Longling County is located in the west of Yunnan Province. Most of its summer is either drizzling or intermittent raindrops. However, the weather did not affect the vision and enthusiasm of the visiting group.

On June 27, 2021, we received a delegation from Societe Generale (China) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Societe Generale") headed by Mr. Hugues de La Marnierre, CEO, in Kunming. Under the leadership of Michael Hermann, the Chief Representative of the International HUMANA PEOPLE TO PEOPLE Movement (Switzerland) Yunnan Representative Office, we set out for the Ganzhai Preschools of the Future in Xiangda Town, Longling County, funded by the Societe Generale that afternoon.

Members participating in the visit also included Mrs. Peng Weihua, Director of the Beijing Branch of Societe Generale, Mrs. Huang Lin, Head of  the Corporate Social Responsibility team, Ms. Yan Mingqiu,  operation manager, and Ms. Judith, employee volunteer.

After more than 10 hours of traffic trek from Beijing and Shanghai, they arrived in Longling County at night. Regardless of the fatigue of traveling, they hoped to bring warmth and love to the children in the mountain area with a warm heart.

Since 2018, with the support of Societe Generale, the project of Humana People to People Preschools of the Future has covered Ganzhai Preschool in Longling County. The project mainly supports teachers in improving their preschool education skills, improves the class room environment, and serves local preschool children. The project has benefited 111 children in Ganzhai.

The next day, under the arrangement of the project leader, we went to Ganzhai Preschool in Xiangda Town early in the morning. The members of the visiting group met the children they care about.

In the preschool, the children met these uncles and aunts from afar for the first time. Surprised but happy, the children like to meet guests in preschool, since they can get to know many new things.

While visiting the preschool, the group attended the demonstration lesson, during which the children performed little shows without stage fright by the guidance of teachers.

Being surrounded by children we easily got touched by their innocence, especially when we see the smile on their immature faces. Under this circumstance, the visiting team played with children in some approachable ways such as painting straw hats in group and spelling out the words "Societe General" with play dough. You know ,a colorful "Societe General" sign made by play dough would be the cradle of children's colorful dreams.

Finally, every child also received a small gift from the uncles and aunts of Societe Generale, which is a common blessing and expectation of the visiting team.

In addition, the visiting group talked to preschool teachers, parents, local central schools and village committees on themes of project implementation, project impact and current situation of rural preschool education. Everyone agreed that the project profoundly helped the local area, especially quality preschool education services.

At present, the Ganzhai POF Project has matured, and will be handed over to the local education department and continue to use the original project mode for management after the HPP project support ends in July.

In order to further understand the implementation of the POF Project, the visiting group also went to Huangnipo Preschool and Cunjiazhai Preschool in Tengchong City, where they visited classrooms, interacted with children, distributed small gifts, communicated with parents, teachers and school leaders, and deeply understood how the POF Project model adapted to remote rural areas and served children aged 3-6.

The two-day trip passed in a flash, and we forged a deep bond with the children in the remote rural areas.

Mr. Marnierre from Societe Generale said:

Great trip around Baoshan, Yunnan in China with Lynne, Emily, Yasmine and Disi from our Société Générale China volunteer team.

We celebrated the end of our 3 years project with HPP, Humana People to People NGO on building and running a school in a poor remote rural area. It was a success and handover to Educational Bureau will happen soon. We were impressed and pleased by the exchanges with the children, teachers, local representatives, local authorities, educational bureau, poverty alleviation bureau and parents. A pragmatic lesson on how to create a positive impact where you operate.

And the happy faces of the children worth any effort !

A special thank to Michael Hermann, HPP representative in Kunming, for his impressive drive in running all the projects.

Huang Lin from Societe Generale said: "It was indeed a remarkable journey to the mountainous area of south-west China! Great appreciation to HPP project team in Yunnan to have helped build up more than hundred preschools and benefited over 30,000 children at the age of 3-6 since 2008. Among which SG China sponsored the one in Ganzhai village of Longling county which has 41 children now. The project also benefited teachers and parents who receive regular trainings on preschool children education and nutrition. "

It is precisely because of the care and support from Societe Generale that Preschools of the Future can bloom the flower of hope in remote rural areas. Ganzhai Village is just a starting point.

The Preschools of the Future project in Ganzhai Village has some unspent funds, and Societe Generale agrees to continue to use this fund to support a Preschool of the Future in Qiaojia County. The fund is mainly used for re-decorating classrooms and configuring teaching aids, which will benefit 25 children.

We are proud for the achievements of Ganzhai Preschool, and moreover we will also work hard for more children in remote villages. With such a common goal, before the return trip on July 30, Mr. Michael, the Chief Representative, invited the Societe Generale visiting group to Yunnan Representative Office, where everyone exchanged and shared around the theme of "serving rural children".

This visit was unforgettable to everyone. As Mr. Marnierre said, it was a pragmatic lesson. The children's brilliant laughter and infinite vision are vivid, which encourage us to move forward hand in hand and help the continuous development of rural preschool education!

Project introduction:

Longling County-Ganzhai Preschool Project is funded by Societe Generale (China) Co., Ltd. and implemented under the ‘Good Start on Life’ program of China Charities Aid Foundation for Children. The objective of community preschool education project is to help needy children to get rid of poverty: opening preschool at a natural village in remote poverty-stricken area and using classrooms transformed from all kinds of rooms. The project has also recruited and trained local preschool teachers and established parent committee. Besides traditional courses, the children will also study knowledge in aspects of nature, nutrition and sanitary and how to express themselves through art and music. These children are usually 3-6 years old, and they will be able to fully prepare themselves for primary school by taking part in preschool education.

The project is funded by Societe Generale (China) Co., Ltd.

The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the donor.