Testimony from a Saint Paul School staff member

In order to help build a school for the ethnic minorities in Kunming, Macau's St Paul School sent seven people to visit Kunming, including teachers, staff members, students and parents. I was very fortunate to have been one of them. The original plan was to visit three places, but because the places to be visited were all in the remote mountainous region, the car could not withstand the uneven mountain road. After visiting Hongpotou and Shahongkou, the car needed maintenance and was unable to continue going to the last place that we were supposed to visit. We had to take the long distance car back to Kunming. It is reported that the last destination is even worse than Hongpotou and Shahongkou.

Though we only stayed in the mountainous area for three days, we experienced life in the mountainous region, and the environment and problems that the schoolchildren face. Especially during the process of the home visits, what left the deepest impression on me were their classrooms, living areas and medical facilities. Hongpotou only has two classrooms, but there are no doors or windows in the classrooms. Only individual branches are used to cover them up, and between one branch and another there are very big gaps. This is why, during the winter or rainy season, they have to endure the experience of the wind blowing and the rain beating while they are learning. However, from our observation of the classes and our conversations with them, we discovered that this terrible environment did not even slightly reduce their desire for learning. The place where they lived was even more unimaginable. Within a space of over 100 chi, besides the living area, at the side there were also the domestic and farm animals that they reared. At night, they would often be bitten by rats. As they are living on a remote mountain without a doctor, they just have to depend on themselves if they are not well. Villagers who have not studied medicine are able to give injections to the sick.

After having gone through this visitation trip, this eye-opening experience has enabled me to understand more about the living conditions of the local people. Although they live in a terrible environment, even the basic material goods and water are severely lacking, they do not blame anybody. Instead, they depend entirely on their own effort and happily pass every single day. In addition, I really admire their perseverance. This is because, living in the mountainous region, food and shelter are life's necessities that are hard to come by. However, I saw that the schoolchildren in the mountainous area are not only pursuing these, they are also pursuing knowledge. But, due to various reasons, the chance to go to school is not ensured. This makes me feel that we really should put in a little effort for them. In their situation of shortage of resources, they are unable to come out of their poverty, and only have to endure it day after day.... In what way can we really help them? Can donating money alone solve the problem for the long term? I think... only education can truly help them.

Zhu Shuxia (朱淑霞)