China Program Report 2003
Environmental Action Program (EAP):
Facilitators' Extracts
Tian Hongyan (standing with her baby)
facilitating a studying group in her home
Ms. Tian HongYan from Dingbian County, Shaanxi Province has been a facilitator with the Badi Foundation for the past two years.This is an extract of her description of the beginning of her journey:
"Everybody in the village - my husband, parents, neighbours, friends and others told me that I was a rural women. They seemed to tell me that I would not understand what was happening outside and it was not necessary for me to know. And I thought to myself, I must be such a person, what else could I do except housework, mind my children and work in the field... Badi Foundation's training has given me the power of courage and confidence that pushed me to advance. It enlightened and motivated me. I began to participate and speak up in village meetings.I have the courage to speak to the leaders and consequently I was elected as the village representative."
In November, 2003 Tian Hongyan braved a 9-hour long journey alone and entrusted her sick child to her husband to attend an EAP training course in Mizhi, to relearn the course and to upgrade her skills in facilitating. Her determination, courage and thirst for knowledge touched the hearts of everyone present. She said: "I came all the way to attend the training in Mizhi and left my sick child with my husband because I did not want to miss this golden opportunity for me to learn. We do not have this chance very often."
Wang Qin'er (standing center) from
Ma'an village facilitating in a small group
Ms. Wang Qiner and Wang Suinu, Ma’an Village, Gansu:
"When we came across some phrases and concepts that we did not understand, we investigated together with the participants. The biggest challenge for this small group study was to invite the participants to join the class. Sometimes they would not come on time. We went to their home and helped them with their housework so that they could complete the course. We were also very busy during winter, so we could only study at night. If the weather was too cold, we all sat on the bedheated by the burning wood in order to study."
Sun Yueqin (standing) from Shujiaba
village facilitating in a small group
Ms. Sung Yueqin, Shujiaba village, Gansu Province:
"When I saw the participants smile after solving a problem, I could not help but feel very happy for them for being able to overcome a challenge and for myself to be able to contribute a bit to this process.The participants’ proactiveness and desire to learn make me feel, once more, the importance of knowledge to rural women and their thirst for knowledge and their eagerness to be involved in development."