Literacy in China
Today's story comes to us from one of our partners in China, Association for the Rural Development of Yilong County (ARDY)
“We never starved, but it was always a struggle to make ends meet,” said Yurong Xu as she reflected on her life, staring off into the mountains lined with rice paddies and corn fields that surround her home.
In 1998, Yurong Xu’s life very much reflected that of a typical poor Chinese family in rural China. Living in the small village of Zhouhe, she farmed the household plot while caring for both her two boys and her elderly father-in-law. Her husband, Mr. Zhao, had left years before in order to search for work in the cities to support the family. With only a small plot of land, the household largely depended on the small remittances sent back from Mr. Zhao.
That year, the Association for the Rural Development of Yilong County (ARDY) came to her village to discuss its literacy and micro-credit programs at a village meeting. Hearing ARDY staff discuss its simple rules and gradual repayment plans, Mrs. Xu was inspired. Immediately after returning home that evening, she contacted her husband about the idea of taking out a loan to invest in a new trade, perhaps pig-raising. However, Mr. Zhao was not only unsupportive of the idea, but firmly against it.
“I have been away traveling everywhere, struggling just to feed myself,” he responded. “How could we possibly afford to raise pigs? I suppose the next thing you’ll propose is to eat goose everyday.”
Mrs. Xu was angered by her husband’s response and infuriated by his pessimism. She disregarded his warnings and visited ARDY’s branch office to apply for a 1000 RMB loan ($157 USD). At the same time, she also joined ARDY’s literacy program to improve her education and to learn the skills and techniques involved in pig-raising. With the 1000 RMB, she purchased two pigs and used her family’s small savings and remittances to gradually pay back the loan each month. The results of Mrs. Xu’s hard work, skill, and perseverance were apparent. Noticing with great surprise that his wife’s income now greatly exceeded his own, Mr. Zhao decided to return home to support and contribute to her work.
The family’s situation has progressed immensely. The family no longer has to struggle financially. Mrs. Xu and Mr. Zhao built and expanded their farming facilities, and their relatives have begun to collaborate with them in their work. More importantly, their two boys now have a father at home to help support and raise them, and Mrs. Xu no longer has to bear the immense burden of both farming and caring for her children and father-in-law on her own. The family is currently making plans to build a new and more comfortable house with the money they have earned.
“We never starved, but it was always a struggle to make ends meet,” said Yurong Xu as she reflected on her life, staring off into the mountains lined with rice paddies and corn fields that surround her home.
In 1998, Yurong Xu’s life very much reflected that of a typical poor Chinese family in rural China. Living in the small village of Zhouhe, she farmed the household plot while caring for both her two boys and her elderly father-in-law. Her husband, Mr. Zhao, had left years before in order to search for work in the cities to support the family. With only a small plot of land, the household largely depended on the small remittances sent back from Mr. Zhao.
That year, the Association for the Rural Development of Yilong County (ARDY) came to her village to discuss its literacy and micro-credit programs at a village meeting. Hearing ARDY staff discuss its simple rules and gradual repayment plans, Mrs. Xu was inspired. Immediately after returning home that evening, she contacted her husband about the idea of taking out a loan to invest in a new trade, perhaps pig-raising. However, Mr. Zhao was not only unsupportive of the idea, but firmly against it.
“I have been away traveling everywhere, struggling just to feed myself,” he responded. “How could we possibly afford to raise pigs? I suppose the next thing you’ll propose is to eat goose everyday.”
Mrs. Xu was angered by her husband’s response and infuriated by his pessimism. She disregarded his warnings and visited ARDY’s branch office to apply for a 1000 RMB loan ($157 USD). At the same time, she also joined ARDY’s literacy program to improve her education and to learn the skills and techniques involved in pig-raising. With the 1000 RMB, she purchased two pigs and used her family’s small savings and remittances to gradually pay back the loan each month. The results of Mrs. Xu’s hard work, skill, and perseverance were apparent. Noticing with great surprise that his wife’s income now greatly exceeded his own, Mr. Zhao decided to return home to support and contribute to her work.
The family’s situation has progressed immensely. The family no longer has to struggle financially. Mrs. Xu and Mr. Zhao built and expanded their farming facilities, and their relatives have begun to collaborate with them in their work. More importantly, their two boys now have a father at home to help support and raise them, and Mrs. Xu no longer has to bear the immense burden of both farming and caring for her children and father-in-law on her own. The family is currently making plans to build a new and more comfortable house with the money they have earned.
I salute you for the amazing work that are doing worldwide.Can you please provide more information on the "micro-credit" that Mrs. Xu attended.
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