Matthew Tan, a rising senior at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South, has made it a mission to help support education initiatives in rural China.
Tan has organized various fundraising events, including bake sales and auctions, to raise funds for the Red Cross in China. He said that he aims to help out students in Hubei and Shanxi in particular.
One of his notable efforts was a bake sale at a local Chinese school. Tan set up a booth with the principal’s permission to sell snacks and raise funds. He has also kicked off a fundraising website at ruralchinaaid.org
Tan’s said that his commitment to the cause goes beyond just raising money— he said he believes that every child deserves access to quality education, and that his initiatives can help children by building more schools, providing qualified teachers and ensuring access to online learning resources. “I believe every child, regardless of their circumstances, deserves the opportunity to receive a quality education.”
Tan said his dedication was inspired by a trip to his parents’ hometowns in China in 2018. During his visit to Wuhan City and the mountainous regions of Hubei and Shanxi provinces, he was moved by the challenging conditions faced by children in rural areas.
Many of the children lacked access to quality education and learning resources due to poverty. The huge difference between his own educational opportunities and those of the children that he saw left a lasting impression. As a result, he started thinking of various ways to address these inequalities, especially through the use of technology.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many of the inequalities worsened. Tan said that saw news reports about many school closures and lockdown restrictions. Knowing that Wuhan was his parents’ hometown and the epicenter of the outbreak, he decided to take action.
Although he hasn’t been able to return to China since 2018 due to the pandemic, Tan said he plans to do so in the future. He hopes that his ongoing efforts will continue to support children, and that he is committed to keep pushing for progress.
In addition to continuing his fundraising efforts, he said he hopes his story will inspire others to join him in his cause, “because together, we can truly make a difference.”
For more information or to help Tan raise funds, go to ruralchinaaid.org.
