Xiangtu Chun Qing Primary School (#147, Topic E)

My brother-in-law, Charles, sent me a fax this afternoon, giving me details of the proposed building of the Xiangtu Chun Qing Primary School 象圖純卿小学, in Xiangtu district of Jianchuan County in Yunnan Province. Charles, through his church headquartered in Texas, has built, over the last dozen or so years, some 30 schools in remote areas of China. Funding for building these schools came primarily from Charles's solicitation -- in exchange for their contributions, donors have the opportunity to name schools in honor or in memory of their loved ones. A while back, I subscribed to one such school, but the location has just been identified. The school will be in memory of my mother, who passed away in her early 30s when I was only 10. Xiangtu is situated in one of the remotest districts; it is also one of the poorest. Difficult to reach, it took one of Charles's colleagues three hour of travel time from the county seat -- an hour through sealed roads along the Yushi river valley (which becomes Mekong as it crosses the border to Laos), then 75 minutes on winding roadways with altitude over 12,000 feet amid clouds. The site's remoteness and steepness mean that all building materials must be carried over the mountain -- and, thus, at higher-than-usual cost. By the same token, the need for a serviceable school is also that much more urgent. Since the Jianchuan Education Bureau has agreed to pick up about one-half of the total cost, it is certainly a most meaningful undertaking. In memory of my beloved mother, this is the least I can do. Thus, without a second thought, I called Charles back almost immediately and asked him to proceed. Contract signing will take place Monday, June 12, with contruction to begin next month. Assuming fair weather (snow might make roadway not passable), construction will be complete by December. The school (which seems to follow a standardized design) will have six classrooms (for grades 1-6) and two administrative offices, accommodating some 422 students and faculty. It is hoped that I would have a chance to visit the campus after completion. I must also look into ways to allow these students additional educational opportunities beyond Grade 6.