The Preschool of the Future project in Longling County entered its second year with the support of China Merchants Charitable Foundation and implements the HPP China 'Preschool of the Future project model'. Currently 14 preschool classes in 4 townships have been opened successfully.

China Merchants Charitable Foundation encourages farmers’ self organizing capacity building in its poverty alleviation efforts. Parents and parents’ committees are central to operate the HPPC preschool model in the villages and are a core of farmers’ self organizing development. In order to know more about the HPPC preschool model and local needs, the board of directors of the foundation planed a visit to Longling to prepare the next level of cooperation. As well, they helped HPPC by providing guidance for increasing community capacity building. 

On September 21, 2015, Board Directors, Supervisor and Charity Ambassadors of China Merchants Charitable Foundation came to visit Longling County of Yunnan Province for 3 days with the company of the HPPC Country Representative. Chen Yili, Deputy Chairman and Secretary General of China Merchants Charitable Foundation led the team. Team members included supervisor Wang Chunge, board members Ye Qingdong, Zheng Haijun, Charity Ambassadors Ms. Guo Jinjin, Ms. Hong Xuelan, Ms. Xu Gan, Ms. Zhang Wenjuan and project supervisor Li Hai and Deng Xiaolin. They visited the project in Mandan village, Hannong village and Shidonghe village implemented by HPPC and Heifer China.

On September 22, We accompanied the group to visit the “Comprehensive Development Project for Western Yunnan’s Impoverished Communities” that was implemented by Sichuan Heifer and funded by China Merchants Charitable Foundation. HPPC staff enjoyed learning more about implementation of comprehensive community development projects.

On September 23, HPPC Country Representative, staff of Longling County Poverty Alleviation and Development Office and Deputy Mayor of Longshan Town, Longling County accompanied the group to visit preschools of the future project implemented by HPPC in Mandan village and Hannong village and funded by the foundation. They first visited Mandan preschool, observed teacher Yang’s open class and talked with the teacher and parents friendly. Mandan village is a village where they are many people from the Achang etnic minority. Achang people can sing and dance well. They have great hospitality. But because it is in remote mountainous areas, people are dispersed over wide areas, and information is relatively inaccessible. For a long time it is underdeveloped. The Preschool of the Future project opened a window for the village. It does not only help children to receive preschool education, but also helps to educate the community. Community cohesion is strengthened. Then the visitor group watched Achang dances presented by children and parents and learned how the Achang dance is based on field work. After the performance, on behalf of the foundation, the visitors gave the children wax pencils and drawing boards as gifts. The school also gave pictures made by children with clay as present to the foundation to show their gratitude.

In the afternoon, the group visited Hannong preschool of Hannong village. The board of directors, supervisor and charity ambassadors observed drawing lesson of the class at senior grades, and they helped the children one on one to finish the drawing. Some children gave their drawings to the visitors as presents. When the visitors saw the passion of the children for drawing and their unique imagination, they all witnessed the necessity and benefit of supporting Longling Preschool of the Future project. They gave wax pencil and other painting tools to the children as presents. Later, the visitors talked briefly with parents, village leaders, township leaders and leaders of the Bureau of Education and Poverty Alleviation and Development Office, discussed children’s change, asked for parents’ suggestions and sought ideas to better develop the preschools. Parents said that the preschools were very welcomed and they were positive in relation to open more preschools. Ms. Guo Jinjin advised parents to pay very high attention to children’s nutrition. Use local resources to enable children to eat healthily and with enough nutrition. Michael, Country Representative of HPPC recommended parents to tell stories regularly to the children so as to build closer relationships and develop children’s imagination and interests.   

At dinner time, HPPC team, China Merchants Charitable Foundation group, counterparts, and government officers held a brief conclusion meeting. The leaders and members of the study tour group all expressed that they were very touched by this visit and they also expressed their gratitude to local government’s support and the work of local counterparts. 

Link to CMCF report.



Li Jiancai, project manager of HPPC Preschoolof the Future Project introducing the project 


Ms. Guo Jinjin giving gift to preschool kids  


Drawing lesson of Hannong preschool 


Ms. Hong Xuelan drawing with children of Hannong preschool 


Li Hai, CMCF project supervisor discussingwith parents in Hannong village 


The Secretary General and preschool children givingeach other presents.