August 25th, 2017 marked the end of the ninth BEST Fund English Summer Camp. Eight pupils (Fu Mengjiao, Hua Lei, Sun Hui, Wu Sixuan, Wu Yueyang, Zhang Ting, Zhang Zhihao and Zhao Yushu) from Madao Primary School in Liuba County, Shanxi Province participated in the graduation ceremony organized at the Shanghai Giraffe English Training Center together with other students.
At the graduation ceremony, the young students of the Liuba class were all in high spirits and performed a well-prepared show for the audience, a group choreographed song “Just Bee It”, which equals a satisfactory answer sheet handed out to the people who cares about them with high hopes.
The children in other classes also brought wonderful performances and everyone gained a lot in this short period of time. Many children did not expect that they could make even such great progress. Perhaps this is the magic of growth. It seems to be quiet, until one day you are pleasantly surprised to see that you have become more mature.
At the Giraffe English Training Center, the learning became vivid and fun, the rigorous teachers became kind and lovely big friends, and even exams became the stage to show the learning results. Hard learning has become a cheerful thing. In addition, the students also made many new friends and realized the fun of sharing, communication, cooperation, and mutual assistance. These are more important to them than learning knowledge and will accompany them through their life. Therefore, the children are very reluctant to say goodbye to everyone at Giraffe English Training Center hoping this colorful journey and happy days would continue.
Sixty seven cute angels already participated in the BEST Fund already for the past nine years. They all were from poor mountain schools and came to the Shanghai to study and communicate. We have realized even a deeper importance of knowledge and dreams in them. For them, knowledge is almost the only chance to change their destiny. So, despite the difficulties, they still tried their best. These deeply touched those of us from the city who have a good learning environment and living conditions. The BEST Fund is willing to help them with their meager power, bringing them the most advanced educational concepts and teaching methods in the city, so that they have equal opportunities to receive education, broaden their horizons, grow their knowledge, strengthen their convictions, and work hard for the dream in their hearts. Although the ninth Shanghai Summer Camp of the BEST Fund has ended, the road for children in the mountains to pursue their dreams has just begun. We sincerely hope that each of them will have a bright future.
Finally, a great thank you to everyone who has worked hard and cared for this event: Mr. Lin Mu and Carlos Gonzales who volunteered to take the children during weekend breaks; the rental agency Mr. Huang Lang, who provided children with a clean, comfortable, convenient transportation housing; the nanny Mrs. Liu who took care of the children's diet; the teachers of Shanghai Giraffe English Training Center, who tought the children, and Mr. Pang Renyuan, the headmaster of Madao Primary School, who gave great support to the whole activity. Without their support and help, the dreams of children in the mountains would not come true.
Q: What is the BEST Fund?
A: The BEST Fund started in June 2009. Tewa Srilaklang (chairwoman of the Beijing Liang Dian Design Center), Tang Zhi (chairman of Shanghai Giraffe English Training Center), and Dominique Phommahaxay, general manager of LDPi Lighting Design Partnership International (China Branch) teamed up with primary schools in Liuba County, Shaanxi Province to annually select outstanding students in financially challenged rural area and send them to the Giraffe English Training Center in Xuhui District, Shanghai for a unique 1-month summer camp. This self-organized public welfare education project has also received great attention and support from the Liuba County Education and Sports Bureau.
Q:What is the purpose of the BEST fund?
A: The BEST Fund is a reward fund for English learning. Its purpose is to focus on the education of children in remote mountainous areas, to allow children to increase their knowledge and learn English, and to motivate them to study harder. Set great ambition to go out of the mountain area and change destiny with knowledge.
Q: How to join the BEST Fund?
A: To join the BEST Fund, please call 139-1137-8140 (same number with WeChat), Ms. Wu.
