Development work in Hunan
Integrating Church and Society
In August this year, Theresa Carino, editor of the Amity Newsletter, visited Amity projects in Hunan province. She traveled with Gu Renfa, an Associate General Secretary of Amity, Jane Yao, Vice-President of the Hunan Christian Council and Birgitta Larsson of the Church of Sweden Mission.
In the 19th and early 20th century, missionaries dubbed Hunan as the province with "Iron Gates." Located in the heartland of China, it was difficult to penetrate. Known in modern Chinese history as the birthplace of Mao Zedong and of the Chinese revolution, Hunan today is rapidly undergoing reforms and opening its doors to foreign investments. Zhangjiajie, one of the province's best known scenic spots and now only a 5-hour train ride away from Changsha, the capital, is drawing tourists by the tens of thousands. Despite its economic growth, pockets of extreme poverty are not difficult to find in the outskirts of the city.
It is in these areas that the Amity Foundation has carried out small but significant development projects in an effort to close the widening income gaps. In the township of Liang Shui Kou, a 3-hour bumpy car ride away from Zhangjiajie, Amity recently helped complete an irrigation project by donating to a 240 meter long aqueduct. Costing 900,000 RMB (about US$110,000), only half of which was contributed by Amity, the irrigation project has benefited 6,000 people in 11 villages by doubling crop yields from 250 kg/mu to 400 kg/mu. During our brief visit to the project site, farmers on their way to their fields gathered curiously around us and readily volunteered information. Mr. Du Bi Chai, a local farmer, excitedly told us that the land had originally been very dry. At the start of the project two years ago, farmers could hardly believe that water could be brought from six kilometers away. Now, they marvel at the abundant harvests they have enjoyed and the fact that they can grow two crops (rice and rapeseed) a year. Puffing up his chest, Mr. Du said very proudly, "I've never felt so rich in my life! I now can earn an extra 720 RMB (about US$ 90) a year and send my children to school!".
In many of the poor areas, the lack of water is one of the most serious problems. In Zhu Yuan Village, among the poorest 100 villages in Hunan, only an hour's drive away from Zhangjiajie, water for the entire village is collected in three small, uncovered ponds. The day we visited, the water level was so low, large blobs of sediment were floating on the surface. It did not seem potable to us and we were dismayed that villagers would still be drawing from the pond. We were told that if it did not rain in the next two days, the pond was expected to dry up and villagers would have to walk an hour downhill to fetch water. There are plans to construct five more ponds to improve the water supply. Building a road would also allow easier delivery of water from water sources downhill. Villagers had already finished the first part of the six kilometer road and were waiting for more funds to continue its construction.
What was impressive about Zhu Yuan Village, inhabited by the Tujia minority nationality, was the presence of a dynamic team from the provincial government, sent to organize the villagers. Consisting of four energetic young men and women in their 30s, the "poverty alleviation" team had been sent from Changsha to work with villagers in drawing up and implementing their own plans for poverty alleviation over a period of three years. In their first year, the team undertook an extensive survey of the villages and the needs of farmers. They then drafted a 3-year poverty alleviation plan which was modified through consultation with local farmers, village and district heads. The plan was then sent to Changsha for final approval and financial support.
Now in their second year at the village, the team has seen the repair and reconstruction of the local school, the construction of a road and the setting up of a limestone factory. Villagers have enjoyed the presence of the team in the area since "they get things done!" Beyond infrastructure, the team has emphasized the importance of education and succeeded in getting all children back to school. They have also organized appropriate technology training for farmers. As Mr. Shen, the team leader, elaborated on the villager's plans, it was heartening to observe the team members' obvious enthusiasm and dedication to their work. They made good local partners for Amity.
Amity's partnership with the church in Hunan has also helped build bridges, especially in local-level church-state relations. The church is numerically very weak in Hunan where there are only 250,000 Christians. Despite this, it is making waves through its growing community outreach. The Hunan Christian Council has established the Xinde Foundation (Faith and Charity) which supports church-run projects such as homes for the elderly, kindergartens and aid to leper villages. It has also collaborated closely with the Amity Foundation in small-scale development projects that have brought greater recognition and respect for Christians in the province.
Because of Amity projects, meeting points in poor and remote villages are being officially recognized and registered. One example is the Christian meeting point in He Ping Gang village. Although only two hours from Zhangjiajie, the village has no primary school, an indicator of extreme poverty. There is a lack of water for irrigation. When Gu Renfa from Amity and Jane Yao of the Hunan Christian Council visited the village to discuss collaboration on the irrigation project, local officials initially denied that there were Christians in the village. It was only after cooperating with Amity on the project that officials admitted there was a meeting point in the area. They eventually agreed to its registration.
During our visit in August, we had to climb uphill for 30 minutes to reach the meeting point. Local Christians, about 180 strong, worship in an old 100 meter square wooden house that looks ready to collapse, with two of its sagging walls propped up by beams. Women provide vital leadership and we had the privilege of meeting Zhou Cui Rong and Zhao Feng Shan, two relatively young women leaders. They told us that when the meeting point was started in 1995 it had been located in an even less accessible place (three hours' walk uphill) and they were grateful to have their present church building even if it were dilapidated. They were particularly grateful for Amity's intercession and that of the Hunan Christian Council in getting registered. Most important, they were taking part in the irrigation project and this was gaining respect for Christians, both from local farmers and officials.
In Xuang Qi Qiao Village where Amity had contributed to a perimeter wall for the primary school, a small road, a clinic and a drinking water project, local Christians had been given the responsibility of running the village clinic. They were also given the task of monitoring the project for Amity. Officials could clearly see the benefits of working with local Christians and during our visit to the village, it was evident that the stature of the local village church had been raised as a result of the project.
On another level, the involvement of the Hunan Christian Council in grassroots development projects provides opportunities for closer contact and greater interaction between provincial and local level church leaders. In our visits to village meeting points, we could see that local church leaders and members were always deeply moved and inspired by the presence and obvious concern of Rev. Jane Yao, Vice-president of the Hunan Christian Council and one of the prime movers in integrating church and social concerns. She obviously plays a vital role in nurturing and strengthening grassroots congregations in Hunan and one could not help but wish that such a model of close cooperation between Amity and the church could be more widely replicated in other parts of China.
