FOCAL POINTS

NBC Nightly News Features Dr. Chiao and ESS/SERC

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On October 19, 2007, Dr. Lungching Chiao, ESS, and the Support Education for Rural China (SERC) Programs were featured in "Making a Difference", the NBC Nightly News segment that focuses on exceptional individuals who pursue causes that directly "make a difference" in the lives of others. (click image to watch NBC segment)

Part of a week-long special series on "China Rising", the October 19^th NBC segment recounts how Dr. Chiao, an educator from Virginia, initiated the SERC programs some twenty years ago with support from ESS and a group of volunteers.  Starting with one school library in rural China, the program has now set up over 4,500 libraries across the country.  In addition, the SERC programs also conduct workshops for rural teachers, and provide scholarships to rural students.  The work of Dr. Chiao and the ESS volunteers has changed the lives of many rural children, including a former SERC scholarship recipient, Mr. Fu Changshan, who has been inspired to return to his home village to teach.  Mark Mullen, NBC reporter for the series, concludes that, for Dr. Chiao and the group she leads, ". . . perhaps the most welcome tribute takes place . . . the moment a student shares knowledge from a donated book with appreciative classmates."

NBC began shooting the ESS story in June 2007, starting with an ESS meeting in McLean, VA.  That was followed by two trips to China in July and September.  On the first trip, the NBC team joined ESS in the Teacher Training Conference in Hefei (AnhuiProvince) and visited a rural primary school that had received library books under the Adopt a Rural School Library project.  The second trip took the team to a remote school in Tianzhu County, Gansu, located high up on the mountains about five hours drive from Lanzhou.  Arriving in the midst of a snowfall, the team filmed activities in the school (which has received books and musical instruments under the SERC programs) and interviewed Mr. Fu Changshan.

After the airing of the NBC program segment, ESS has received many positive comments, including inquiries from US-based nonprofit organizations working on India and Africa, requesting information on ESS experience in promoting basic education in poor communities.

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