Mosman Mayor Anne Connon has confirmed that the Mudanjiang Government (Council’s Chinese friendship community) has finalised its distribution of stipends and scholarships to disadvantaged girls in the rural areas around the city for 2011/12. Mosman Council and Mosman Rotary have for a number of years together contributed $5,000 p.a., and as can be seen from the following photos, this amount helps a large number of girls. While education is now free, ancillary equipment etc is no different from Australia and parents have great difficulty in providing uniforms, stationery etc.
Local residents, some Councillors, and staff also supplement the funding and Cr Connon thanked them all for their generosity. Deputy Mayor Ms Zhang Hai Hua has taken a personal interest in this project and ensures that every dollar sent is appropriately distributed. The next distribution of funds will take place when a delegation of Mosman residents visits Mudanjiang in May this year, when the Council staff will also provide funding for the distribution of computer equipment from the proceeds of Mosman Day.
Scholarship winners in Hailin in late December 2011
Hailin students Liu Yan and Liu Fu Le
Students from Hailin received their stipends in late December 2011
Group photo of students and teachers at Hailin
Students from Ning An school in their classroom
Scholarship winners in Ning An in early January
Ning An students Chen Xiang Feng and Xue Yuan Yuan
Presentation panel at Ning An, attended by Vice Director of Mudanjiang Foreign Affairs Office, Ms Du Jiaomin
Students from Muling received their stipends in December 2011
Students from Muling received their stipends in December 2011
Scholarship winners’ parents accepted on their behalf as students were away at university
Scholarship winners in Muling at the beginning of the Chinese Year of Dragon
Wang Shuai Shuai
Zhang Ying