Love Pack 2018 Project
We kept going, for the smiles waiting deep in the remote mountains
Our Fourth Year Began… with a Bowl of Noodles at a Police Station
Time flies. Just like that, Love-pack Project turned four.
No birthday party, no balloons — just backpacks packed with care and love, ready to journey into the remote mountains once more.
This year, we made a big move — from the remote mountains of Sichuan to the hills of Maochang Town in Dafang County, Bijie City, Guizhou Province. A different province, but the same anticipation.
1,059 children were waiting for a backpack, filled with color, love, and warmth from strangers who care.
But this trip? Easily one of the most chaotic yet.
One volunteer had to cancel at the last minute due to an emergency. Our supply car got rear-ended by a hit-and-run driver in Luzhou (yep — first time we’ve ever had noodles at a police station for lunch). That same night, we were sorting materials until nearly midnight, counting pens, cups, notebooks until our brains turned to mush.
Originally, the plan was to visit two schools per day. But someone in the group — who had work the day after — suggested we power through and do all four in one go.
So we did.
From the Kids – And from You
“Thank you, I’ll study really hard!”
“I want to be a firefighter when I grow up.”
“My favorite fruit is apple. I’ll eat it while carrying my new backpack!”
This year, we sent digital postcards instead of printed ones — to be more sustainable.
If you adopted a backpack, check your messages!
Their little notes — in wobbly handwriting — are the most heartfelt thanks you’ll ever receive.
Full Transparency
Funds raised: ¥28,874.6 RMB
Funds spent: ¥28,874.6 RMB
Every donation, item, and receipt is listed in our public records.
Some minor receipts are missing but clearly noted.
We hold ourselves accountable — to you, and more importantly, to the kids.
[Click to view the full financial breakdown]
What We Learned This Year
This year, we also began to notice a shift.
While school buildings have improved, soft support — like teacher quality, or emotional support for kids in left-behind communities — is still far behind.
Some people told us we need to “scale up,” “have more impact,” “solve structural issues.”
But the truth is — we can’t solve everything.
We can’t overhaul rural education systems.
We can’t control how kids grow up.
But we can give them a backpack — a small reward for choosing to stay in school.
And sometimes, that’s enough.
2018 Project Locations in Guizhou
Xingfu Primary School, Shuoyantang Village – 259 students
Yongjiu Primary School, Yongjiu Village – 256 students
Wuya Primary School, Wuya Village – 135 students
Lianhe Primary School, Lianhe Village – 409 students
Some children smiled shyly when receiving their backpacks. Others beamed and jumped.
One girl whispered, “This is the first time I’ve had my own watercolor set.”
In that moment, everything — the long drive, the late-night sorting, the car accident — felt completely worth it.
What We Brought This Year
A full Love-pack backpack for each child
5 sketchbooks, 1 set of watercolors, 2 gel pens
A thermal water bottle for each child — long walks to school need warm drinks
Age-appropriate books and stationery
For each school: proportionally allocated basketballs, soccer balls, jump ropes, and badminton sets
A basic medical kit & one color laser printer per school
We’ve always believed: it’s not about quantity, it’s about meaning.
Every item was hand-selected, packed, and double-counted by volunteers.
The Journey – What Went Wrong (and Right)
Car accident
Rain and road closures
A volunteer who had to cancel last minute
Packing chaos that lasted until nearly 12:30 AM
A return trip where our tires got deflated by someone on purpose...
But somehow, every twist and turn just brought us closer.
When we were dead tired and sorting supplies late into the night, it was the local teachers and principals who stayed up helping us.
One principal even helped us coordinate deliveries after we’d left, saving us hours.
We laughed a lot, too.
Some of us were so sleep-deprived, we kept chanting, “Count the cups, count the pens…” until our tongues got twisted. We called it “hypoxic logistics mode.”
Our Team – Ordinary People, Doing This One Thing
We’re not a foundation. We have no sponsors. We’re just people from all walks of life:
Programmers
Teachers
Doctors
College students
Stay-at-home moms
Freelancers
Real estate agents
Finance workers
Photographers
We come together once a year to do this one thing, quietly, honestly, and as cleanly as we can.
No KPIs. No ads. No brands.
Just backpacks. And heart.
Next Year – We’re Going Again
If you want to:
Hike into the remote mountains with us
Share time, skills, or just some encouragement
Adopt a backpack — just one, quietly, year after year
We’d love to have you in our little tribe.
A Final Word, To Every Companion on This Path
“There are so many things we give up on. Charging our phones every day is one thing we always remember. So what else can we stick to?”
We chose to stick with this:
A Love-pack project. Once a year. No glory. No headlines.
Just a promise — Next year, we’ll go see them again.
Spread Love. Carry Hope.
Backpack by Backpack.