The Problem
Teaching English to students in the rural province of Zhoushan, China revealed the harsh educational disparities between urban and rural China. In this agricultural region, where parents often work in low-paying jobs, many girls face pressure to leave school due to financial struggles, traditional gender roles, and resource scarcity. Unfortunately, around 60% of rural Chinese students drop out after middle school, with girls impacted the most. This not only discourages rural girls in China, but worsens the rural-urban economic gap in the long-term—leading to a negatively self-reinforcing cycle.
Our Plan
To drive change for girls in Zhoushan through our three pillars—Education, Economics, and Equality—to tackle both immediate needs and long-term issues, like limited social mobility and economic opportunities, for these girls. Our Book Drive Program, which has already collected over 700 books through community support, established the first library at Zhoushan Ming Zhu Middle School, offering both recreational books and essential textbooks. However, we know books alone won’t suffice. We are actively fundraising to provide school supplies, technology, and additional resources, as many rural schools lack even the basics. Our next step is launching a virtual mentorship and tutoring program, specifically aimed at Zhoushan’s “left-behind” children whose parents are migrant workers. By expanding our reach and forming new partnerships, our goal is to continue empowering Zhoushan girls with the resources and confidence they need to pursue higher goals.
