When this photo appeared 30 years ago, it touched the hearts of thousands of people across China, with some bursting into tears when they saw it. But thanks to this photo, countless underprivileged rural children have been able to go to school.
30年前，这张照片出现时，牵动着全中国成千上万人的心，有的人看到后泪流满面。但多亏了这张照片，无数贫困农村孩子得以上学。
In 1983, Su Mingjuan (苏明娟) was born into an ordinary farmhouse in Zhangwan village of Jinzhai County in Anhui Province. Her parents etched out a living in the mountains by fishing, raising silkworms and pigs, together with farming and planting chestnuts.
1983年，苏明娟出生在安徽省金寨县张湾村的一个普通农家。她的父母在山里靠打鱼、养蚕、养猪、务农、种栗为生。
For Mingjuan in School, the ¥60 or ¥70 required for books and miscellaneous expenses each term was the biggest burden on her family, reports Nanjing Daily.
据《南京日报》报道，对于在校的明娟来说，每学期60元或70元的书本费和杂费是她家庭最大的负担。
The school itself was dilapidated. With no money for glass, the windows were covered with plastic sheeting in the winter. But with no light able to penetrate the gloom, the children could only read with the windows wide open and a cold wind roaring through the classroom.
学校本身已经破败不堪。由于没有钱买玻璃，冬天窗户就用塑料布覆盖。但由于没有光线穿透黑暗，孩子们只能开着窗户，冷风从教室里呼啸而过。
One day in 1991, Mingjuan was listening attentively as usual. Her big eyes eager for knowledge found Xie Hailong, a reporter visiting the school to conduct an interview. Xie knew those penetrating eyes would also find a place in people’s hearts. When Mingjuan, holding a pencil, looked up at the blackboard again, Xie quickly pressed the shutter.
1991年的一天，明娟像往常一样聚精会神地听着。她求知的大眼睛找到了来校采访的记者谢海龙。谢知道，那双锐利的目光也会在人们的心中占有一席之地。当明娟拿着铅笔再次抬头看向黑板时，谢怜连忙按下了快门。
After being published, the photo, entitled, “I want to read”, became a publicity symbol for China’s Project Hope. Almost overnight, Mingjuan, who was only 8-years old, had unexpectedly become a celebrity.
这张题为“我想读书”的照片发布后，成为中国希望工程的宣传标志。几乎一夜之间，年仅8岁的明娟竟然成了名人。
Ever since, millions of people have donated generously to help children on the verge of losing their schooling.
从那时起，数百万人慷慨解囊，帮助那些濒临失学的儿童。
It was just the kick which Project Hope needed. Formed 2 years prior in 1989, the program was aimed at financing education for poverty-stricken students. Founded by the China Youth Development Foundation and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, Project Hope had received ¥15.23 billion as of September, 2019. Six million students in financial difficulty have been assisted and 20,195 primary schools also built, reported Xinhua.
这正是希望工程所需要的动力。该计划成立于两年前的 1989 年，旨在资助贫困学生的教育。据新华社报道，由中国青少年发展基金会和共青团中央发起的希望工程截至2019年9月已收到152.3亿元人民币。已救助600万贫困学生，援建20195所小学。
That photo changed Mingjuan’s life. She would spend the next 30 years giving back.
那张照片改变了明娟的生活。她将在接下来的 30 年里回馈社会。
In 1997, while just a sophomore in junior high school, Mingjuan took the initiative to remit ¥600 from her education subsidy to a girl of Hui ethnicity in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, to help her realise a dream of studying.
1997年，还是初二学生的明娟主动从自己的助学金中汇出600元给宁夏回族自治区的一名回族女孩，帮助她圆了读书梦。
After admitted to Anhui University 4 years later, Su insisted on transferring all of her ¥900 living allowance each semester to other, more-needy students.
四年后考入安徽大学后，苏坚持将每学期900元的生活费全部转给其他更困难的学生。
Once Su’s working life began, she donated all her first salary to Project Hope and part of her income each month thereafter.
苏女士开始工作生活后，她将第一笔工资全部捐给希望工程，此后每个月将部分收入捐献给希望工程。
In 2006, Su and Xie auctioned the copyright of the famous photo. Proceeds of more than ¥300,000 were used to aid in the construction of a Project Hope primary school in Qushui County of Lhasa City in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Hundreds of Tibetan children have been able to go to school there since.
2006年，苏和谢拍卖了这张著名照片的版权。善款逾30万元用于援建西藏自治区拉萨市曲水县希望小学。自此，数百名藏族儿童得以在那里上学。
Most recently, in 2018, Su took ¥30,000 out her savings as the startup capital for her “Su Mingjuan Student Fund”, committed to helping more underprivileged students and passing on love and hope. The public welfare fund has assisted in building two Project Hope primary schools and funded 45 first-year university students.
最近，2018年，苏女士拿出3万元积蓄作为“苏明娟助学基金”的启动资金，致力于帮助更多贫困学生，传递爱与希望。公益基金已援建两所希望小学，资助45名大学一年级学生。
Today, Su is the core of a happy family, a mother with adorable children. When Su had them thank Xie via video for his taking of that photo in 1991, those tears of 30 years ago were again shed by many.
如今，苏是一个幸福家庭的核心，是一位有着可爱孩子的母亲。当苏老师让他们通过视频感谢谢老师在1991年拍摄这张照片时，许多人再次流下了30年前的泪水。
