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No matter how many times we have visited the Spring Bud Classes WIPA is sponsoring, your heart is always touched by the heartfelt gratitude of the girls and their parents for the educational opportunity.

Police provided an escort for the last 30 minutes to the village of Paizhaowan, in Jiayu County, Hubei Province, China.  When at last we arrived on the dusty road leading to the school building, the entire village was already sitting in chairs on a dirt field facing a new 2-foot high cement stage.  There was a blue curtain backdrop on the stage, which had the words “World of Love” written on it. Our delegation of five members, Juana and Sam Conrad, Rosalie Tran, Bahia Mitchell and Gloria Mogharabi, and Cui Linlin,  All China Women’s Federation, and our translator Liu, along with the Jiayu County officials were ushered onto the stage after passing through throngs of students lined up to greet us shouting “welcome.” 

As you might imagine, our tears were falling like rain.  While we were standing on the stage, 5 members of our Spring Bud Class presented our delegation with beautiful bouquets of flowers.  Then the class took their seats that were reserved in the front row of a sea of families, friends, teachers and other students.   The leader of the Spring Bud Class came onto the stage, stepped up to the microphone and gave a very inspiring speech referring to us as their American mothers.  Some of the points from her speech were, how much they value the privilege of their education and without our help, they would not be able to read or write.  It was an extraordinary speech, poetic references complete with beautiful metaphors.  We were so moved by her speech that it was very difficult for our President, Mrs. Juana Conrad, to give her remarks.  She greeted the assembled dignitaries and guests, Spring Bud girls and their parents and pointed out that even though we live on the other side of the world, we are all one family.  She spoke about how proud WIPA is of our Spring Bud Girl’s and not a day passes that we don’t think about them and how proud we are of their achievements.  She made the point that WIPA members from all over the world contribute specifically for their education.  She encouraged the girl’s to study hard, to pass their middle school exams so they could go onto senior school.    Mrs. Conrad said she knew they would be successful in life because they were reaching their full potential and could enter whatever field they wanted, then she finished her comments and the translator told her that her heart was very moved by the speech as she felt Mrs. Conrad’s love for the Spring Bud Girls.

Following the speeches, we were escorted to the Spring Bud Classroom.  The delegation was able to interact with the girls, talk to them, and give them gifts of backpacks for books, notebooks and pencils.  The girls are learning English and wanted to try it out their skills.   Mrs. Conrad asked them what they wanted to be after they finish their education.  10 wanted to be doctors or nurses, 7 or 8 teachers, one boldly said I want to be President of China.  A few wanted to be singers and Mrs. Conrad asked if they could sing a Chinese song with her.  Together they sang a classical children’s song, which delighted the girls.

 Most of the girls are now in the 8^th grade and as tall as we are.  The class size is now 43 down from 50.  Seven have dropped out due to various reasons, including some whose parents died and the girls were sent to live in other villages with other family members.

After a group picture, a few brave girls asked for souvenir flowers from Mrs. Conrad’s bouquet.  She gave each girl a flower and others saw what was happening and ran over to get one too, until the entire bouquet was gone.

Finally, the delegation was escorted to a memorial of the 17 soldiers who lost their lives during the flood of 1998.  It was after this devastating flood that WIPA began helping the girls of the village to receive education.  Originally, overseas Chinese living in the United States sent a donation through WIPA to re-establish the school after the flood damage. WIPA members have provided the education for the Spring Bud Class since 1998.

We would appreciate your contribution to this worthy effort of supporting Spring Bud Girls who would not have education without our help.   Send a check or money order to

WIPA SPRING BUD GIRLS

P. O. BOX 9619

GLENDALE, CALIF.  91226-0619