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All of EAFI’s programs are based on the EAFI mission: to assist underprivileged children in China to have a chance to realize their full potential through education. The majority of children of minority groups in rural China are living at poverty level. Due to lack of resources and education awareness these children and their families have been limited in their outlook for a better life in the future. Many of the families need financial aid to keep their children in basic school. EAFI truly believes assisting these children in continuous academic advancement is the best way to facilitate them in reaching their full potential and, consequently, achieving self-reliance for their families.
FHL Scholarship Program 2005 In 2005, U.S. and local volunteers piloted the FHL Scholarship Program (FHL: Faith, Hope, and Love). One of the volunteers, Ray Cheng, a Microsoft engineer who grew up in Taiwan and is a descendent of a Hunan native, had witnessed first-hand the need for help in Hunan province. With the help of enthusiastic volunteers and funding support from Microsoft, 85,000 yuan was raised in 2005 and distributed to primary school, junior high school, high school, and college students to enable them to continue their education. The students came from West Hunan (Xiangxi), including the impoverished cities of Baojing, Huitong, Jishou, and Fenghuang. More than 80% of the funds were focused on minority and female students in these cities.
FHL Benevolence Fund 2006 In 2006, the FHL Scholarship Program will be expanded as a new pilot program with the hope of implementing an improved execution plan, receiving more funding support, and gaining more recognition. The new program name, FHL Benevolence Fund (www.yifei.org/newsite/fhl.htm), more accurately reflects the program’s expanded goals. In addition to the scholarship, the funds will include support to address urgent medical needs of students or their families.
Following a need-based selection process, every selected student will receive funds to cover their tuition and partial living expenses for one year. The amount of the grant depends on the need of each student and starts at 300 yuan (about 36 U.S. dollars). Tuition will be paid directly to their attending school, and money for other expenses will be given to the parents to supplement the child’s living expenses and allow the child to focus on academics after school. Applications for continuing grants are permitted for students who successfully complete their school grade with good academic standing (average B+ or 80/100 at the time of application – waived for first year applicants and first graders) and who show a strong desire to prevail in school. As in 2005, the program does not guarantee funding to any student for more than one year. Qualifications to apply for the scholarship include an annual family income below 2000 yuan (250 U.S. dollars), parents working in agriculture or labor intensive jobs, a current age of the student between 6 and 15, above average grades (B+ or higher), and a display of a strong desire to succeed in school, based on teacher recommendations and a short descriptive essay.
In the process of working with the local families of Hunan and distributing scholarship funds, volunteers of EAFI discovered that many families lacked the funds to provide for basic life necessities. Money could not be spent on education in these families because there were not even enough funds to pay for urgent medical expenses, sometimes leaving family members basically just waiting to die. In 2006, funds will be allocated for these kinds of cases. Join Us By your love, there are many children who will have the hope of education through this program. Please join us and be a part of the inspiration. For more information, please contact our representative in Shanghai, Mr. Wang (office: 021-64648595; email: simonw@isleng.com ).
