2016.08.12

A grand completion ceremony for sub-grade construction at Sanyuan Village, Nanjiang County, was held on August 11, 2016. The event was attended by more than 50 distinguished guests, including Mr. Li Shao'ai, general manager of Times Property Guangzhou Branch (North) and chairman of the Charity Foundation Guangzhou Branch (North); Ms. Li Yanming, manager of the Personnel Administration Department of Times Property Guangzhou Branch (North) and member of the Charity Foundation Branch; Mr. Lin Baiwei, regional investment director of Times Property Guangzhou Branch (North); Mr. Zhang Yu, member of the Charity Foundation Branch; and the mayor and officials of Huitan Township, Sanyuan Village, Nanjiang County.

·The unveiling of Times' Road to Happiness

Sanyuan Village, in Nanjiang County's Huitan Township, is situated at the junction of Sichuan/Shaanxi provinces in the county's northeastern corner, abutting the counties of Nanjiang, Nanzheng and Tongjiang. It is approximately a ten-hour drive from downtown Chongqing to Huitan Township. A 13.8-kilometer road within the territory of Huitan is a class-4 mountain track surfaced in dirt and stone chips--called macadam--so travel is subject to great inconvenience. This year Nanjiang was designated as an impoverished county, whereupon it became a key area for the receipt of national support. In March, the Times Property Charity Foundation eagerly agreed to participate in the Smooth Traffic Project initiated by the Nanjiang County People's Government, a program designed to help alleviate poverty. Thus the Foundation donated RMB 250,000 for sub-grade construction in Sanyuan Village. The construction work was completed through a process that lasted nearly six months.

·Photo of the completion ceremony

At the ceremony, the township's mayor expressed his sincere gratitude for the donation given by the Charity Foundation. "We will live up to your benevolence and endeavor to lift our people out of poverty, so that we can all prosper together," he said. Ms. Li Yanming, a member of the Charity Foundation Guangzhou Branch (North), addressed the ceremony on behalf of Times Property. She stressed that the Charity Foundation has always adhered to the purpose of "upholding truth, accumulating goodness, promoting virtue and contributing," to which she added that the Foundation upholds the value of "giving care and receiving love." Through such acts of love, the Charity Foundation provides support and assistance to people in need. Times Property will, as always, give back to society with a loving heart, doing so in the spirit of gratitude. At the completion ceremony, local villagers expressed thanks to Times Property, speaking in their distinct Chongqing accent: "We are truly grateful," they said. "Thanks to your help, we can reach the outside world and our lives will become more convenient than before."

·Photo of the completion ceremony

The completion ceremony ended, and we, together with township officials, visited Huitan Township Primary School. According to the school principal, the facility has a student body of more than 200 and a staff of 20 teachers. He said it was difficult for children from mountainous areas to go to school, because many of them would have to walk hours along mountain paths in order to do so. Moreover, teachers are reluctant to come to remote areas where educational resources are far below the national standard. Now, however, the school is endeavoring to leverage all available resources and build a teacher dorm and encourage volunteer teachers to share their knowledge. Meanwhile, the school hopes to build a library, so that the children's horizons can be broadened.

·Visit to the Huitan Township library

The donation activity touched us to the core. When we looked in the eyes of these people from deep in the mountains, we saw not only anticipation but also the tenacity and courage with which they face the challenges of their natural environment. They forge ahead despite the struggle. They do not simply surrender to an age-old destiny. Surely their strength and spirit will motivate us as we continue our efforts in life and work.