Criteria 1
Market Economy in Rural China
Challenge:The CAction:hina Association for Promoting Democracy indicates that the average high school dropout rate for Rural China is 40percent. In the face of such a deplorable demography, our SIFE team members made it our obligation to answer the call and lift up others in need.
Action: Our SIFE team dedicated (80) hours to conduct 10-dat class on market economy principles in the rural village of Liu Shu in Liaoning, China. In collaboration with the local village government, our two-member team taught high-school dropouts the basics of a market economy, entrepreneurial success cases, laws and regulations, business ethics, and business planning. Our training was structured to be relevant to the circumstances of our participants, and while instilling a sense of pride, it taught them about how economic growth can be spurred in rural areas and how industrialization is impacting similar areas in China.
Result: Twenty-two teenagers participated in the training. Based on pre- and post-training assessment surveys, 80% of the students affirmed that they left the class with a better understanding of market economics. Our SIFE team helped two particularly ambitious students craft their own business plan with the intent of starting operations during the summer of 2009.