Givology: Blogs
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Li Zheng - another year complete!
Givology is fundraising to support Li Zheng for another year. As you can see, your donations so far have made a huge difference to her. Please continue to show your support!
Unlike some of our other partners which provide a one-time grant to a student, the scholarships provided by the Peach Foundation last for two years in order to provide the children with a sustained period of education. In September, the children returned to school, and we are hoping to raise another $205 for the 2010-2011 year.
One of the most innovative aspects of Givology is the opportunity to make connections across the world – both inspiring and being inspired by the children that you support. We sincerely hope you consider supporting Li Zheng again. Even if you choose not to make a financial contribution, we still urge you to send him a message that we can deliver. Words of encouragement can go a very long way!
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Update from Li Zheng
See below for an update from Li Zheng. Please continue to message her your support, even if you can't write in Chinese - the translation team will work to make our messages more accessible to her.
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Dear Givology,
I am Li Zheng, I don’t know if you celebrate Spring Festival in America, but I will follow the Chinese tradition ands wish you a happy new year! How did you enjoy your holidays?
When I came to register for school on February 26h and received the letters from you, I was so excited. I was very curious what you wrote to me when I received the letters written in English, as our village is very isolated and I am not familiar with English. I still couldn’t understand some parts after reading them several times. I had to consult some classmates to understand the messages. I was very touched after I read them, as most people who have helped me are students themselves. Jessica McDonald and Aodra Sarana, I really want to say “thank you," but that would not convey my gratitude and respect. But I will pray for you in our way to wish that good things would happen to good people like you. Also Hscibetta, who should be a bit older than me, I wish I could see you more clearly as your photo was a bit blurry and I could only see your kind smile and long black hair. I would like to call you “big sister”. Although I could only understand part of your letter, I understood I should apply myself more at school. If I have any worries, or difficulties that I cannot solve, can I write to you? I would also like to share my happiness with you. Be assured that I will try my best to understand the things in your letters. I am very curious, are you still in school? Saddmon, first I have to say sorry, because some of the words in your letter turned out very blurry, but I can understand what you mean. I think I am like you, and share the same feelings, perhaps to a greater extent. In a poor and backward region like ours, knowledge is the best way to change our fate, and getting into a good college is the only way to leave, and knowledge will indeed make one rich.
I am currently in 10th grade, there is only a year and a half left before the college entrance exam. It’s a lot of pressure, and we have a lot of homework everyday that never seems to end. However, I know, although it is hard work, this is temporary, and I believe that you will reap what you sow. Last semester I worked very hard, and got two months of stipend from school to cover meal expenses. They totaled 150 Yuan. This is the third time I traded knowledge and sweat for money. This money is nothing to people who are wealthy, and they could spend it in one day, but I saved all of it to give myself courage and confidence. I will earn more stipends in the future, so my parents don’t have to pay for my living expense. This will lighten their burdens so they can pay for my brother’s college expenses.
I don't have much time, and I have much to say to you, but I’m running out of time and it’s a shame to say goodbye again. I would like a photo of you guys, so I can see what you look like, and look at you when I’m feeling lonely. It would a shame to not know who have helped me. I don’t know if this would be possible, but I would like to make a suggestion: could you write in Chinese in future letters to me? This will train and improve your Chinese as well. I will try my best to write to you in English. I am just afraid of misunderstanding your original intentions when communication is in English. I will pray for you, and wish you health and peace.
Wishing you health and luck,
Li Zheng
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One Year Complete!
Li Zheng has successfully completed one year of school! As you can read from her handwritten letters, your contribution has made a tremendous difference. $250 paid for tuition, books, school supplies, and transportation for the 2008-2009 school year.
Unlike some of our other partners which provide a one-time grant to a student, the scholarships provided by the Peach Foundation last for two years in order to provide the children with a sustained period of education. In September, the children returned to school, and we are hoping to raise another $250 for the 2009-2010 academic year.
One of the most innovative aspects of Givology is the opportunity to make connections across the world – both inspiring and being inspired by the children that you support. We sincerely hope you consider supporting Li again. Even if you choose not to make a financial contribution, we still urge you to send her a message that we can deliver. Words of encouragement can go a very long way!
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Update: April 11, 2009
Dear Uncles and Aunts, Older Brothers and Older Sisters,
Hello! I am one of thousands of poor children. Before getting the scholarship, I was still a poor, scruffy girl from a mountain village who often couldn’t afford books and was looked down upon. From my childhood to my teenage years, growing up has been difficult, but because of your kindness, my fate has started to change. I’ve become a very lucky person. Because of your love, my heart is no longer empty, and thanks to your letters, I no longer feel lonely. Thanks to your help, my dreams are no longer just fantasies. When I felt most helpless, it was your hand that reached out and pulled me from the darkness. Words really can’t express how grateful I feel. I was so excited to receive your letters, because your warmth was proof that you care about me. My faith in education is also stronger. When I run into difficulties at school and in life, I will read your letters of encouragement. I wish I had the words to tell you how great it is, that I can write to people who care about me and tell them what is in my mind, what is going on in my life. It’s like having a good friend who you can tell anything, who gives you a taste of faraway places and the outside world, who sends good luck from far away. I don’t know if these wishes will ever come true, but I can still hope for them.
After a half year of high school, I am more focused on my goals, and I’ve improved a bit. Even though I’m not in the top rankings of our class, I still try very hard, as I know rank is not the most important thing. The most important thing is giving it your all and not giving up. I know that I have my parents’ expectations to live up to, so I don’t dare to be the least bit careless. I think my second semester grades will make me proud, even though my grades may not be highest in the class and I may not be ranked first. I dedicate most of my time to school, so I don’t really have time to participate in many extracurricular activities. When I go home, I have to help my parents – after all, I am a kid from a rural village. But this year, I might not be able to help my parents much – there might not be anything we can do. Our village was recently hit by a hailstorm, and all our crops were wiped out. Our village was hardest hit by the disaster, and my mom said that our neighbor’s chicken was killed by the hail. When I look at the tragic scene I cry. A flower’s fallen petals, a field that was once green that is now all yellow. Seeing the damaged cement tiles crushes my hopes. Seeing my dad’s sad smiles, hearing my mom’s sighs, it breaks my heart.
One evening, I accidentally overheard my parents talking. Mom was asking Dad, “This year our family’s harvest was a total failure, but her older brother is applying to college. Our family has no money – what are we going to do?” My dad was silent for a moment, and then he said, “If he can get in, I will do everything I can to make sure he can go to college.” I don’t know why, but at that moment, I had an impulse to go into the room and tell my parents I would drop out so my older brother can go to college. I felt very much like crying, but I fought back tears and forced a smile. My father could tell how I felt, and he told me, “We still don’t even know if your brother will get in. Don’t worry. If he gets in, he will go, but you will also continue to go to school. If you drop out, how will you pay back Aunt Zheng, who has taken such great pains to raise you?” So I never brought it up again. While walking to school, I discovered that my brother had cried. When I asked him about it, all he said was, “Keep working hard and get into college.” I know his dreams had come to nothing, and yet he keeps working and hasn’t given up, as he has confidence in himself and is a very strong boy. Since then, the burden on our shoulders has grown heavier. I know our family is struggling to pay for our living expenses, so I said to Mom that from now on my living expenses would be cut in half. This year I haven’t bought any new clothes, since all the others are still wearable. And then I thought, if I can save a little on books, I could lessen my parents’ burden. And so, this is how my plan began…
So, to my supporters in faraway places, I will definitely work hard and not disappoint you. If one day I could meet you face to face… I don’t know if these are unreasonably high hopes, but I can still be bold and say it, because these are my real hopes. Right now, I really don’t know how to express what I’m feeling, so I will stop writing. I’ll just write one more sentence: “Friends from faraway, thank you so much! Thank you for showing me this bit of kindness!”
Once more I want to thank you. I want to sincerely wish you well, wish that everything is going well at work, that you are healthy, and that every day you are happy!
Li Zheng
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My Autobiography