From:
Yuan Xiaoping
Female
Xining, Qinghai Province, P.R.China.
Dear Madam Mariah,
My name is Yuan-Xiaoping, one of the many students you have sponsored, and I am currently studying in Huanghe Science & Technology College in Zhengzhou, Henan province. I live in the city of Xining in Qinghai province. My house, in which lives with my father Yuan-Zhengyuan, mother Ma-Lanying, two younger sisters Yuan-Xiaoqin and Yuan-Xiaoxia and a younger brother Yuan-Xiaolong, is just opposite the One-Seal Mosque. I received the 2000-yuan sponsorship on 16th February 2009 and I can only show my appreciation through this letter right now since I’m still just a student. I will show my thankfulness to your help and kindness through my accomplishment and charity actions as one who has been helped.
My eyes were blurred by tears when I first received the college offer, while it was a mixture of happiness of success and sorrow and worries due to financial difficulties. It was real hard for my unemployed parents to afford my school fees with their 900-yuan monthly income. My younger sister has already dropped out of school due to poverty. I was really in dilemma seeing my parents working so hard with their illness-tortured bodies to earn a life for us. To continue my education means to put a huge burden on them and make my family even more impoverished, while to resign from school means I’m giving up my whole future. Fortunately, it was madam you who brought us hope at that moment.
Words were not enough to express my excitement and appreciation at the moment knowing that I was sponsored by the Muslims from Singapore. You gave me confidence to fight for a better future. This is not the first time I have to drop out from school, but it was also so fortunate for me to receive help from my teachers, my classmates and you, Madam Mariah again and again so that I can return to school. I won’t be able to even have the chance to fight for my dream and life without the help from all the benevolent people like you. Your kindness really cheered me up just like the warm sunshine in winter time.
You have always been encouraging me when I was in any hardship though we didn’t even see each other before. The 2000-yuan sponsorship each year is not merely financial aid but also spiritual support. You not only help me but also taught me the values of love. It is love that brought people together and I will finish my college with excellent academic achievements and work hard to show my appreciation to you and everyone else who has cared and helped me.
May Allah bless all the kind people like Madam Mariah and I wish you all the best with your work, your health and everything.
Yours, sincerely.
Yuan Xiaoping
19/02/2009
From:
Shan Zhijun
Male
Guyuan , Ningxia Hui’s Autonomous Region, P.R.China
Dear Madam Mariah,
How are you? I’m now studying Mechanization and Automation in the Institution of Technology of Liaoning. I live in Shannan village in the Xiji County of Guyuan with my father Shan-Wencheng, mother Li-Yuanlan, elder borther Shan-Zhifu, elder sister Shan-Jing and younger brothers Shan-Zhiqiang and Shan-Zhibing. My family has been depending on farming in the desolated rocky mountains to earn a life for generations, and my parents really stretched to their last to feed the five children. I was so fortunate to receive your help when I was in hardship. It really brought me hope and determination of the future. The school has also postponed the date of payment for me in order to give me a better chance to study. I have already picked up a job as a private tutor to earn my own life and all this won’t have been possible without your help. I wish to show my sincere appreciation to you through this letter and wish you everything the best. ( I received the sponsorship on 11 February 2009, the amount was 2000-yuan)
Yours, sincerely
Shan Zhijun
22/02/2009
From:
Mu Jianhong
Female
Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui’s Autonomous Region
Dear Madam Mariah,
This is Mu Jianhong from Ningxia. With your sponsor, I’m now able to study Mechanic Engineering in University of Ningxia. I am awfully grateful to you. Thank you very much!
I live in Xiji county, Guyuan city of Ningxia. There has been persistent draught for years and our crops were hardly harvested. My parents were almost fifty and had been suffering from ails for long. We are depending on my mother and father to work from day to night in the desolated field for a living. It was in 2006 when we have to leave one of our beloved family members to die at home since we are too poor to afford medicine. Since then, I really understood how hard it is even to survive in this world. My sister and I have planned to quit school since it was impossible for my family to afford our school fees. There was hardly any hope at that time.
Nevertheless, there are always benevolent people like you who gave us a hand and helped us to return to school. With your help, I fulfilled my dream as the very first one to go to college in my family and I am now able to endeavor for my future again.
I saved every possible cent while studying in the college and tried to make use of every cent wisely. I finally had the opportunity to shape my own future in the college. I set clear goals for everyday, worked diligently with strict self-discipline. I learnt the importance to train myself as a benefactor by being active in social activities and helping other needy students. It is really honorable for me to be selected as the class secretary this year. I really believe that a meaningful life is to contribute to rather than to demand from others. My college life made me confident and I am sure I will make my life much better.
It is my obligation to spare no effort on study as a student and only then I can requite my parents and everyone who helped me. I will work hard to keep improving myself and to make my home town a better place for everyone.
My college life is really great and all these would not have been possible without your help. I really awfully appreciate your support and wish you all the best. Selam.
Mu Jianhong
12/02/2009
From:
Ma Botao
Male
Xiji county, Ningxia Hui’s Autonomous Region
Dear Madam Mariah Mah,
Assalam Allaikum.
My name is Ma Botao , I’m almost 19 this year and this is my second year in the Mining Industry University of China. I am really grateful for your support and help.
I received your 2000-yuan sponsorship from Xiji Charity Centre during the winter vacation. It is now the new term and I am so excited and confident to further upgrade myself. I have learnt a lot in college. I understand now how competitive and demanding the world beyond the mountains is and I can only survive it with my consistent efforts. I’ve known a lot of new friends and they all have been so helpful and kind with me. I have always believing that Allah is merciful and every one of us is blessed.
Once again, I am really very grateful for your help and may Allah bless you and everyone from your family. Wish you’re healthy and happy life.
Jumah Ma Botao
02/2009
From:
Ma Wenguo
Male
Shenxi Province
Dear Madam Mariah,
Assalam Allaikum. To Allah be the glory.
I received my offer from Chang’an University in August 2008. I was really happy but hesitating. My parents were not really content since I was admitted by the Irrigation and Hydraulic Engineering department which is not a popular one. They have always been very strict and supportive with my education but they are truly aware how expensive it is. The burden of living was beard by my father alone since my mother was too weak to work in the field. I am the youngest among my three brothers and they are in college as well. Our school fees alone are enough to make my family bankrupt. At that very hard time, it was you who gave me support and hope and I will work hard to requite you.
My last term’s academic results were not ideal enough and I will keep on working. I have always been praying for you and may Allah bless you and grant you journey safety and a happy life.
There are few Muslim students in the college so our life and activities have been restricted in some extent. I really feel guilty that some of my Muslim friends have almost lost their faith and engaged in tobacco and alcohol abuse. I have always been reminding myself that life without faith worth nothing and I will always keep my faith no matter poor or rich.
Assalam Allaikum.
Ma Wenguo
From:
Zhou Pengcheng
Male
Ningxia
Dear Sister Mariah
A very happy New Year to you and wish you all the best in this New Year. On 14th February 2009, I received your sponsorship of 2000-yuan again. In can once again continue my education and life because of you.
I’m really grateful and moved when writing this letter. It was you who gave me a hand whenever I am in a hard time. My mother has been suffering from arthritis for years and we have spent everything on medication. We couldn’t even afford my education without your help.
Now, I can sit in the commodious and bright classroom to absorb the wisdom of this new, broad world. I am really so grateful for your support. I have always been missing my mother. She has been spending over ten years on bed and she cannot take care of herself at all due to the illness. It was my father alone who ensured the surviving of my family. Both I and my brother are in school now and it was really hard for the two of us to continue our education. Had you not helped us, we would have quitted school. If it was so, we would have to go out to work for a living.
Every spring, your sponsorship brings hope to my family just like the sun brings life back to the earth. All of the students you have sponsored know how valuable this opportunity to study is and we will cherish every drop of your kindness and love.
On behalf of my family and every student who received your support and love, I want to tell you that we are very grateful for your kindness and wish you all the very best. I will spare no effort to study hard in order as my appreciation to your help and we are all keen to help those we are in the same condition as we were in the future.
Once again, thank you very much and wish a happy and prosperous life.
Zhou Pengcheng
23/02/2009
From:
Wang Jinlong
Male
Xiji county, Ningxia Hui’s Autonomous Region
Dear Madam Mariah,
Assalam Allaikum.
My name is Wang Jinlong and I am currently studying Mechanization and Automation in Ningxia University. I live in Xiji county of Ningxia.
Both of my parents, Wang Baocheng and Ma Yueqin, are farmers. The desolated land makes harvest impossible and our annual income is only 4000-yuan. I also have two brothers who are in school as well. My mother has been tortured by all kind of illness due to excess labor but she cannot afford to rest. Otherwise, the whole family will be starving. They have always been very devoted and praying to Allah to help their children with education.
While my parents were so desperately worrying for my school fees, we heard from you and we are all so grateful for your kind support. Words are scarcely enough for me to express my appreciation. My mother, who is poorly educated and does not know where Singapore is, was so touched that she even wanted to visit you to show her thankfulness. My father keeps his gratefulness in hard and prays for while impels us to study hard and be a useful man to the society.
The last winter holiday, I went back to my beloved home. The family union was happy but we once again had to face financial difficulties. At that very time, it was you again who helped me. I received my 200-yuan sponsorship on 11th February 2009 from Xiji Charity Centre. My parents were so happy and grateful.
We are all very thankful for all your effort and charity works. You helped so many families out of hardships. We are here to wish you all the best for your health, works and family.
Wang Jinglong
From:
Ding Xiaoli
Female
Xiji county, Ningxia Hui’s Autonomous Region
Dear Mariah,
Assalam Allaikum. It’s really my honor to know you and I’m really grateful for your help. Thank you very much! It is you who gave me hope when I was troubled by my living expenditure. I want to apologize to you as well since I should have written this letter of appreciation at the beginning of the year. However, I was held back by my endless duties as a class committee member and a student councilor. I really beg your pardon.
Now, I am studying law and English language in the Central University for Nationalities of China. My name is Ding Xiaoli and I’m 20-year-old girl from Xiji, Ningxia. My father Ding Yinlin is a famous and reverent Imam of the Jaharinya Muslims who took part in the translation of many Quran writings. Unfortunately, my 29-year-old father left us forever in a car accident when I was only 9 in 1998. He left my mother and my two other sisters, one was 6 and the other was only 3. In order to pay for the medication debt owed to the hospital and to support our education, my mother worked from dawn to dusk and was just able to feed us. My mum is a really tough Muslim woman, she never given up and insisted that all of us three sisters must finish our school.
With the encouragement of my mother and her strict discipline, all the three of us had achieved very well in our academy and finished our school with scholarships and financial aids earned by our outstanding performance. I have taken our all the housework when I was 10 and as a consequence, I am a very good cook now. The challenge and hardship did not defeat me but made me an extrovert and active girl. I am gregarious and athletic. I am good at table tennis and basketball. After entering college, I not only joint the student council but also the basketball association and even worked as Physical Education Rep. My mother is really proud of me.
As a college student, I need to be more independent. My sisters are in high school now and I don’t want to add more burden to my family. Time has left traces on my mother’s face and I’m really worried about her. So far, I have got loans from the national bank to pay for my education. I used to do part time work to pay for my living expenditure but as a double-degree student I hardly had time. The university life is really challenging since the students are scholars from all over China and the education in my hometown, Ningxia is one of the poorest among them. I show to pay extra effort in order to not only survive in this world but to live a meaningful life. I have been working as private tutor during vacation and earned my stationary fees. This is still a long way for me to go and I will keep on working.
I have received the 2000-yuan sponsorship on 10th February and I really hope that we can be friends. This is a lot more I need to learn from you and I hope I can receive your reply and to see your picture. Wish you all the best for work and family.
Xiaoli
01/03/2009
From:
Ma Xin
Female
Xiji county, Ningxia Hui’s Autonomous Region
Dear Madam Mariah,
How are you? This is Ma Xin from a remote village in Xiji county of Ningxia. I am admitted by the History and Law major in Teacher’s College of Ningxia in 2008. I am very grateful to your sponsorship.
I came from a very special family. My parents took their refugee away from famine when I was very young and we lost touch since then. It was my grandparents who brought me up and supported my primary school education. However, they were no longer able to finance for my secondary school but they really couldn’t let me quite from school. My grandfather sent me to my aunt’s family hoping she can give me a hand. My aunt has three sons but no daughter and she adopted me and treated me like her own daughter. They depend on farming for living as well and are thus not rich enough to support all of us. My two elder cousins quitted school and went to work in other provinces in order to reduce the family’s burden and to ensure me and my younger cousin can finish our school.
In the year of 2008, I received the offer from college. Everyone in my family was so happy for me but the very fact of financial difficulty depressed all of us. They borrowed from everyone they could think of and it was just enough to pay for one semester. I couldn’t do anything other than working hard to make every cent they paid worthy.
Fortunately, at the right beginning of the second semester in 2009, I received the 2000-yuan sponsorship from your charity center. It was really I would like to show my appreciation and thankfulness to you on behalf of my whole family. We hope that everything goes well always for you. With your help and encouragement, I will work diligently and to requite everyone who helped me by helping those needy people like me.
Assalam Allaikum!
Ma Xin
20/02/2009
From:
Li Xueqin
Female
Xiji county, Ningxia Hui’s Autonomous Region
Dear Madam Mariah,
How are you? My name is Li Xueqin and I’m a Muslim girl fron Xiji, Ningxia who is currently studying International Economy and Trade in Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology.
Being grown up in a remote village, I know clearly how hard life is, how exhausted my parents are after daily labor and how importance knowledge is to change one’s life. I have thought of to quit school when seeing my parents working so hard in the field with their exhausted bodies. They have always been encouraging and impelling me to study hard so that I can change my future. For years I have been studying very diligently to fulfill their expectations and to requite them a better life.
Effort was paid and I was finally admitted by Xi’an University. My parents and brother were all so happy for me but they were also aware about our financial condition. My brother lost his left eyeball in a car accident and two of my uncles even lost their lives. As a truck driver, my brother was no longer able to work with the remained eye and our poor family was even more impoverished. Our only income is derived from farming field. Though my parents have been farming so hard, there was hardly any harvest due to worsening environment conditions and the national policy which forced the farmers to turn their fields back to natural grassland. In such conditions, my school fees really look like astronomic numbers.
Likely, it was the Xiji Charity Center who helped me in that very time. I felt like a bird finding water in the desert when receiving the 2000-yuan sponsorship on 10 February 2009. All these sponsorships are from the benevolent people like Madam you. I am really thankful to all these people who are devoted to help the less fortunate like me.
I will work harder to succeed and to help others who are less fortunate and needy. I really wish that everything good for you and thank you once again!
Li Xueqin
01/03/2009
