Aerial View of Gaogang Village, Xiaochang County

The "Primary-level Support—Rural Revitalization in Xiaochang" project, under the "One Thing Plan", aims to leverage the strengths of college students to conduct in-depth investigations and play a part in rural revitalization in Xiaochang County, and collaborate with the Yen Su-Lan Pang Charitable Foundation, Xiaochang Rural Development Association, and local villagers to achieve the goal of "doing one thing for the society". The project team consists of 15 members from 5 departments, including 5 students from Xiaochang.

The investigation team to Xiaochang County included project instructor Zhang Yuanzhe, team leader Feng Yumo (Psychology, Xinya College), team members Zhong Tianyu (Philosophy, Politics and Economics, Xinya College), Ding Difei (Landscape, School of Architecture) and Liao Siying (Law, Xinya College). From November 18 to 19, 2023, they conducted on-site investigations to gain insights into the local efforts of the Yen Su-Lan Pang Charitable Foundation and visited Gaogang Village.

On the morning of November 18, the five-member investigation team of "One Thing Plan" had a discussion with Shu Huan, Meng Kang, Lu Meng, Huang Fei, and Liu Yanyan from Xiaochang Rural Development Association of the Yen Su-Lan Pang Charitable Foundation.

Shu Huan first introduced the members of the Yen Su-Lan Pang Charitable Foundation and Xiaochang Rural Development Association as well as their current work. She welcomed the teachers and students from Xinya College, Tsinghua University to Xiaochang once again and hoped that both sides would jointly explore a cooperation model that gives full play to their respective advantages in the future.

Meng Kang presented the history, strategies, and methods of the Yen Su-Lan Pang Charitable Foundation's work in Xiaochang. Using Tianshan Village and Gaogang Village in Xiaochang County as examples, he elaborated on the evolution of the working model from "Phase 1.0" to "Phase 2.0", emphasizing that the unchanging value of the Yen Su-Lan Pang Charitable Foundation is its focus on "people-centered" approaches.

Since Mr. David Pang founded the Yen Su-Lan Pang Charitable Foundation in 2002, Xiaochang "From Poverty Alleviation to Moderately Prosperous Society" Association has been rooted in villages of Xiaochang County, to assist in poverty alleviation in health, education, and industry.

Following the victory in China's fight against poverty in 2022, the Association was re-registered as "Xiaochang Rural Development Association", to continue its work in the county for improving villagers' quality and promoting sustainable development in villages.

Meng Kang then proceeded to outline the work plans of the Yen Su-Lan Pang Charitable Foundation and Xiaochang Rural Development Association in Gaogang Village for the years 2023 and 2024. Members of the Association engaged in heated discussions with teachers and students from Xinya College on issues such as the "toilet revolution" and governance of rural sanitation.

On the afternoon of November 18, the investigation team, along with members of Xiaochang Rural Development Association, visited Gaogang Village in Xiaochang County. Led by Hu Wuqing, Deputy Mayor of Wangdian Town, they investigated road and housing construction, the Caring Canteen, activity rooms, rice fields, reservoirs, strawberry greenhouses, and the agricultural product processing industry demonstration center.Hu Wuqing provided an overview of the population composition of the two natural bays in the village, the progress of the "Ten-Minute Service Commitment" team building and efforts, as well as various infrastructure developments in the village.Industry leaders of Gaogang Village, Sheng Yunxiong and Hu Anle, respectively introduced the developments and challenges in agricultural product processing and strawberry cultivation.

On the morning of November 19, the investigation team attended the villagers' meeting, which was presided over by Hu Wuqing, in Gaogang Village. Hu Wuqing, on behalf of the village committee, presented the main development plans of Gaogang Village in 2024. One of the highest concerns raised by the villagers was the need to address extravagant and wasteful practices during weddings and funerals, aiming to transform the outdated rural customs.

The village committee members engaged in a question-and-answer session with the investigation team members. Finally, Zhang Yuanzhe made a summary of the two-day investigation visit. In his summary, Zhang Yuanzhe expressed his gratitude to the Yen Su-Lan Pang Charitable Foundation for its meticulous organization and the warm reception of Gaogang Village. He noted the village's sound traditions and development experience, leaving a lasting impression on the students. The "One Thing Plan" of Xinya College aims to guide students toward long-term engagement with a cause. Inspired by Mr. Pang, students launched the "Primary-level Support—Rural Revitalization in Xiaochang" project, which recruited five students from Xiaochang. While better serving the local area, it also has created opportunities for the students from Xiaochang to contribute to their hometown. The project team will be dedicated to the long-term rural revitalization efforts in Xiaochang, aspiring to do something practical based on local realities and facilitate Xiaochang's rural revitalization cause.

On the afternoon of November 19, the investigation team held a summary meeting with members of the Yen Su-Lan Pang Charitable Foundation on their investigation visit. They jointly drew a map of Gaogang Village, integrating everyone's observations and insights in a visual form.The field visit and investigation were successfully carried out with strong support from the Yen Su-Lan Pang Charitable Foundation, Xiaochang Rural Development Association, and Gaogang Village Committee, providing essential data and valuable insights for the further advancement of the Xiaochang Rural Revitalization Project under the "One Thing Plan".

To inspire students' sense of social responsibility and mission, Xinya College of Tsinghua University has initiated the "One Thing Plan" as a crucial component of the college-based talent cultivation system.

The "One Thing Plan" requires students to harness their curiosity, imagination, and creativity to undertake an activity that can address a pressing issue or holds long-term significance in society or daily life, thereby being beneficial to society, based on their own aspirations and interests.

Xinya College provides project funding, social resources, a project management system, a communication platform, and other kinds of support, to help students achieve the goal of "doing something significant for society during the university years", enhance their overall qualities, and foster a sense of empathy and compassion.