In April 2000 the Seeberg family visited the historic capital of China, Xi’an in Shaanxi Province, for Dr. Seeberg to address a conference on girls’ education.
While there, two colleagues at Shaanxi Normal University (SNU), happened to mention a scholarship project furthering girls’ education in poor rural villages. The professors described the effect the scholarships had not only on the girls but the whole village.
They talked about how the girls’ inspiring example brings a newfound respect for girls as “little scholars” and spreads hope as the families look to them to provide for their future.
Out of that discussion was born Guanlan Scholarship Foundation.