There are currently 200 million farming households in the Chinese countryside that are facing challenges in life over which they have little control. In many of these families, the father is the family’s only source of income, supporting both the young and the elderly.
To support these farmers, Eggschange has helped impoverished farmers in a small village called Guanpo Village in Jiangxi Province in the past, and is now working to help farmers in the Chashui Village of the Anhui Province. Eggschange strives to establish a micro-finance business with families in need to provide them a steady source of income and to lower their economic burden. They do this by selling the farmers’ eggs to the faculty and parents of Shanghai American School, and sending the money back to the farmers. Eggschange also aims to provide the farmers’ children with educational opportunities through donations and charitable fund-raisers.
Over the October Break, high school students Angela Loh, Emily Xi, Narelle Shen, and Samantha Tsai took an eight-hour bus ride to the Chashui village in Anqing. During the trip, these students donated 7 large boxes of school supplies, including backpacks, books, watches, water bottles, writing utensils, and sports equipment, using funds that were raised given a year’s effort of extensive school-wide fundraising events. These gifts were given to 40 families with the goals of providing those children with an equal academic opportunity to thrive in their studies, and helping the children appreciate the effort their hardworking parents put into raising them.
The high school students met two hospitable, humble farming families who welcomed the Eggschange members to their homes with open arms. In one family of three, the daughter, LiuJiaYu just entered fifth grade and suffers from a weak immune system while her mother got in a car accident and has difficulty hearing. The father is the family’s only source of income, and he works long, tiring days on the farm. “I receive barely enough income to provide my family with food, and I’m so grateful Eggschange is here to support us and provide us with opportunities for a better future,” he said.
Another family has six members and the youngest boy, ZhangXingYu, just began second grade. The mother states, “when I gave birth to Zhang, I had a stroke. Now, I cannot move properly.” Even though the father tries to support all three generations of their family by selling chickens and eggs, the financial difficulties remain a problem when it comes to helping Zhang discover his full academic potential. Despite the hardest circumstances, these families still welcomed the Eggschange members with the brightest and most genuine smiles. Loh, the president of Eggschange, says that “even though the we brought presents for the children in those families, the sincerity and love we received in return was something that we couldn’t have gotten anywhere else.”
Having distant relatives who are farmers in rural China, Xi, the vice-president of Eggschange, says, “I thought I understood the extent of the hardships these families face, but in reality, there are farming families out there who are holding on, working hard, smiling, and never giving up despite the hardest circumstances, and this visit really showed me that.”
Agreeing with Xi, Shen claims, “Looking at the living conditions of the families we visited not only made me feel more appreciative of my life, family, and education but also strengthened my obligation to devote my time in helping them.” Even though the car ride to AnQing was long and tiring, Tsai claims, “I am very glad that I went on to this trip because it allowed me to see how difficult life is for the farmers, especially if a whole family depends on one person for financial income."
Even though there are still countless farmers out there who suffer from the lack of financial stability in China, Eggschange is trying to make a change in the world step by step. The Eggschange officers are already excited to organize another trip during the spring break of 2018, taking the club members to pay another visit to the families, as well as expand its network to other farmers and their families around China.
To support these farmers, Eggschange has helped impoverished farmers in a small village called Guanpo Village in Jiangxi Province in the past, and is now working to help farmers in the Chashui Village of the Anhui Province. Eggschange strives to establish a micro-finance business with families in need to provide them a steady source of income and to lower their economic burden. They do this by selling the farmers’ eggs to the faculty and parents of Shanghai American School, and sending the money back to the farmers. Eggschange also aims to provide the farmers’ children with educational opportunities through donations and charitable fund-raisers.
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| Taken by Samantha Tsai |
Over the October Break, high school students Angela Loh, Emily Xi, Narelle Shen, and Samantha Tsai took an eight-hour bus ride to the Chashui village in Anqing. During the trip, these students donated 7 large boxes of school supplies, including backpacks, books, watches, water bottles, writing utensils, and sports equipment, using funds that were raised given a year’s effort of extensive school-wide fundraising events. These gifts were given to 40 families with the goals of providing those children with an equal academic opportunity to thrive in their studies, and helping the children appreciate the effort their hardworking parents put into raising them.
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| Taken by Narelle Shen |
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| Taken by Narelle Shen |
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| Taken by Narelle Shen |
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| Taken by Narelle Shen |
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| Taken by Angela Loh |
Angela Loh
