The little girl whose picture helped publicize the Project Hope, which has transformed the lives of thousands of China's poorest children, has won a place at university.
Su Mingjuan, whose "wide-eyed" innocence touched the nation, begins a degree in financial science at Anhui University, Hefei later this month.
Now a young woman of 19, Su's success story demonstrates the life-transforming work of the nationwide Project Hope. With their funding she was able to go to school and this year passed the national college entrance examination. And on September 16 she will proudly take her place at Anhui University, a fulfilment of what would have otherwise been a hopeless dream for a little girl born into poverty.
The Project Hope was started by the China Youth Development Foundation in the mid-1980s. It aims to give financial support to students who would otherwise be forced to abandon going to school.
Su's photograph entitled "wide-eyed," was taken when she was eight, by a reporter with the Beijing-based China Youth Daily. The image, showing Su at her desk in a primary school, pencil in hand, captured something of the innocence of childhood and the wonder of learning. It had a major impact on society and boosted support for Project Hope. Without the financial support of the project, Su, from a village in Jinzhai County, Anhui Province, would never have been able to complete her primary and high-school education, let alone be on the threshold of going to university.
(China Daily September 5, 2002)
