Major colleges and universities have been on winter vacation one after another, and it is the peak period of the annual college students returning to their hometowns. For those who are far away from home and studying abroad, the Spring Festival means nostalgia and anticipation, and it is also one of the most important moments. But for students who are in relatively financial difficulty, returning home for the Spring Festival can also become a burden.
It is gratifying that in recent years, many colleges and universities have issued special policies to provide subsidies or special assistance for students in need, so that these young people can feel the goodwill and warmth from the campus and society in the cold winter.
Helping students return home
Different universities have different practices
This year, Tongji University continues to issue subsidies for winter vacation travel expenses, and a total of nearly 1,300 people have been disbursed, totaling more than 720,000 yuan. At the same time, the school also carried out home visits during the winter vacation, and the teachers crossed the "mountains and seas" to warm the hearts of students.
China Three Gorges University has carried out activities related to "sending students with difficulties home for many years", and this year is no exception.
A reporter from China Youth Daily and China Youth Network learned from China Three Gorges University that the school will provide a total of 61,600 yuan for 71 students from financially disadvantaged families who will return to their hometowns during the winter vacation of 2024 but cannot afford the cost of traveling home, ranging from hundreds to thousands per person.
After returning home, the sponsored students will participate in the "Three Messengers' Hometown Tour", a special fund-funded education activity of China Three Gorges University, and carry out a photo and small video collection activity of "The Warmest Life is Reunion". During the Spring Festival, they will communicate with relatives and friends, thank their parents and family, take the initiative to share family labor, and record the reunion moment with group photos or small videos.
Shanghai Jiao Tong University has launched the "Winter Vacation Road Supplement" subsidy and education project to help students from economically disadvantaged families go home for the Chinese New Year during the winter vacation.
According to reports, the total amount of travel subsidies provided by Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2023 will be increased from 150,000 yuan in previous years to about 300,000 yuan, and compared with the one-way subsidy in previous years, it will be changed to a round-trip subsidy in 2023.
A reporter from China Youth Daily and China Youth Network learned from Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics that as of yesterday (February 1), Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics has issued a travel subsidy of 67,261.6 yuan to 308 difficult students who will return to their hometowns during the winter vacation of 2024. Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics will issue subsidies to students with family difficulties and ethnic minority students in remote areas who have difficulties in returning to their hometowns after individual application and college review.
In addition, Southeast University, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Minnan Normal University, Anhui University, South China University of Technology, Zhejiang Gongshang University and many other universities have launched similar measures. Behind the different ways of working, there is the same sincerity.
On the way home, "help" students in need
Convey kindness and warmth
The subsidy is not a large amount compared to the school's overall budget, but it is a huge help for those who are eligible and in need. The school used funds to "help" those students in difficulty on the way back to their hometowns during the Spring Festival, which can be said to have used the money on the cutting edge, not only to solve the problems of the students in difficulty, but also to give all students a vivid "moral education lesson", so that young people can experience what kindness and care are.
Sometimes, a few hundred yuan more or a few hundred dollars less in a personal account may directly determine whether a student has the opportunity to go home this year. Every summer, many students choose to stay in school, most of them because of internships, clubs, travel and other activities, but some people give up the opportunity to go home in order to save living expenses, and even use all their spare time to work to earn money. In this case, the winter break, which coincides with the Chinese New Year, may be the only time in a year for some students to go home and reunite with their loved ones. However, due to financial problems, some students can only grit their teeth and choose to stay in school. At this time, it would undoubtedly be great if the school could lend a helping hand and resolve their worries.
The essence of education is not only to teach, but also to educate people. Whether or not we can think about what students think and what students are anxious about at critical moments is the touchstone for testing the success of a school's education. Institutions of higher learning on the mainland, regardless of their size, reputation, or budget, exist for the purpose of cultivating students into talents. To achieve this goal, it is necessary not only to impart knowledge to students, but also to let students spend a sunny campus life, and try to help students solve practical problems.
The more people who have experienced wind and rain, the more they will hold up an umbrella for others. Those young people who have received help from the school are more likely to have a grateful heart in the future and pass on the kindness further. This is also the ideal state that our society is constantly striving for.
Source: China Youth Daily (ID: zqbcyol China Youth Daily, China Youth Network Reporter: Zhang Liyou Editor: Li Li), comments from China Youth Daily 2024-02-01 01 (Yang Xinyu)