In August 2008, HPP launched the Preschools of the Future project in Taozizhai Village of Nansan Township, Zhenkang County. Until October 2016, the project has accumulated established 58 preschool classes in natural villages of Nansan, Mengdui, Junnong, Mangbing and Junsai Townships of Zhenkang County. Currently 29 of the classes are in operation, catering for 609 students. Since the beginning of the project, a total of 3,983 children have benefited from the preschool classes.


In HPP we believe that a community must develop through its own capacity and efforts. In every preschool class a parents’ committee is formed. The parents seek approval of the local authorities, find the idle building, refurbish the idle building inside and outside and maintain it over the years. The parents also identify the local villager they trust to become a good community teacher (to be trained for 3 years by HPP), negotiate and agree with her on her monthly allowance. The parents guide the operation and management of the preschool class. They decide the class starting and finishing time and are responsible for the organizing of special events.

On the other hand the parents get trained bi-monthly on parenting, child development, nutrition, hygiene, etc to learn to become better parents.

POF schools are community based and the classrooms used are normally idle rooms like former spot schools, empty classrooms in primary schools, activity rooms or culture rooms. The local community refurbish the rooms so that it is possible to turn them into a learning environment.

At Taozizhai preschool the teacher found that during the rainy season the one of the roofs were leaking. The parents met discussing how to solve this problem. A conclusion was reached that the buildings’ roof, doors and windows should be demolished and reconstructed anew. China Charities Aid Foundation for Children had promised under their previous project visit to support the POF class and therefore the parents got funding for the materials used in the renovations. An action was organized by the parents and villagers in Taozizhai to demolish the damaged parts of the building and to re-construct where needed. After the construction of the new roof the classrooms were refurbished so that the preschool children could resume their classes.

In addition to the renovations which were done at Taozizhai preschool, the preschools in Zhenkang received a variety of donations from society. The Vice Secretary for China Charities Aid Foundation for Children donated 365 preschool education magazines to the preschools. Mr Lin Xin, one of the local residents in Zhenkang County, donated refrigerators to Pingzizhai and Gangtan preschools; furthermore 3 of the preschools, Mantouzhai, Pingzizhai and Gangtan received bedding linen for the preschool children, water purifying machines and also some equipment like microphones to use for the schools’ special events.

The support which is given to POF Zhenkang by the local authorities and the community at large goes a long way in showing the solidarity and passion which they have for the preschools. This demonstrates the love they have in doing all they can to make sure the children grow up in a friendly and nurturing environment.