Project Torch Students in China Celebrate Lunar New Year with Orphans

Feb 16, 2010 02:37 PM EST

Prior to the Lunar New Year, around 20 Chinese university students who have been receiving financial assistance for their tuition and living expenses participated in a Project Torch winter event where they got to spent time with local orphans and middle school students.

From February 1st to 3rd, these students from various provinces throughout China, such as Nanjing, Shanghai, Henan, Qingdao, etc., engaged in conversations and activities with 50 orphans and middle school students from the Zhoukou City in Henan Province. Throughout the event, the Project Torch students and the orphans got to learn about social-interaction and making friends.

Project Torch beneficiary students said that this was an unforgettable experience for them. Pan-Pan Jiang, a student from Nanjing Agricultural University, said that it almost felt like going back to her childhood times, where she could sense the courage, friendship, care, and sincerity that overflowed.

Moreover, Jiang wished to pass down this love with her biggest efforts and hoped to gain a deeper understanding of “xin-jing-huo-chuan”, which means to burn completely and pass down the flame.

Project Torch is part of the initiatives of Hong Kong Christian Council’s Five Loaves and Two Fish Campaign. Its objective is to assist talented but financially disadvantaged students to receive university education. From 2005 to 2008, over 433 students have benefitted from the program.