CHINA

In a remote village in Yunan Province, elementary school children live at the school because their homes are too far away to commute. Living conditions at the school were not conducive to learning-- a dormitory with a collapsing roof and hole-in-the-ground outdoor toilets just steps from the "kitchen."

FIRST PROJECT:
Two Small Fishes had a small part in building a dormitory for the students. Buzz took a group of University students from the U.S. to the school in 2008, and they stayed in the new dorm. The Chinese children were amazed that these visitors would come to see them, and they gave a warm welcome. They even slaughtered a pig for the occasion. It was eye opening for the University students who, of course, became quite attached to the children. Everyone, including the teachers, had tearful goodbyes.

SECOND PROJECT:
Library shelves for the school's first library were built and books were purchased. These upgrades are relatively small investments in dollars, but big investments in young lives. How will these children remember the American visitors? How do the people in power react to the fact that foreign strangers are willing to fix this remote school building?  We hope it spurs them to action, and encourages them to invest in their own schools.

CURRENT PROJECT:
The hole-in-the-ground toilets are being modernized for safety and health purposes. When the project is completed, we will publish a photo.