Inspired by the foundation’s woman empowerment initiatives, Li Yifei, 17, a high-school student, decided to make her own efforts to support the development of women and children in developing countries.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Beijing Changier Education Foundation set up a platform for young people to participate in charity projects on the improvement of Chinese youngsters’ mental health, AIDS prevention awareness and sex education.

Inspired by the foundation’s woman empowerment initiatives, Li Yifei, 17, a high-school student, decided to make her own efforts to support the development of women and children in developing countries. She got to know the current situation of sex education of young people across the country, especially those in remote areas, in exchanges with Zhang Yinjun, chairwoman of the foundation, and endeavored to join one of its charity projects.

The project aims to set up spaces in schools and communities where students can get access to speeches, salons and exhibitions that promote AIDS prevention knowledge and proper sex education. Mental health services would also be provided in such spaces.

Zhang started to raise funds to set up an activity center featuring the aforementioned functions in May and later persuaded an interior design team based in Shanghai to offer a design sketch of the space. She herself also participated in the designing of the space.

In mid-September, the activity center was put into use and since then has accommodated many domestic and foreign experts who came to discuss how to better collaborate in the fields of AIDS prevention and sex education.

She says she hopes her endeavors will encourage more of her peers to join in the AIDS prevention campaign initiated by Beijing Changier Education Foundation.