Wu Bijian, a middle-school teacher from Cangnan county, a rural area in Wenzhou, was selected as the rural teacher of 2022, receiving support from the Wenzhou People's Education Foundation.
“As a rural teacher, the fact that my efforts were appreciated truly gives me joy,” Wu exclaimed.
The education foundation, administered by provincial authorities, has been consistently providing support to schools, educators, teachers and students, rewarding outstanding principals and teachers every year.
Since its establishment in 1989, it has raised over 1.18 billion yuan (nearly $162.82 million), setting up over 20 designated funding programs with charity funds and enterprises, with over 100 thousand underprivileged students and 2,000 teachers directly financed.
In 2019, the foundation initiated the Rural School Beautification Program in partnership with Yiming Public Welfare Charitable Foundation, aimed at improving the learning environment of small rural schools.
The program has yielded results in 17 rural and small-sized schools, including Xiaokeng Central Primary School in Pingyang county, where additional features such as a reading room and covered walkway were added to provide better learning and reading spaces.
Another fund, launched together with three other foundations since 2018, also rewards teachers for their outstanding work.
These initiatives have motivated both educators and students, supporting education in Wenzhou, with individuals from various sectors, from entrepreneurs to elders, actively participating and offering aid. With sponsored students contributing to the education cause when they grow up, a positive cycle has been created to elevate the city for the better.
