A young woman whose face is known nationwide is now trying to step out of the limelight so that the assistance she has received in her life will be available to others. However, her altruistic wish has proven complicated to realize.
"I should Learn how to be independent and complete my study career by my own effort. The money that the project intends to give me should be given to other students who need it more urgently," said Su Mingjuan, the poster girl.
Su Mingjuan, the former poster girl for the Hope Project, China's most influential charity program, wrote a letter last month to the China Youth Development Foundation the organizer of the project, asking them to halt their support of her college education through a "Star of Hope" scholarship. The 19-year-old is currently a finance major at Anhui University, which accepted her application after she passed the national college entrance exam in July this year.
The famed photo remains powerful. Photo by Xie Hailong
Su became a household name when her face was used for Hope Project posters published in the early 1990s that portrayed the urgent need to deal with illiteracy among children in remote villages.
On April 8, 1991, photographer Xie Hailong went to mountainous Jinzhai county in Anhui Province to see how the Hope Project was doing in helping kids that had to give up their studies. A picture he snapped of Su started her path to fame as the representative of Hope Project.
That photo, which emphasizes Su's large, innocent eyes over the slogan "I want to go to school" has touched thousands and inspired countless Chinese to donate money to the education charity. It seems that in the young woman's mind, however, the time has come to take command of her own destiny. "My dream to go to college has come true because of the care and help from the Hope Project over many years. After entering college, I should learn how to be independent and complete my study career by my own effort. The money that the project intends to give me should be given to other students who need it more urgently," she wrote in her letter. Su added she saw going out on her own as an opportunity to grow through getting a part-time job or participating in more social activities.
"Su Mingjuan just wants to study in order to graduate smoothly," said a spokesman fm the propaganda department of Anhui University.
Meanwhile, the charity insists on continuing to fund Su's education until her graduation date. Officials of the Anhui Province Hope Project Office visited her at the university after receiving her letters. Cao Yong, director of the propaganda department of the Anhui Province Hope Project Office, said the China Youth Development Foundation, Anhui Province Youth Development Foundation and Anhui Province Hope Project Office, agree that her university education should still be supported.
"We appreciate and want to encourage Su's idea. But there will still be many difficulties ahead if Su Mingjuan tries to graduate on her own strength. We'll continue to help her finish her college career," said Cao.
According to a Southern Daily comment on the case published on November 5, giving money or scholarships is only one method to help poor children receive education, while it is more important that beneficiaries receive hope, confidence and a sense of independence. So, in some ways, Su's move maybe the realization of the ultimate goal of charity work.
From its launch in October 1989 to the end of 2001, the Hope Project raised over 2 billion yuan in donations, helped 2.49 million children from poor families to continue their schooling and provided Stars of Hope Scholarships to a total of 20,543 students. Though marred by allegations of corruption, the organization has also funded the construction of over 8,890 Hope primary schools in poverty-stricken regions and enabled over 6,000 village primary school teachers to receive further training.
(Beijing Today November 8, 2002)
