An Embrace of Early Summer

　　Since 2013, we have made it a point to visit the Baiqiao area of He County, Anhui, twice a year to see the children we sponsor—something the Shangluo Charity Foundation and the uncles and aunts at Bo’ai e‑Jia have never forgotten. This year, however, with our own work piling up, we simply hadn’t been able to make the trip. Finally, on the last weekend before the semester ended, we’re here!

　　The Baiqiao area currently has 29 students receiving assistance, all of whom are supported through one‑on‑one sponsorship initiated voluntarily by employees of the Shangluo Charity Foundation. This time, we have carefully prepared gifts for these children—books, stationery, notebooks, electric fans, toys, cricket bats, and everyday household items—packed into a large box brimming with the love of their uncles and aunts.

　　The first meet-and-greet was held at Baiqiao Middle School, where we sponsor ten children. Watching them grow from little girls into graceful young women and from mischievous boys into sporty, handsome youths fills our hearts with joy. The older kids clearly remember who their sponsors are and took the opportunity to write down their thanks and best wishes on paper, asking us to convey their warm regards to their “uncles and aunts.” The thoughtful girls even prepared hand‑drawn cards for their sponsors. We, in turn, shared the sponsors’ care with the children, checking in one by one about their studies and daily lives, and urging them to study hard and look after their grandparents, younger siblings, and other family members.

　　The child I sponsor together with Hongyang is in seventh grade this year—a sweet, gentle girl. She made two cards and gave them to us. I opened one in front of her and admired it; she had written a long note about her life and studies. She said she was working hard, but her scores in composition, English, and physics still weren’t good, and she was afraid I’d be disappointed—she felt she was letting me down and kept saying “sorry.” At that point, I closed the card. I hadn’t expected such heartfelt thoughts from her. We talked at length, and I told her that grades are only one part of things. Of course, I hope she’ll keep striving to improve, but as long as she lives earnestly, with honesty, kindness, and a positive spirit, I’ll never be disappointed. To my surprise, she threw her arms around me and began to cry. It touched something deep inside me, and I held her tightly, tears streaming down my face too. For years, whenever she saw me, she’d just smile sweetly and chat softly. This was the first time she’d shared her own shortcomings, the first time she’d reached out to hug me—and that moment has stayed with me, etched into the memory of that early summer day.

　　The second meet-and-greet was held at Baiqiao Central Primary School, where all 19 elementary‑school students had gathered at the central campus, hailing from various village schools. As we arrived, weary but eager, their familiar, trusting, and warm smiles instantly enlivened the atmosphere—this is precisely why we consistently choose nearby communities for our educational support initiatives. Only in this way can we regularly engage with the children, show genuine care, and foster meaningful connections, rather than relying solely on financial aid as our sole link.

　　Principal Wang of the Central Primary School briefed us on the school’s situation and on the government’s efforts in recent years to support impoverished families, encouraging everyone to study diligently, cultivate aspirations from an early age, and use knowledge to shape their own futures.

　　During our one-on-one conversations, some children brought their report cards, asking us to take photos to share with their sponsors; others chattered excitedly about the progress they’d made and the new hobbies they’d taken up; some proudly asked us to be sure to tell their sponsors that they’d once again ranked first in their grade; a few even prepared handmade cards, each adorned with their own drawings—though their artistic skills varied, every piece was infused with genuine heartfelt emotion. And then there were a couple of kids who asked me to record them on my phone, eager to recite poems for their sponsors—how utterly adorable!

　　This time, we also invited Lin Yijie, a teenage volunteer from Bo’ai e‑Jia, to deliver a public‑interest lecture titled “China Today” for the children. Lin introduced them to China’s cutting‑edge technologies, its thriving manufacturing sector, and the rural revitalization policies currently being implemented, hoping that these insights would spark their curiosity about knowledge and these emerging industries. While such a brief talk may not provide much immediate motivation for academic pursuit or personal ambition, in many cases, students who do not achieve strong grades often leave school after completing junior high to join their parents in big cities as migrant workers. Yet even planting a small seed of aspiration in their young hearts—whether through preparing for the college entrance exam or enrolling in a vocational high school—can, over time, blossom into meaningful achievements at some point in their lives.

　　Finally, we took two instant‑photo snapshots of the six children newly sponsored this year—one for each child to keep, and one to bring back to their sponsors. At the scene, the children clutched their photos, eagerly waving them about, impatiently waiting for the images to appear, then passing them around to share. Those beaming, joyful faces reminded us just how rewarding it is to persevere—happiness truly spreads so easily.

　　Seven years—a span neither short nor long—has seen these children, whom we’ve been supporting since first grade, grow from tiny little ones to taller than me, and from shy and timid to confident and outgoing. In this cool early summer, we’ve warmed one another with hugs and shared joy that has touched us all.

　　Dear children, I hope to accompany you for many years to come and watch you go ever farther!