Ma Xiaohong's Story

As a little girl, Ma Xiaohong dreamed of going to school. But an education always remained just out of her reach. Although schools stood scattered across the plains where Ma Xiaohong lives in China's Gansu Province, the remote and impoverished region northeast of Beijing, they were too dilapidated and dangerous for any learning to take place. The closest school that she could attend was miles away in a neighboring village, a dangerous trip that would take hours for Ma Xiaohong to walk every day.

Her life changed on the day the village elder came to her home to share the news that Free The Children was building a school in their community. Now 13, Ma Xiaohong is a grade 4 student at Sheke Primary School. Ma Xiaohong always says that when she grows up she "wishes to do for the world what Free the Children is doing" for her.

Through education, Free The Children empowers people with the knowledge, strength and confidence they need to promote and protect their own rights, growth and self-sufficiency. Education helps families, communities and even entire nations break the cycle of poverty.