Youth for Youth concert. I was very impressed by the beauty of your city and the kindness of your people.

I will graduate in June from Sun Yat-Sen University – one of the top ten universities in China and my major is International Relations. At this moment I feel so grateful that I received financial support from many generous people when I really needed it.

A few months ago I encountered a major setback in life. My dream was going to a Masters program offered by a prestigious institution in Beijing. I ranked top academically in my department; I have a perfect CV and I passed crucial interviews in Beijing. There was no doubt that I was accepted. I was in heaven while on the way back to school from Beijing. But in the end my application was declined. I was too innocent to know that as a village girl, with no background and no connections it is impossible to go to a school like that. My world collapsed after I heard the news. I felt like I slipped into deep water but I couldn't swim. I was not eating, not sleeping, and cried for days.

Ms Tien called me and we talked for a long time. Then I spent two weeks to be in solitude and recollect myself. I asked myself many questions about who I am and what I really want in the future and tried to find answers. After I came out from the depression, I came up with a completely different decision – I am going to look for work instead of going on to more study. My decision shocked everyone who knows me. But I was very sure.

What made Liu Xiang a world champion was he had a good coach. Fortunately I found mine. He encouraged me in everyway he could while I was recovering and trying to find new direction. He is my boyfriend now and I feel I am very fortunate to have him in my life.

I went to Guangzhou TV to intern and then received my first job offer from a golf real estate company as a PR. One month later I was promoted to be the assistant manager in that department. There I learned what was effective communication and laid my career foundation. Now I am the chief editor for Style Weekly Magazine in Guangzhou.

As Ms Tien said, I am an optimistic girl. I will stick to my smile in life even in the hardest times. Thank you all for giving me the confidence to smile.

- Liyan         
June 1st, 2010         

Wang Xiaowei is a second year student at Northwest University of Agriculture and Forestry, majoring in English.

May 17, 2010

Dear Miss Tien,

I am so pleased to receive your letter although you are very busy. My thank for you can not be expressed by these words.

From young age I have experienced a lot of difficulties in life. I am not talking about getting up early and staying up late; or walking to school and back home in darkness for hours every day; but the cold and starvation because we are poor. I still remember clearly that I could have only one meal every day when I was in elementary school. I was always hungry and cold in winters in my middle school years. I struggled for many years in order to get a bright future. Those hardships I have gone through made me realize that life is really not easy. I have learned to appreciate all the help I have received from kind people like you. I know you also have experienced difficulties in life; so I believe you can understand what I have been through. My tears are streaming down while I am writing this letter to you. I thank you sincerely. What you have given me is not only financial support, but spiritual encouragement. It is you who let me know I am not alone.

I went back home on May Day long weekend to see my parents. They were very happy to see me. I noticed they had few more winkles on their faces. They work hard everyday in the fields and they are also lonely because all three of us are away from home attending school. I made up my mind that I will let them to have better life after I finish my education.

I have been working very hard at school. I know if I do well at school I will have a better job and better future. I look forward to meeting you and other sponsored girls again this the summer.

- Sincerely Yours,         
Wang Xiaowei         

Wang Ting is a first year student studying at Northwest Normal University. The letter is from her to Wang Bixia.

Dear Bixia,

I’m extremely moved when I received your greeting card. Thanks for your gift! It’s a shame that I did not send you a present.

Bixia, I have an idea to share with you. Can EGRC students establish a volunteer service to teach village children during our winter and summer breaks? We will bring new ideas and knowledge to the village children and their parents. We emphasize the importance of education and let them to see the world beyond these mountains.

We all received help from Ms.Tien who has been concerning us like our mothers. But hundreds of other village children are not getting any help; they have not known that their lives are miserable, just as the story describes:

At a remote small village, a reporter asked a child who is about eight or nine years old attending the goats on the hillside.
“Kid, what do you shepherd for?”
“For earn money.”
“What do you do after you had money?”
“Marry a wife.”
“How about after you had a wife?”
“Make a baby.”
“What do you want your baby do after he grew up?”
“Attending the goats.”

It is sad to read this report. The children in the big mountains are not wrong, they need to know better. If they miss the chance to get education, they have to live in that ignorant way of life. Do you like my idea?

- Wang Ting,         
2009-12-29         

Yang Yanyan is a first year student studying at China Institute of Metrologyin Hangzhou.

Departing

The afterglow of the setting sun lengthened your shadow.
I yelled in the darkness
for the sunlight smashed to smithereens
for the longing that left along with you.

In the chill winds of a strange land I try to grasp
the bygone days engraved by youth,
but building after building
mansion after mansion
block the view of recollecting you,
seal off the intersection on my road to recollection.

Gazing at the starlit sky
I'm trying to pursue that brightest
instant of departure
that took along my best wishes.

From here
I can only
hide in the darkness,
palms held reverently together.

Translated by Dr.Jan Walls