As the new term starts, nearly 400 students from 23 primary and secondary schools in Tanchang county, Gansu province have received a surprise gift - "Dream Packages", from Tianjin University.

Some of the packages are customized, as Tianjin University students learned about the students’ future dreams while they were doing voluntary teaching during the summer vacation. Students who dreamed of being pilots received model airplanes, and those who want to be musicians found musical instruments in their packages.

Other packages called "deluxe versions" included helpful school items like new bags, books, notebooks, stickers and learning cards that offer students access to online education courses.

The dream package scheme is part of Tianjin University’s efforts to lift Tanchang county, one of the poorest areas in the country, out of poverty by improving local education. Since the University paired up with the county to fight against poverty, it has implemented multiple measures to enrich the local education resources, like sending students and teachers to do voluntary teaching, organizing summer camps, and building more than 20 'dream classrooms' that serve as biology classrooms, ocean classrooms, and reading rooms.

“This summer, Tanchang county suffered from severe mountain torrents and mudslides that have caused huge property losses," said Li Xia, a supervisor in charge of students’ summer voluntary works from Tianjin University. "In preparing the packages, we hope not only to brace students to face current difficulties, but also to instill in them a thirst for knowledge and the courage to pursue their dreams.”