Current Zigen News and Events:
滋根基金会于２０１０年７月３１号下午在纽议选举并通过了2010 - 2011理事会
理事会成员名单如下：
陈立人Lapyan Chan |
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Engineering Manager, OWT, Hong Kong |
刘虚心Vickie Liu Chen |
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Retired banker, Houston, TX |
赵乐德 Lotus Fu |
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Community program administrator, New York, NY |
李慧仪 Lily Waiyee Lee |
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Sr. Vice President, Johnson and Johnson, Hong Kong |
利碧琳 Bik-Lam Lee |
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Retired hospital administrator, Seattle, WA |
李隆生Paul Lee |
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Professor, California State University, Los Angeles, CA |
李腾芳Terry Lee |
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Retired engineer, New Jersey |
吕世章Shih-Chang Lu |
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Director of Financial Analysis & Budget, Natural Resources Defense Council, New York, NY |
邹晓梅Hsiao Mei Mong |
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Businesswoman, New York, NY |
王淑江Suchiang Pan |
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Retired banker, New York NY |
保延昭Andy Pao |
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International Business Consultant, Qualtech International LLC, Stamford, CT |
翁盈盈Yingying Tang |
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Former Deputy Director, United Nations and visiting professor of Anhui Normal University, New York NY |
曹宏远Joseph Tsao |
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Retired engineer, Boston, MA |
杨贵平Pat Yang |
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Rural education and development activist, New York NY |
余超华George Yu |
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Technical Advisor, System Engineering, IRS, D.C. |
理事会提名滋根2010 - 2011管理人员，名单如下：
President and Chairperson: Pat Yang
Treasurer: Shih-Chang Lu
Secretary: Lapyan Chan
理事会提名滋根2010 - 2011行政委员会(executive board)，名单如下：
Pat Yang, Lapyan Chan, Shih-Chang Lu, Bik-Lam Lee
滋根近期项目简讯 Zigen Project Reports
杨贵平西东大学演讲 -介绍中国贫困农村困境以及滋根经验
由西东大学学生学者联谊会和滋根基金会共同主办的，旨在宣传海外华人组织参与资助中国农村最贫困地区发展的专题演讲会，于二零零九年三月六日下午在西东大学举办。
西东大学化学系博士生方谋主持会议，西东大学商学院管理系系主任尹尊声教授向与会师生介绍了主讲人，滋根基金会理事长以及滋根基金会的相关活动。随后，杨女士做了专题演讲。
杨贵平女士在过去二十多年中参与滋根基金会的工作，访问了许多中国偏远、贫困的村寨，对中国贫困农村，尤其是农村的教育有深入的了解。杨女士首先简要介绍了滋根基金会如何支持中国最贫困地区的人民，改善基本教育，医疗卫生，和环境保护技术的推广，支持中国乡村综合性的发展。滋根从1988年开始，资助了八万多的失学女童以及孤儿，使他们能够完成教育，他们中的很多人现在已经从大学或大专毕业，回乡做老师，乡村医生，更多的妇女，初中毕业后，留村创业成为家乡发展的主力军。然后介绍了滋根基金会对中国农村教育问题进行深入研究后所发现的问题，以及滋根基金会的能够给与的具体支持：虽然有了免费教育，但政府撤点并校政策，大量偏远小学被裁撤，七八岁的小学生必须长途跋涉，远离家庭，集中住校，不但费用反而比以前更高，也给孩子、他们的家庭以及农村带来的严重后果；最后放映了去年滋根基金会和上海卫视合做，由纽约大学电影系系主任，著名纪录片导演崔明慧教授导演的纪录片《没有五年级》，以切实的案例号召大家积极参与中国农村贫困地区的教育工作。
杨女士的演讲非常简短，这使她在每部分之间留下大量时间和师生们互动。她用最平实的语言讲述一个个充满激情的历史片断，以及用翔实的案例、准确的数据去支持她的观点。这使得她的演讲激发了与会师生的强烈兴趣，亚洲研究系系主任梁伯华教授带头提问，在梁教授的带动下，其他的老师、同学也纷纷就自己关心的问题参与和杨女士的互动，而杨女士的回答往往引发他们更大的兴趣因而引出更多的问题，使交流更为深入。会议从下午两点钟开始，由于师生们热情高涨，提问持续不断，演讲会不断延长，一共进行了将近三个小时，于下午五点左右结束。通过深入的交流，与会师生们充分认识到资助失学女童对女童个人、家庭、社区以及整个国家的重要意义；师生们最关注的另一个问题是如何能够真正的参与到中国的扶贫工作中去，杨女士欢迎他们参与滋根基金这个草根性、义务性的组织，共同为中国农村教育，和消除贫困做小事做实事。
通过杨女士的演讲，与会师生们认识、了解了滋根基金会，纷纷表示愿意参与滋根的相关活动，并留下了自己的联系方式。会后，与会师生高度评价了这次活动，认为这次活动给在西东大学学习、工作的华人师生们提供了一个很好的互动平台，以后应该尽量在校园内多举办一些类似的高水平的活动
滋根基金会纽约放映纪录片《没有五年级》、《苗乡医事》记实报道
悄悄潜入夜，润物细无声
-- 滋根基金会纽约放映纪录片《没有五年级》、《苗乡医事》记实报道
奚梦娇 赵辉辉
2009年11月22日，滋根基金会在成立20周年之际，假借纽约法拉盛喜来登酒店举行了纪录片：《没有五年级》和《苗乡医事》的放映会，呼唤海外华人华侨对中国贫困山区乡镇面临的教育、医疗等基本民生问题的关注；并借此募集善款，支助边远贫困地区的医疗、教育事业，希望能改善人们的生活。包括从一早从新泽西西东大学驱车前来的十几位年轻的留学生，以及二十几位纽约当地的高中生在内，来自大纽约地区的共一百多名不同年龄层，不同职业的人士参加了电影放映会。
放映前，滋根基金会理事长杨贵平老师向大家介绍了滋根基金会的宗旨及近年的调查资助情况。滋根基金会本着 “以人为中心，可持续的发展” 的宗旨，关注底层民众的基本需要，长期支持中国大陆9个省200个村的基础教育，以校为中心，村为单位，资助了90，000多名女童、孤儿入学，先后开启了近千个教育、卫生、环境等综合发展项目。
两部纪录片均由纽约大学崔明慧教授导演、制片人为滋根基金会的杨贵平老师，真实而又深入地反映了中国贫困边远地区的教育、医疗面貌。在影片《没有五年级》中，幼学之龄，蜿蜒山路，徒步数里；矮房低瓦，酸菜干饭，举家借债。这便是山西黄土高原黄河360度处转角村的孩子在“撤点并校”后的求学之路。而影片《苗乡医事》则记录了贵州苗寨茅坪村的医疗状况：深山环绕风景秀丽，几十年缺医少药，远离城镇现代化医疗，仅有一群草根医护人员：赤脚医生、村卫生员及鬼师。
中国政府愈来愈重视以人为本、关注民生，但是，对边远贫困地区还力所不能及。这两部纪录片将中国不为人知的一面展现给了观众，传递出了那些贫困地区的人们的声音，震撼人心，发人深省。不少到场的华人华侨对于纪录片中反映的问题，与杨贵平老师进行了交流。其中，撤点并校问题引起了许多在场观众的重视。他们认为，尽管撤点并校政策在集中优势办学力量方面有一定积极意义，但对于广大乡村的学生及其家庭来说，却是巨大的压力与负担。孩子背井离乡独自求学，使得孩子的家庭教育、人格教育面临一系列新的问题。没有政府对学生寄宿、交通等的补贴，加重了农村孩子的教育负担。并校之后，学校人满为患，办学条件极为艰苦，并没有提高孩子的教育质量。针对这一问题，杨贵平老师表示，滋根希望能有更多的人们意识到在撤点并校后农村孩子求学的艰辛，真正关心孩子们的生活，注重他们的身心健康，关爱他们的成长。同时，杨贵平老师说，滋根正在以自己的实际行动努力改善着这一问题：资助难以为继的乡村小学、补贴困难寄宿生的生活，奔走于社会，呼吁人们关注这一问题。
这两场感染人心的纪录片，不仅引起了到场观众的热烈讨论，更是激起了他们想为祖国做些什么的决心。从几岁孩童，到七十鹤颜纷纷表示愿意尽自己一份力，慷慨解囊，帮助中国贫困山区乡镇的发展。无论是几十元美金，还是千元支票，也许不算很多；但这些捐款，都是海外华人华侨对祖国、对家乡的沉甸甸的心意。结集民间力量，关注草根问题，这正是滋根，如那春雨，悄悄潜入夜，润物细无声，无私地滋润着中国底层。
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崔明慧教授回答观众提问 |
与会者向杨贵平提问 |
滋根基金会2010滋根之旅 Zigen Trip June 28th - July 4th, 2010
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Dear Friends,
Please join the Zigen Trip to Leishan and Taijiang this summer—to experience first-hand the impact of the Zigen projects. Leishan and Taijiang are in the beautiful mountainous region of Southeast Guizhou, an autonomous area of Miao and Dong minorities (黔东南苗族侗族自治州）, where Zigen has supported rural education and grassroots development projects for over 20 years.
Read More ... |
Event Report: Zigen Fund co-sponsors Spring Festival Silicon Valley event. 滋根赞助硅谷春晚
Zigen Fund's participation in the Spring Festival Silicon Valley event on Feburary 20th., 2010, was a huge success! Under the leadership of the Zigen Fund Executive Director Wujing Harrison, a group of Zigen San Francisco Bay Area volunteers arrived the performance center more than two hours before the show to prepare Zigen packages, or "red envelops", for distribution. In the "red envelop" packages were a greeting letter with an introduction to the Zigen Fund, a Zigen postcard, and two DVDs ("No Fifth Grade" and "Nurturing the Roots") in its "red envelop" packages. The volunteers assembled over 1000 Zigen packages for this event.There was also a desk to display and distribute Zigen newsletters, annual reports and other Zigen materials. We had many people to come to our desk to ask about Zigen and our work! Great job Zigen volunteers, especially our Zigen Teen volunteers!
二月二十日， 滋根基金會成功地在"矽谷春晚"演出劇場里大力推廣和宣傳了滋根的工作。在滋根執行主管吳靖的帶領下，一群滋根志願者提前兩個多小時來到剧場，準備送給觀眾的滋根“紅包”。這個紅包裡含有滋根新年賀詞，滋根介紹，滋根明信片，以及滋根的兩個宣傳碟片：“沒有五年級”和“滋根”。經過志願者們的緊張而有序的努力，我們一共為觀眾準備了1000多個紅包發放。同時，我們的展台上展示了滋根通訊，滋根年度報告等滋根宣傳資料。有不少觀眾前來詢問有關滋根的工作並索取有關資料。我們的這次活動在舊金山灣區擴大了滋根的影響， 讓更多的灣區朋友了解我們滋根的工作。在此我們要感謝所有參加這次活動的志願者，特別是我們的青少年志願者！
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Preparing Zigen packages, or "Red Envelops" for distribution |
Talking with a lady who is very interested in our program, especially our emphasis on girls and women. |
Volunteers and Donors |
Zigen Volunteers and Friends
Zigen Boston Chapter Concert Donations for Disaster Victims
On February 23, 2008 Zigen Boston Chapter organized a music concert in Cambridge, Massachusetts for the China snow disaster relief, collecting about $7500 of charitable donations. Read more ...
Zigen Snow Relief Concert in San Francisco(Abstract from World Journal Coverage)
In joint effort of San Francisco Guzheng Music Society, China's Spirit Music Ensemble and World stars Entertainment, they successfully organized a colorful charity show in the World Journal Event Center, on April 6, 2008, supporting Zigen's work for the snow relief in rural China. Read more ...
Zigen Board Meeting Passing 2008 Budget, Program Priorities and New Board Candidates
The semi-annual Board meeting was held in Sophie Chen's house on March 8, 2008.? Board members, present in person or via telecommunication, included Sophie Lo, Shih-Chang Lu, Andy Pao, George Yu, Pat Yang, and Bik-Lam Lee. Read more ...
Latest News on snowstorm affecting Zigen in Leishan area
Since January 11, 2008, China has experienced extremely rare, abominable, and extended hailstorms and snowy weather. The great majority of the projects supported by the Zigen Fund are situated in the hail- and snow-affected disaster areas. Read more ...
Zigen Boston Chapter Concert Donations for Disaster Victims
On February 23, Zigen Boston Chapter organized a music concert in Cambridge, Massachusetts for the China snow disaster relief, collecting about $7500 of charitable donations. This concert was done in a rush - Lily Lawn-Tsao, Dawen Pang and Joseph Tsao formed a small working group, spending a total of one month from the preliminary to final stage.? To organize a music concert within one month was truly a great challenge. We were very happy to receive the support of soprano singer Ms. Guang Yang and tenor singer Maxwell Li. The concert venue experienced many snags, and thanks to the introduction of Longy Music School, the First Church of Cambridge was rented. With the great support of Sophia Ho and Jessica Cheng, the Italian and Chinese verses were translated into English, was edited multiple times, and the program guide was compiled. Furthermore, the tasks of printing, distributing and selling tickets, and posting flyers were all very arduous tasks.
Though Dawen Pang was over 70 years of age, she made great efforts to send out a large number of invitation letters. She and Lily Lawn also hurriedly marketed tickets by telephone, and only the participants could understand the nature of the tasks.
On the 22nd, Boston had 8 inches of snow, and we were all worried that on the next day there wouldbe very few spectators in the audience. On the afternoon of that day we also accompanied musicians and pianist. Ms. Xiao-Ying Zhao to the stage for a final rehearsal. The pianist discovered that the piano was out of tune, but fortunately Ms. Catherine Chan was there to help, and introduced a piano technician to tune the piano. 
However, the piano was originally flawed, and the pianist felt there were still some imperfections.
On the morning of the 23rd the sky cleared, and the audience gradually appeared. As the empty seats began to be filled, we breathed a great sigh of relief, knowing that we would not lose our principal. The beautiful sounds of the musicians won the warm applause of the audience, and we very moved by the reaction of the audience. Although the donations were not large, they reflected the returning gifts from overseas Chinese. 
Following the end of the concert, not only did the Chinese audience make enthusiastic donations, many non-Chinese were also extremely moved and spirited, and applauded without stop, expressing their willingness to donate. Some were also willing to join Zigen for a tour of Guizhou. On February 29, the World Journal published a report highly acclaiming the Zigen Fund. Please refer to the article at:
http://www.worldjournal.com/wj-bo-news.php?nt_seq_id=1678421
Zigen Snow Relief Concert in San Francisco
(Abstract from World Journal Coverage)
In joint effort of San Francisco Guzheng Music Society, China's Spirit Music Ensemble and World stars Entertainment, they successfully organized a colorful charity show in the World Journal Event Center, on April 6, 2008, supporting Zigen's work for the snow relief in rural China.
The Program Director, Winnie Wong, designed diverse art performance to promote Chinese Culture, considering the preferences of various age groups, and dedicatedly invited unique Bay Area artist groups, like Red Panda Acrobatics, Patty Chu's Chinese Folk Dancing Troupe, Folk Singing Champion Yang Hua, Erhu Award winner Lynn Ngai, etc. This event was made possible due to the loving and committed artists and volunteers of all participating groups. Yang Hua, Diana Ding and the little Guzheng player Garyan Wong all took the challenge of some health situation and participated.
Based on the principles of doing real work with small money and "equality, participation and respect", Zigen enjoyed the collaboration with passionate artist groups, businesses, media and volunteers in the Bay Area, contributing fund, goods and services, in a joint effort to promote Chinese culture and support rural development in the underprivileged areas of China
Blessed Imelda's High School Alumnae Association Charity Party
Blessed Imelda's High School (Jingxiu female School) Alumnae Association held a charity party on December 1, 2007, about 170 people attending. Dozens of the heads of various alumni associations in the Los Angeles area showed up for support. Many of them showed talents of singing and dancing. Through this event, Zigen met with many new friends, and raised almost $4,000 all together. Blessed Imelda's High School Alumnae Association expressed the intereste in continuing the collaboration with Zigen in 2008, supporting rural development in China.
Zigen's exhibition in Berkeley China Initiative's China Environment Conference
On December 7-8, 2008, Pat Yang, Wujing Harrison and Victor Saberi attended the Berkeley China Initiative's China Environment conference and exhibited Zigen's environmental work in remote rural China. Through Q&A sessions, Zigen representatives exchanged with participants, raising awareness by sharing Zigen's experience and challenges in rural China.
Zigen Board Meeting Passing 2008 Budget, Program Priorities and New Board Candidates
The semi-annual Board meeting was held in Sophie Chen's house on March 8, 2008. Board members, present in person or via telecommunication, included Sophie Lo, Shih-Chang Lu, Andy Pao, George Yu, Pat Yang, and Bik-Lam Lee. Members and volunteers included Wujing Harrison, Monica Yu, Chuck Chan, Dawen Pang, Ningyu Li, Terry Li, Sol Tung, Xiaomei Wong, Vivian Chen, Rioma Kan. Board member Lapyan Chan made his votes at the previous Executive Committee Meeting. The Board meeting was facilitated by Shih-Chang Lu. The main topics and achievements include:
- Voted for the addition of Board candidates, Monica Yu and Chuck Chan. The list of Board candidates will be voted by voting members later and the elected Board members for 2008-2009 will be announced in the annual member meeting on August 16, 2008.
- In addition to the Executive Committee, the Board decided to form four sub-committees: Organizational Committee (coordinated by Bik-lam Lee), Program Committee (Pat Yang), Finance Committee (Shih-Chang Lu), and fundraising and Public Communication Committee (Wujing Harrison acting). The sub-committees will develop its own task force and teams for its functions, gradually building up a healthy rotating organizational infrastructure. After 20 years of development, we are focusing on keeping the legacy of Zigen's mission and the spirit of "equality, participation and respect", strengthening the organizational development and team building.
- Passed Zigen 2008 annual budget and program priorities: the total budget of $635,000, with China programs for $550,000.? Program priorities first in school education (52%), more to develop in Health care (12%) and environmental issues (11%), then adult education (6%) and public education (7%). On fundraising side, the donations increased from $556,000 in 2006 to $750,000 in 2007. Individual small donations (less than $10,000) increased by about $100,000.
- Discussed the schedule and possibilities for the Zigen 20th anniversary events from Oct. 2008. From the beginning of the year, Zigen members have been coordinating various fundraising or public education events in their communities.There were students' Chinese New Year Gala in New York Rochester Tech led by Shengchao Yang; P.H. Yang's documentary photo exhibition in D.C. by Monica Yu; Snow Relief Concert in Boston by Lily Lawn; Snow Relief Show in San Francisco by San Francisco Guzheng Music Society, China's Spirit Music Ensemble, and World Stars Entertainment；Documentary movie screening and discussion in Taipei by Xiaoding Yang and friends... More events are in planning in New York, D.C., Hong Kong, and California. We encourage our members and friends to take initiatives, coordinate events and demonstrate mutual support.
After the Board meeting, the participants watched the newly finished two documentary movies, "No Fifth Grade" and "Healthcare Log in Miao Village".
Since January 11, 2008, China has experienced extremely rare, abominable, and extended hailstorms and snowy weather. The great majority of the projects supported by the Zigen Fund are situated in the hail- and snow-affected disaster areas. Starting from January 17, Leishan County, Guizhou Province, where the Zigen south office is located, has experienced electricity and water outages and shortages of supplies, and it has become isolated by the transportation cutoff.
In the county town, only a few generators supplying important departments (e.g. hospitals) are operational. The freezing and rupturing of water pipelines has cut off the water supply to residents, who must rely on fire rescue hoses to supply water, which they carry to their homes.
As a result of the paralysis of the telephone network and the electricity blackout preventing the recharging of mobile phones, we have lost communications with the project site villages. We are only able to access the Leishan office telephone line, which is our only means of communication with the office.
Leishan is situated in Leigong Mountain region on very steep and dangerous terrain. With the suspension of road transportation, only government materials vehicles are permitted access. The goods in the county town are in tight supply. There is a shortage of candles, and food prices have risen sharply: grain prices have risen from 1 yuan per jin to 2.5 yuan per jin. Poultry feed has also doubled in price. The 12 villages where Zigen has supported the school enrollment of girls for many years have been without electricity, transportation and water, and there has been no salt for many days, with some villages not having any grain.
Juexiong Village, only a 20 minute walk from the county town, is the headquarters of the Zigen small-scale poultry-raising loan project. In the initial period following the hailstorms, as a result of the lack of electricity for heating the poultry farm and the shortage of feed, over 200 chickens perished within a few days. At present, the feed must be carried uphill daily to the chicken-raising farm, with one person carrying 20 jin on each trip and hiking half an hour on the mountain path. The situation is currently stabilizing.
With staff members from outside the region having left Leishan and returned home for the Chinese New Year, this will reduce travel for the local staff members and prevent falling injuries. For the Zigen staff members to return home, they must walk on foot for one day to Qiandongnan State capital Kaili City and board the train home. We are still awaiting the news of their safe return home.
A large fraction of Zigen-supported third-year high school students have remained at school, where they lack water, electricity, candles and there is a shortage of supplies. Our staff will coordinate with the government and school in guaranteeing their health and lives, and enabling them to safely pass the New Year.
Following the New Year, we need to contact various project sites, estimate disaster losses and the needs of restoring production and livelihoods. On the basis of requirements,? we will accept new project applications and make appropriate project adjustments. Based on government agency estimates, the various villages of Leishan County will require 3 to 4 months for the restoration of the water and electricity supply. The Zigen tour will be accordingly rescheduled to take place in June.
We need more financial support to be used for compensating the great losses of the poultry raising project, as well as to support the restoration of production and livelihood (e.g. the expansion of scholarships, the repair of school classrooms, dormitories and drinking water facilities). At present, some U.S. friends have clearly offered financial support for the poultry project to repurchase chicks, the exact number of which is yet to be determined.? Prior to the completion of our estimates of losses and project needs, we encourage Zigen friends to carry out publicity work and fund-raising, and to support the disaster-stricken villagers in rebuilding their homes.
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