Editor’s note: This blog is written by our volunteer, Zhen Wei (魏臻), who is working for the Microsoft Technical Computing group in Shanghai, China. His group and CTEF are fundraising together and trying to build a school in his hometown – Nanchong, Sichuan. If you would like to donate for this project, you can make an online donation or write a check to CTEF with the note “Microsoft TC School in Sichuan”.
我们微软高性能计算上海团队去年探访了四川省一所条件艰苦的村小，那正是我的家乡所在地。我们当时带去一些教学物资，捐了7000多人民币，之后其他团队有的同事也表示出了捐助的意愿。在此，我们恳请大家更进一步地支持慈善、传递爱心 –– 我们将会争取募捐到20万人民币（约3万美元），为那里的孩子们建立一所希望小学。
· 目标简介 我们想与明日中华教育基金会（CTEF）合作，捐建一所小规模的小学。CTEF旨在帮助改善中国农村教育状况，他们与微软以及华协（CHIME） 有长期良好的合作关系。如果能募集到20万人民币（包括微软对员工的等额匹配捐款），我们就能为70多个孩子和他们的家庭拥有一所学校的美梦成真。
· 背景动机 我们团队去年去四川旅游的时候，在网上偶然得知当地南充日报对我家乡的一所“夫妻小学”的报道。该山区以务农为主，主要收入来源为外出打工的农民工，人均月收入只有 600元左右。三年以前，很多孩子辍学在家，因为乡中心小学距离太远，低龄儿童无法独立上下学或住校生活。鉴于此，一对夫妻老师建立了这个民办村小，教书育人，这也重新燃起了许多家庭的希望。因经济拮据，他们租用农民房作为两间教室，一间土坯房，一间砖瓦房，房屋破旧，光线昏暗。该村小的运营费用，包括教师工资、蒸饭工人工资和房租等，仅靠幼儿园学生缴纳的学费和国家财政为每个小学生配发一年250元的补贴。由于房租年年上涨，连这样简陋的小学也渐渐难以为继。在探访期间，我们被孩子们的求知渴望和老师的无私奉献所深深感动，详情请参阅我们发在微软亚太研发集团博客上的文章。
请您行动
o 我们春节后会在微软上海的办公楼组织一场项目介绍会，期待您的参加。到时您可以选择现场捐款，或是之后通过银行转帐到我们的专户里面。我们计划在学校的介绍铭牌刻上捐款达到或超过1000元（或200美元）的热心朋友的名字。
o 口口相传：转发这个博客或转讲这个故事给您的家人朋友。
· 问题解答
o 本次募捐仅限于微软技术计算(TC, Technical Computing)部门吗？
§ 不是，这一慈善努力由我们TC部门员工发起，乐于接受所有热心人的捐助。
o 如何确保合理使用我的捐款？
§ 我，魏臻，将作为CTEF的志愿者担任本项目的项目经理，负责跟踪和监控捐款的使用情况。我们找到一位信得过的乡中心小学副校长作为当地联系人，将会详细记录和报告捐款使用情况，并在学校建设的各个阶段发送照片。
o 新学校的所有权归谁？各利益相关方都协调好了吗？
§ 我们已经与村小老师、村委会领导、乡中心小学校长和县教育局官员达成书面协议：新学校归村委会所有，仅限于教育目的。CTEF董事会也同意了我们的项目提议。
o 该小学位置在哪？
§ 四川省南充市营山县合兴乡糖房村大垭口http://cn.bing.com/ditu/?v=2&encType=1&cid=806B47350BB8F7FC!3502.
o 如果这两位老师不能继续上课了怎么办，特别是政府最近在推行“清退民办教师”的政策？
§ 乡中心小学的校长称没有接到任何通知，在当地师资力量有限的情况下清退民办教师不太现实，就算以后清退了，他承诺会安排其他正规教师来这里上课。
o 小学的占地面积和每平方米成本是多少？
§ 占地约400平方米，预算建设成本约500元/平米。由于两个原因成本比预想的略高：1)该址交通不便，从县城开车4小时，还要走30分钟山路，故而运费较高；2)经实地考察拟建校位置，地基需要打得比较深。
o 捐款仅限于二月吗？小学什么时候竣工？
§ 无此限制，二月的捐款将用于修建小学，计划于今年秋季开学前竣工。二月以后的捐款将被用于购买教学用具：桌椅、书籍、乒乓球台等。
o 其他问题或建议？
§ 请Email联系魏臻或George Yan
后续的捐款、进度情况也会及时列出。天寒人心暖，让我们伸出温暖的手，送给四川山区的儿童一份礼物 -- 希望小学。恭祝大家新春快乐！
We, the Microsoft HPC Shanghai team, visited a poor village school in my hometown, Sichuan last year after the major earthquake; we donated over 7K RMB on the spot. We’re hoping that you can join our charity effort – raise 200k RMB (or 30k USD) in this February to build a small school.
· What we want to do We would like to help build a small elementary school, partnering with China Tomorrow Education Foundation (CTEF, aiming to improve the education in rural China). If we can raise 200k RMB (30k USD) with Microsoft’s match for employee’s donation counted, then we can make the school a dream come true for 70+ students and their families.
· Why we want to help We went to Sichuan for a morale trip and happened to know this “Couple-Run School” from a local newspaper’s report in my hometown. The mountain area has only agriculture as the major industry. While the main incoming comes from migrant labor force working in big cities far away, the average incoming is about 600 RMB (less than 100USD) per month. 3 years ago, many students there discontinued studies because it’s too far away to go to the only one central primary school ran by government. At that time, 2 teachers (husband and wife) founded this small school outside of government education system, to keeping the education for the local children -- the hope for many families. The teacher are running this small school with 250 RMB/year for each elementary school child from country finance and kindergarten students’ tuition fee and need to cover rental. Due to limited income, they are renting 2 terrible-condition classrooms from a peasant and barely able to afford the increasing rental fee. During the trip, we are deeply moved by the children’s hunger for learning and the teachers’ devotion for education. Microsoft China R&D blog has forwarded our trip report.
· What help we need from YOU
o Come to the project introduction meeting in Microsoft Shanghai office after Chinese New Year. Then you can choose to donate on the spot or later, cash or bank account transfer. (More information will be posted here.) We plan to make a plaque listing the donor names above $200 (or 1000 RMB).
o Spread the word: Forward this blog or tell this story to you family and friends.
· FAQ
o Is this donation restricted to the Technical Computing organization, Microsoft?
§ No, we as TC team is initiating this charity effort and appreciate donations from all warm hearted people.
o How do I know the money will be well utilized for the school project?
§ I will be the project manager, as a CTEF volunteer, responsible for tracking donation usage and monitoring the construction periodically. I have identified a vice-principal of the central village school as a worthwhile coordinator, and will report detailed donation usage and send photos for each important construction milestone.
o Who will be the new school owner? Do all stakeholders agree with this plan?
§ We’ve got written agreement from the teachers, village head, central school principals and county education bureau officers: New school will be founded for education purpose only, and will be owned by village governing committee. The CTEF board has approved our project proposal.
o Where is the project located?
§ Dayakou, Tangfang, Hexing, Yingshan, Sichuan. http://cn.bing.com/ditu/?v=2&encType=1&cid=806B47350BB8F7FC!3502.
o What if the 2 teachers cannot sustain, especially when government pushes the “Forcing unofficial teachers to quit” policy:
§ The central village school principal doesn’t think this can be executed in the coming years, and commits to arrange other teachers there if that happens.
o What’s the school floor area and cost per square meter?
§ It’s about 400 square meters and 500 RMB/square meter. The cost is higher than expected because of 2 reasons: 1)the transportation material transportation fee is high due to terrible traffic and long distance – 4 hours’ drive from county and 30 minutes’ walk from road to the school. 2) It needs deep digging to build a good foundation after experiment.
o Is February a hard stop for donation? When can the school be built up?
§ No, donation in February will be used for school construction. The school is planned to be put to use for next semester(September). So donation after February and before September will be used for buying desks, books, Ping-Pong tables, etc.
o Other questions or suggestions?
§ Just drop Zhen Wei and George Yan an email.
Following donation and progress can be tracked on this blog. Give the gift of education and change someone's life! Wish you a happy New Year!
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