A little girl shivered in a corner, watching her father rummage through bins to find money her mother had hidden for her education… This was a real experience I heard from an Indian student on a seminar at [University Name]. I could still suffer from this kind of trauma from her expression, the reluctance in her voice, and her tears. This feeling just reminded me of the veteran who used to live on my bunk. The heart that he wanted his son to be well educated was same as this Indian friend’s mother. Also, I realized that the sense of leadership for serving people is not just for my own country, but also for the disadvantaged around the world. For me, education is the most important way.

My interest in promoting education through global cooperation and communication from the grassroots NGO I worked for, which focuses on mental health and education of left-behind children in Sichuan Province. The biggest challenge for our organization used to be the lack of funds and unrecognition from left-behind elderly. I shared my confusion on social media. An [University Name] fellow, who used to work for the Ghanaian government in Africa and the United Nations, advised that we could be part of the government’s procurement of public services. Inspired by this suggestion, we finally reached a cooperation with the government and became a contractor. We not only received a fund of nearly 300,000 yuan, but also got the endorsement of the local people. The director of the Women and Children’s Federation in every village became our volunteers, and they are the bridge for us to communicate with the left-behind elders. More children could participate in our activities. I also see the possibility of sharing experience among those who have enthusiasm in education around the world and promote equality of education in developing regions.

Therefore, my vision is to create a global exchange program for practitioners who are committed to education, especially from rural areas. The impact of my first-hand experience in the study of migrant workers cannot be replaced by media or academic research. The Schwarzman Scholars Program is an ideal place for me to continue to explore how to achieve this goal, and bridge the people with different cultural backgrounds who have their unique educational experience. I’m looking forward to taking Leading in Civil Society Organizations -- Delivering Social Value. Being taught by both Chinese and foreign professors allows me to discuss the development of educational organizations from a comparative perspective. And I am excited to discuss the educational practice in Chinese rural areas with friends with different backgrounds.

After this concerted and deliberate growing experience in the Schwarzman Scholars Program, I aspire to be an educational policy maker, to create an exchange program for Chinese and international teachers, principals, and managers of educational NGOs. This program not only enhances the global perspective of Chinese practitioners, but also enables foreign educators to obtained first-hand impression to better understand Chinese educational practices. I am ready.