Symposium on Rural Revitalization Promoted with Maternal Love Education Held in Huazhou, Guangdong

The Symposium on Rural Revitalization Promoted with Maternal Love Education took place at Huazhou Changier Experimental School in Huazhou City, Guangdong Province, on August 8, 2023. Themed “Empowering Family Education with Maternal Love Education and Rural Revitalization with Village Education,” the event brought around 300 officials, experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs together to explore a range of essential topics including the transition from poverty alleviation to rural revitalization, the role of rural education in driving rural development, and the importance of maternal love education.

 One notable outcome of the symposium was the formulation of a five-year work plan for Guangdong’s “High-Quality Development Project for Counties, Towns, and Villages” fueled by the philanthropic efforts of the Beijing Changier Education Foundation. The foundation’s chairman, Zhang Yinjun, who also holds positions as director of the China Economic and Social Council and deputy director of the Women and Children Commission of the Central Committee of China Association for the Promotion of Democracy, presided over the symposium.

In his speech, Zhu Yongxin, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), emphasized that rural revitalization is key to advancing China’s modernization and represents another major national strategic endeavor following the battle against poverty. Guangdong launched the “High-Quality Development Project for Counties, Towns, and Villages” this year, a significant initiative to implement the guiding principles of President Xi Jinping’s important speeches and to promote rural revitalization. “Maternal love is a great force—the source of all human love,” he said. “We should focus on agriculture, care for rural areas, and show love to farmers. Urban areas should support the countryside, industry should support agriculture, and urbanites should support rural residents. Love is the primary driving force.”

Zhu Xiaodan, vice chairman of the China Economic and Social Council, emphasized that following the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, rural revitalization and balanced urban-rural development have been pivotal pieces of China’s modernization endeavors and central tasks for the country’s goal of achieving common prosperity for all. Against this backdrop, Changier seeks to contribute to rural revitalization and education through maternal love education. This approach holds distinct significance in pioneering regions of the reform and opening up like Guangdong and carries even more profound exemplary implications nationwide.

Chen Cungen, president of the China Association of Social Workers, expounded on the significance of maternal love education in assisting rural revitalization from the perspective of social work. “Maternal love education has identified a highly effective entry point for addressing rural social issues.” He highlighted that the maternal love education initiatives initiated by Changier and Kaiming Charity Foundation are tailored to local conditions to promote rural ethical and cultural progress. The activities are flavored by traditional Chinese culture and empower both mothers and children. They have already exerted a positive impact on rural cultural development and education by enhancing ethical standards and promoting civility.