How much expectation can a classroom hold? How far can a group of children go with one student aid? A student aid relay that spans mountains and seas and lasts for 16 years started in Tianyang, Guangxi, using the glimmer of education to support rural students’ academic dreams. It has continued to grow and iterate through continuous hard work.
In 2010, the Shanghai Democratic National Construction Association Supporting Charity Foundation (now renamed as the "Shanghai Star Five Supporting Charity Foundation", hereinafter referred to as the "Foundation") launched the "Shanghai Democratic National Construction Association Sail Class" in Tianyang, Guangxi, providing financial aid to needy students in junior middle schools and clearing barriers to education for students from poor families.
Over the past 16 years, this boat of hope has sailed to Sanjiang, Guangxi, Sangzhi, Hunan, Fengning, Hebei and other places, and the "Shanghai Democratic Construction Sail Class" has grown into the foundation's iconic student aid brand. In 2022, in order to support rural revitalization with high-quality education, the project upgrade entered the 2.0 stage. The "Shanghai Democratic Construction Kunpeng Plan" for high school students was officially launched. It has successively landed in Yongshun, Hunan and Malipo, Yunnan, and funded students with excellent academic performance and poor family backgrounds to complete three years of high school.
"Sail" expresses the hope of setting sail; "Kunpeng" carries the dream of flying high. From junior high school to high school, from "Sail Class" to "Kunpeng Project", what has changed is the ever-expanding form of assistance, but what remains unchanged is the care and protection for the children's growth and success.
Educational assistance is not only financial support, but also long-term companionship and concern. Over the years, the Shanghai Municipal Committee of China Democratic National Construction Association, the foundation, civil society organizations at all levels, and caring donors have traveled thousands of miles to visit the campus, conduct on-site visits and surveys, and listen to the voices of teachers and students. They went to Malipo, Yunnan to encourage the "Kunpeng" students to devote themselves to their studies; witnessed the opening of the "Kunpeng Class" in Yongshun, Hunan; went to Hunan campuses to share life experiences and make plans for further studies with senior high school students, and visited the teachers and students of the "Sail Class" of Helong Middle School and the "Kunpeng Class" of Yongshun No. 1 Middle School... Face-to-face communication changed the student aid from a cold number to a palpable and warm companionship, giving students the strength to move forward.
Hard work will eventually pay off. In 2026, the "Kunpeng Class" in the two places will continue to perform well. Among the 50 candidates in the "Kunpeng Class" of Yongshun No. 1 Middle School, 45 have reached the first line (special control line), accounting for 90%; 49 have reached the undergraduate level, and the undergraduate admission rate is 98%. Among the 50 candidates in the "Kunpeng Class" of Malipo County National Middle School, 38 have reached the first line (special control line), accounting for 76%; 43 have reached the undergraduate level, and the undergraduate admission rate is 86%. Behind the dazzling report card is the persistence of students who studied hard during the cold winter, and it is also the result of the joint efforts of schools, public welfare organizations and caring people to protect it.
Now, a new coordinate has been added to the student aid map. In September this year, the "Shanghai Democratic Construction Kunpeng Plan" for the 2026 class of Qianxi No. 1 Middle School in Guizhou opened. In order to implement the Central Committee of the China Democratic National Construction Association’s “regional + field” group assistance arrangement in Bijie, the Shanghai Municipal Committee of China Democratic National Construction Association and the Foundation went to Bijie for research, repeatedly docked plans, and brought the “Kunpeng Plan” to Wumeng Mountain, so that needy students in western Guizhou can gain the guarantee of peace of mind in studying.
The scene of the opening ceremony. Photo courtesy of Shanghai Municipal Committee of China Democratic National Construction Association
Sixteen years have passed without stopping, and the road to student aid is still moving forward. From setting sail in Tianyang, Guangxi, to Kunpeng spreading its wings in Hunan and Yunnan, and then writing a new chapter in Bijie, Guizhou, Shanghai Democratic Construction Association's educational assistance transcends geographical barriers and continues to inject warmth into rural education. Educational assistance supports the current path to study, and also illuminates the life path of students, so that the desire to study can be seen, and the power of upward growth can be nourished.
In the next step, Shanghai Star Five Aid Charity Foundation will continue to gather loving resources, enrich the content of student aid, provide practical, detailed and warm and sustainable educational aid, help revitalize rural education, and accompany more students to pursue their dreams and fly high. (over)
