Introducing Guanlan ScholarshipFoundation: Empowering Girls Through Education

At the Guanlan Scholarship Foundation: Why Girls’ Education Matters

At the Guanlan Scholarship Foundation, our mission is clear: to support and prioritize the education of girls and young women.
Why does this matter? Because decades of research show that investing in girls’ education is one of the most effective ways to improve human development.

Studies cited by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan (2000) and UNICEF (2004) consistently demonstrate that educating girls leads to stronger communities, healthier families, and more sustainable societies.

A Global and Legal Commitment to Girls’ Education

Our commitment is not only moral—it is also legal. Girls’ education is protected under major international agreements, including:

• The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1988)

• The Millennium Development Goals (2000)

• The Sustainable Development Goals (2015)

As emphasized in The Millennium Declaration (2010), educating girls plays a critical role in reducing poverty, hunger, and disease, while promoting dignity and social justice.

The World Bank has echoed this view, identifying girls’ education as one of the most impactful investments a country can make. Education improves economic productivity, strengthens health outcomes, and secures basic human rights—allowing people “to lead longer, freer, and more fruitful lives” (Sen, 1997).

Is girls’ education truly accessible on in China?

At the Guanlan Scholarship Foundation, we work to turn this question into action. Through scholarships, mentorship, and educational resources, we help girls overcome barriers and pursue their dreams.

Together with our partners, we strive to make quality education a reality for every girl and young woman we serve.

Continuing the Exploration: Unveiling the Educational Realities of Anjinggou Village

To better understand the challenges facing rural girls, we focused on Anjinggou village. There, we witnessed how education interacts with social systems, particularly for girls in left-behind communities.

Despite difficult conditions, the girls of Anjinggou showed strong determination to continue their education. Many challenged traditional norms, delayed early marriage, and redefined gender expectations in pursuit of learning. Their experiences highlight the transformative power of formal education.

Our findings also reveal how education contributes to rural out-migration. As schooling promotes paid work and urban opportunities, young people often leave their villages in search of better futures—a pattern seen across developing regions worldwide.

A Rare Long-Term Perspective on Girls’ Education

Our research fills a significant gap in existing literature. By following village girls over a 22-year period, we provide rare, independent insights into educational trends in remote areas of western China.

These findings also reflect the experiences of millions of children affected by migration. According to UNICEF and the National Bureau of Statistics (2021), 54.5% of China’s children are impacted by migration-related challenges. By amplifying these voices, we deepen understanding of both obstacles and opportunities.

Measuring Progress: Education Outcomes Over Time

As we reflect on national educational trends, it’s evident that strides have been made since 2010. China’s National Bureau of Statistics reports a notable increase in the proportion of the population with tertiary education, rising from 8.93% in 2010 to 15.5% in 2020. In comparison, our data reveal a remarkable surge in tertiary enrollment within our sample, with only four Guanlan Sisters (GS) pursuing tertiary education prior to 2010, followed by a significant increase to 17 GS between 2010-2019, and an additional 7 GS from 2020-2022. The increase rate from 4 to 17 GS between 2009-2019, and an additional 7 GS from 2020-2022 is 500%. This steep rise underscores the transformative impact of our scholarship program on educational attainment.

The period spanning from 2000 to the present marks significant milestones in China’s education landscape. The universalization of compulsory education was achieved, and the proportion of the population accessing private-pay senior secondary education increased substantially from 80.6% in 2010 to 92.4% in 2020. Similarly, within our sample, all Guanlan Sisters attained compulsory education by 2017, with occasional dropouts due to health reasons. This progress can be attributed, in part, to increased government expenditure on compulsory and senior secondary education. However, persistent barriers to equal access persist, including regional disparities in government spending and the imposition of arbitrary educational fees by local authorities.

Achievements of the Guanlan sisters:

Turning our attention to the educational journey of the 139 Guanlan Sisters over 22 years, we witness remarkable advancements. Analyzing five-year increments, we observe significant leaps in educational attainment, with 55% advancing beyond compulsory education to senior secondary schooling, and an impressive 89% graduating from senior secondary school. Unexpectedly, post-secondary and tertiary enrollment surged from 1% to 30%, highlighting the transformative impact of our scholarship program.

By 2022 of the 101 GS who had completed their schooling, 13 had achieved only at the primary level, 29 had attempted or completed the compulsory 9 years of schooling, and 29 had attempted graduated from senior secondary school, with an additional 29 having entered tertiary education. In total, 76% of GS had achieved compulsory education or beyond, with 20 currently enrolled GS poised to continue their educational journey beyond compulsory schooling.

These statistics not only underscore the success of the Guanlan Scholarship Foundation in empowering girls through education but also highlight the transformative potential of investing in girls’ education to drive societal progress and human development. As we celebrate these achievements, we remain steadfast in our commitment to breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for every girl to realize her full potential.

Exceeding Expectations: Resilience Beyond Expectations: Singleton Outliers

In our analysis, we anticipated encountering a few outliers who surpassed expectations given their challenging backgrounds. However, what we uncovered was truly remarkable: 11 Guanlan Sisters (GS), comprising 13% of the cohort, had either been adopted out to serve adults in another household or had tragically become orphans during their school years. Despite facing extraordinary adversity, these individuals emerged as educational outliers, achieving remarkable success.

What is particularly striking is the educational attainment of these singleton outliers. A staggering 30% of them made it into tertiary education, essentially the same as the overall proportion of GS enrolled in tertiary institutions (29%). Additionally, 50% of these outliers successfully completed senior secondary school, compared to only 19% of the entire GS cohort. These achievements defy the odds and underscore the resilience and determination of these individuals to overcome adversity and pursue their educational aspirations.

Looking Ahead Together

Their journey serves as a testament to the transformative power of education and the unwavering commitment of the Guanlan Scholarship Foundation to empower every girl, regardless of circumstance, to reach her full potential.

As we celebrate the remarkable achievements of these singleton outliers, we are reminded of the immense potential that lies within every individual, regardless of the challenges they may face. Their success inspires us to redouble our efforts in breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for all girls to thrive and succeed.