Education breaks poverty

Zhang is a shy 10-year old girl who goes to school in the village Chuyi Pu in southern China. Zhang lost both her parents when she was five and she lives with her grandmother in a small ramshackle house, without water or electricity.

Her grandmother's economy is bad and she couldn't afford to pay the school fee. She could start school thanks to financial aid from a Swedish NGO. Zhang is a talented and highly motivated student which you can see on the scarf she proudly wears around her neck. The scarfs are handed out by the headmaster of the school to students who have studied and behaved well. 



Nearly 12 years has gone since I met Zhang and her grandmother. She was highly motivated when she was 10 and if she kept that motivation I belive that Zhang has been able to break out of poverty and create a better future for herself.

Text and Photo: Mikael Good