Chen Jian Hua’s Story

"Growing up to be an excellent personas repayment to my patrons and society.

A photo from 25 years ago

One spring day in 2021, a former scholarship recipient, Chen Jian Hua, came to Shanghai Sunrise carrying a photo from 25 years ago. In the photos, she is with four of her Shanghai Sunrise sponsors. She asked for help identifying them.

Jian Hua explained that her family was very grateful for the scholarship she received and how much it had helped both her and her family. She had grown up with two disabled parents and suffered economic hardship. At a young age, she held tremendous responsibility.

Jian Hua then shared that her father’s dying wish was that she find the people in the photo and thank them on his behalf for their kindness and generosity.

Unfortunately, the Shanghai Sunrise records did not have details about the people in the photo. With the help of an online ex-pat community, the sponsors in the photo could be identified. They were a group of teachers from Shanghai American School (SAS).

One of the teachers, Kellie, now lives in Thailand. The gentleman in the photo, Hanson, was tracked down in Shenzhen. Another teacher who was part of Jian Hua’s sponsor group, Karolina, was not in the photo but still teaches at SAS.

In mid-May, a Zoom call was organized between the three teachers, Jian Hua and the Shanghai Sunrise team. The teachers were truly touched to know of the impact their sponsorship had on Jian Hua and her family.

On the call, Jian Hua introduced her husband, who she married in 2017, and shared that she has been working with excellent results and performance at the Shanghai Branch of China Construction Bank since 2008. She then shared her experience of being a Shanghai Sunrise-sponsored student. “When I first met my sponsors at the American School, I felt it was really fun and friendly,” says Jian Hua. “The visits changed my perspective, and I liked foreigners.”

She went on to share how attending school and participating in Shanghai Sunrise activities helped build her confidence in her studies and her life — even in her career choice and marriage. She wanted to make sure she continued to have an international culture in her life, and her husband has a passion for international travel. Already they have visited Switzerland.

Jian Hua’s story reminds us why we volunteer, why we sponsor these students, and how our support makes a difference. Jian Hua’s experience proved to be life-altering and certainly impacted her entire family — especially her father.

Now that Jian Hua is successful, she is ready to pay it forward.

“It's time for me to reward my sponsors and the community in the same way they helped me,” says Jian Hua. “I will not only sponsor the student financially but also, and more importantly, serve as a mentor. I firmly believe that this will be the greatest return to my sponsors and also fulfill my father’s last wishes.

“I appreciate Shanghai Sunrise for involving me in this scholarship program and providing me with the opportunity to benefit society by being a sponsor, which has been the wish of both me and my father for years,” she adds. “Now my father’s dream has come true.”

If you feel inspired by Jian Hua's story and donation, we would love for you to consider donating your birthday and give disadvantaged students a chance at a brighter future. For more information, please visit our website at www.shanghaisunrise.com/donate-your-birthday.