For Every Child, a Limitless Sky

For 11-year-old Xiaoyan (Little Swallow in Mandarin), many changes have taken place in her school over the past year or so.

It used to be that the boys would always raise their hands to speak up in class, but now girls and boys participate equally. Football, once a boys-only sport, now welcomes everyone, with a new girls’ team allowing all who love the game to enjoy it. The school has also introduced a variety of extracurricular activities, such as cucurbit flute, school plays, martial arts, and folk bamboo pole dancing, among others.

Xiaoyan herself has also changed. The girl of few words gradually began opening up to Feng Qian, her class teacher. “Ms. Feng, are you happy today? I am not feeling very happy because I scored only 69.5 in math...” Xiaoyan wrote to Feng Qian.

What lies behind these transformations?

A little swallow in the mountains

Xiaoyan is Yi (an ethnic minority in Southwest China) with long hair and big eyes. She lives in Yunnan Province, in Mile, a city in a mountainous region that sits at an altitude of more than 2,000 metres, along with her grandparents and her 12-year-old sister.

Xiaoyan has only seen her parents in photos. Her mother passed away due to complications during Xiaoyan’s birth, and not long after, her father also passed away. On weekends, when the sisters return home from school, they follow their grandparents to the field to pick corn, which they then bring home to dry, shell and sell for extra income. During mushroom-picking season, they rise before dawn to gather mushrooms in the mountains with their grandmother.

In China's remote rural areas, many children struggle to reach their full potential due to challenges such as limited resources, migration, illness, or disability. Deeply ingrained traditional beliefs favouring males over females often lead to boys receiving more resources than girls. Vulnerable girls are especially affected by gender stereotypes, which can restrict their access to education, health and socio-economic opportunities.

How can the ‘little swallow’ spread her wings to pursue her dreams in the wider world? 

Change in the making

Since 2023, UNICEF has been partnering with Beijing Normal University to pilot the School-family Collaboration Programme with a focus on gender equality in two cities in Yunnan Province, Yuxi and Mile.

"By adopting a whole-school approach, we aim to empower teachers and parents through the cultivation of a gender-sensitive school environment and culture. This includes implementing a gender-focused curriculum, conducting individual casework, offering parent classes, making home visits and mobilizing external resources," said Lou Chunfang, Education Programme Officer at UNICEF China.

As part of the programme, 28 seed teachers from four pilot schools have been trained to integrate gender equality into every aspect of school life. They have organized themed recess exercises, school plays and blackboard paintings. Original school-based curriculum was developed that addresses topics such as sex education, combating gender stereotypes in career aspirations, and preventing school bullying. These teachers were also trained to conduct casework for at-risk girls, make home visits, and run parent workshops to improve communication between parents and children.

Feng Qian noticed that Xiaoyan didn't talk much, so using techniques she had learned in the programme’s training, she turned an old desk drawer into a ‘secret mailbox’ between herself and Xiaoyan. She hoped the reserved girl would feel more comfortable opening up if she could write letters and make drawings.

One weekend, Xiaoyan called Feng Qian from her home: "Ms. Feng, I am really bad at math. I want you to teach me." Feng Qian reassured her that anyone can do well in math if they are committed.

Over the past year, Xiaoyan has become more confident and made new friends. "I used to feel down about myself because of my darker skin,” she shared with Feng Qian. “But since grade four, I realized that I could still make friends no matter what I look like."

For every child, a limitless sky

"Gender equality is equally important for boys and girls, as breaking down stereotypes allows them to break free from limitations and reach their full potential. They don’t necessarily have to hold up half the sky, they are free to enjoy the entire sky," said Wu Chengrui, programme expert and Associate Professor at Yunnan Minzu University.

Schools play a crucial role in promoting gender equality. "The programme brought us new ideas that are conveyed to all parents through our teachers," said Tian Peijing, headmaster at Dongshan Town Central School in Mile City. "We bend down and lower ourselves to treat children equally, paying attention to their physical and psychological needs, and nurturing their self-confidence and self-esteem... so that children become brighter and more optimistic.”

Xiaoyan aspires to become a mathematics teacher when she grows up. “She's very resilient and I believe she can become an even better person," said Feng Qian.

Every little swallow deserves a limitless sky. UNICEF will continue to strengthen its partnerships, working with schools, communities and families, to create a more equitable and supportive environment for girls who need it most.

UNICEF hopes the resources and experiences from the programme can be extended to more regions across China, so that more children, teachers, and parents can benefit. "I hope every child can live without fear and freely shine their own light," said Wu Chengrui.