Good news to share

The sudden announcement of the change at EGRC may have surprised or even upset some of you. With this article, we are sharing uplifting news, including the recent award EGRC received in China. The girls are a constant reminder of why we do what we do, and why we should continue our work to advance women through education.

Change is inevitable and with change comes opportunity. We hope that the girls' stories shared here will inspire you to continue supporting them through our programs. We firmly believe that these young women will go on to help transform more lives in the future.

2023 Women Empowerment Award

We were delighted to receive the?2023 Women Empowerment Award?in China. The Award was given by the China Women Empowerment Conference (WEC?website). The ceremony took place in the evening of September 13th at the China?World?Hotel in Beijing with over?400 attendees. EGRC student Wenjing Nan?and the chair of EGRC Beijing Executive Committee?Zhu Bei?accepted?the award and gave a speech on behalf of the Founder.?? ?

This was EGRC's final public appearance in China. We deeply appreciate the honor and support from so many in the past 18 years.

Ching Tien Scholarship Recipients

Huiming Ma is an EGRC alumni and the first student to receive the Ching Tien Scholarship in 2022. In January 2023, she started her Master of Education at the?UBC Okanagan?campus. She received A+ for all three courses she took in the first term.?Huiming has embraced multiculturalism by making friends from different?ethnic backgrounds. Also, she regularly volunteered at an after school care centre?and at?various university?events. Huiming cares deeply about the changes at EGRC and generously offers her help when needed.

"I truly enjoy my life in Canada. It is a different way of living and learning from my experience before. After a while I learned to think more critically and form my?own opinions and ideas on different subjects. On this journey I have received guidance and emotional support from Ms. Tien. One of her friends has continuously tutored me in English. In September?I started a?part-time?job as a life?coach at my university to support junior students. I want to pass on the love I received?from?others."?- Huiming Ma

Jessie Huang?is the second student to be granted the Ching Tien Scholarship/ She will undertake her Master's program in September 2023. She is going to study Educational Leadership & Management?at UK's University of Nottingham.Jessie Huang?obtained?her BA degree from Sias University in Henan Province. During her years at?Sias,?she attended the World Academy for the Future of Women (WAFW)?in 3 consecutive?years. Soon after graduation, she worked as the Executive Assistant to WAFW’s founder. Jessie became a vital asset to WAFW. During the pandemic, she took on the responsibility to keep WAFW going. Recently Jessie led the organization of the 2023 WAFW Symposium with over 10,000 attendees. Jessie has become the first non-EGRC alumna to receive the Ching Tien Scholarship.?

"I am so grateful to be the?recipient of?Ching Tien’s Scholarship. The?scholarship?made my dream come true. Now, I'm looking forward to starting my?Master’s?study in the UK.?I was born and raised in a village in Henan Province. My parents worked hard to send me to university. At WAFW?I learned to be brave,?dared?to dream, and developed my leadership skills through volunteering at local communities.During the time I was managing the?WAFW, I?worked?with Ms. Ching Tien to develop a leadership?program for EGRC girls. I was inspired by Ching and EGRC's mission and achievements. What I did not expect?was?Ching already?lined up a?mentor in UK to help me adapt to a new?culture?and life there." - Jessie Huang

EGRC student at RRU Summer Program in Canada

Wenjing Nan?is in her final undergrad year of?Law and Business Administration in Beijing. She was the first EGRC student to receive a dual?EGRC?and Royal Roads University (RRU) grant?for a four-week language and leadership?course in August 2023.?

Her short four weeks of study?inspired?and?transformed her. Before her course?ended, EGRC received?the following?email from?Paula Jamieson?-?head of the Leadership Academy RRU: "Wenjing (Echo) has been a pure delight throughout the program and I believe she’s a model student for the Leadership Academy."

"Becoming an EGRC member in 2019 was a turning point in my life. Through its influence, I became a more confident woman. This summer experience at RRU was refreshing, exciting and inspiring. I realized that there is a whole world out there waiting for me to explore. I had plenty of opportunities to be out in nature, I made new friends from other countries, and my teachers were encouraging. Overall, I gained a deeper understanding of myself and the world. I made up my mind that one day I will return to Canada!" - Wenjing Nan

2023 EGRC University Graduates

29?EGRC girls graduated from university in the summer of 2023. For a while, there was a concern?about them being able to find work due to China's low economic growth and high unemployment rate.? Last week we received positive?news. Among the 29?graduates,?four are continuing to study Masters' programs,?21?have found employment, and only?4?are still looking for work. This is good news, indeed!

2023 Eve Asia Annual Conference

In July, Ching Tien?attended and spoke at the 2023 Eve Programme Asia Conference?in Phuket, Thailand.

"This was my first in-person attendance at a large event since 2019. Meeting women leaders from different Asian countries has inspired?me to?extend?the EGRC future program to other Asian countries." - Ching Tien