Students from Zhejiang University launch subsidy program to support schoolmates with financial difficulties

In September 2022, four students from Zhejiang University in Hangzhou city, east China's Zhejiang Province jointly established a student subsidy program called "313," their dormitory number.

Photo shows Jiang Bofeng, Zheng Fujun, Chen Zewen and Gao Minghe (from left to right), the four students who established a student subsidy program called "313" at the Zhejiang University. (Photo provided by the interviewees)

Under the program, the four students together donate 500 yuan ($72.61) a month to the Zhejiang University Education Foundation, and the money will be used to support the university's students who are from western regions of the country and encounter financial difficulties.

The four men, who are currently pursuing graduate studies, majored in different areas as undergraduates. They became roommates in 2019.

Gao Minghe, who has been an intern at the Zhejiang University Education Foundation and a volunteer teacher in southwest China's Guizhou Province, initiated the idea of establishing the subsidy program. He told the other three about his idea and they all got on board.

"In March 2022, Gao told me about their plan to establish the subsidy program and asked how they should do it," said Wei Yudi, a development liaison staff member from the Chu Kochen Honors College of Zhejiang University.

"Gao was in Guizhou then, so we communicated online to finalize details about the program and I interfaced with the Zhejiang University Education Foundation to help implement the program," said Wei.

"After the donations reached the recipients, the foundation would let us know about this in a timely manner. On the first day of each month, I will receive a thank-you message from Shen Liyong, who is secretary general of the Zhejiang University Education Foundation," said Gao.

In September 2022, the subsidy program was launched.

Gao said he was not surprised that the four of them were of the same mind about initiating the program. "Our minds are in sync and we all have volunteer teaching experiences," Gao said.

Before Gao initiated the subsidy program, the other three students also had thought about supporting students with financial difficulties.

"Coming from the countryside, I know how important knowledge is for personal development," said Zheng Fujun, Gao’s roommate. During the summer vacation of 2019, Zheng volunteered to teach in northwest China's Qinghai Province, where he learned that some students in the province were unable to receive higher education for various reasons.

"Some students said they wanted to find jobs after graduating from high school. I thought it would be a pity if they really did so," Zheng recalled.

The four students said they would stick to the subsidy program for at least the next 20 years.

In May 2019, another four students from Zhejiang University's school of international studies established a scholarship called "229," also their dormitory number, becoming the first students to do so.

The four students have been donating 800 yuan a month for 45 consecutive months, with their donations totalling 36,000 yuan, said Shen. The money will be used to support the school's undergraduate students with financial difficulties.

Many students of the university have followed suit by setting up similar scholarships.