Testimony from the director of the Sacred Family School of de Macau
On December 1, 2006, the Head of Studies of this school and I personally witnessed the SP Edify annual fund-raising activity at Saint Paul School in Macau to have a better understanding on the projects of the organization.
I believe that the recipients of this organization are not only members of ethnic minorities in China who are in danger of disappearing, but also a group of people who are vulnerable, marginal. Therefore, it has a great meaning. In China, most members of ethnic minorities live in remote mountain areas, even some of these villages are almost out of the civilized world, without water or light, with nothing of what qualifies as a civilized society, without medical attention and without education. Seeing the pictures of the Miao minority in the mountains of Yunnan really saddens the heart!
Action
Before the Chinese New Year, I announced to all teachers and students in our school that we were going to participate in the plan of SP Edify and that I hoped that everyone could donate a ""red envelope"" during the Chinese New Year to help ""our brothers in need”, beginning to help them through education. At that time I thought that if we could raise 30,000 RMB, we could cover the cost of half a school. But my surprise was that, two or three days after the Chinese New Year holiday, we had already collected 71,000 RMB for the construction of a school. Actually, teachers, parents and school students of the Sacred Family school are generous and compassionate. I am proud of the members of the Holy Family School!
On February 27, 2007, the Head of Studies of the Holy Family school and I went to visit these populations located in the mountainous area of Yunnan province, carrying with us the affection of teachers, parents and students in our school. Apart from us two, also were the Principal from Saint Paul School, Alejandro Salcedo, personnel of SP Edify, Miranda, secretary of the College St. Paul and others, up to a total of 10, among them a priest for 77 years of age, that did not stop praying for us all the way.
Of the five days that we were there, we spent three days in the rugged mountain roads. We had planned to visit 3 towns, but ended up visiting four. We were divided into two cars and spend most of our time in the rugged mountain roads because, to reach every village, we needed six or seven hours, even when we started our journey every day very early in the morning and returned back very late at night. Those who have more merit are the two drivers, Mr. Li Shu and Miss. Chen Yan, who work quietly and steadily for the organization and use their free time to volunteer. The success of this trip is largely due to Mr. Li Shu and Miss. Chen Yan.
The first day we visited the village called Hongpotou, where SP Edify, with financial support from teachers and students of the College St. Pablo de Macau, has built the first elementary school Daoming. There we attended the inauguration ceremony of the new school. The ceremony, despite its simplicity, let us know the great amount of preparatory work that had been carried out. The face of the adults expressed gratitude and that of the children, hope. February 28, the date of the inauguration of the school Daoming-1 Hongpotou is a date that will remain in the memory of all the inhabitants of Hongpotou.
The next day we visited the village of Zhangpojiao. On the way we went through a village named Fenyi, right on the day when a young couple were celebrating their wedding and wanted a priest to bless their union. After a short stop here, we continued our journey to Zhangpojiao, going through about seven or eight other villages.
After visiting the four villages, we feel that Zhangpojiao is in more urgent need of help, because the village has no electricity or water. The village has some 10 families and more than 100 people. All of them live in huts and life is very primitive. Zhangpojiao is separated from civilization, they do not have knowledge or access to education and that makes their life more backward.
During our visit, though the residents always had a smile on their faces, but it could be noted that in its interior, they did not understand much what was going on. Some children were not smiling, and their gaze was as empty. It was a pitiful sight! Half-naked and with their ass in the air! Despite living in such wild environment, however they are well behaved and listen carefully to adults talking. But, because they can only speak their own Miao language, we could not talk to them.
After this short period of 5 days we spent in the mountains, I think that ethnic minorities have a life that is strong, so they can survive in such unfavorable environment. I've seen they have no rancor or hatred, but as living conditions in which they live are so bad, I think, if there is no change, they will be less and less. The Miao ethnic minority is already a minority. How can we remain indifferent to this situation? How can we abandon them to extinction?
So I hope that SP Edify use the generous contribution of teachers, students and parents of the Sacred Family of Macau to build a Daoming school and also a reservoir of potable water in Zhangpojiao as soon as possible. They need education. Education will give them knowledge, ways of improving their lives and change their fate and allow its people to have a strong and healthy development.