The Ching Tien Foundation for Women builds on the legacy of Educating Girls of Rural China (EGRC).
Founded by Ching Tien in 2005, EGRC was a grassroots Canadian charity operating in rural western China. Inspired by Ching Tien’s belief that “educated women have educated children,” EGRC’s mission was to empower women through education as a tool to advance gender equality and alleviate poverty. From 2005 to 2023, EGRC provided transformational scholarship funding, emotional support, and mentorship, enabling over 2,000 young rural Chinese women to complete high school and university, achieving a graduation rate of over 99% and lifting the families of all graduates out of poverty.
Donor recognition
Bank of Montreal Asia
Canfor Corporation
FMC
Mackenzie Investments
Manulife Sinochem
Teck Resources Ltd
Vancouver Bullion & Currency Exchange
Wagas
Organizations
Beijing Concord College of Sino-Canada
British Chamber of Commerce, China
Canada China Business Council
Canadian Chamber of Commerce Shanghai
Keystone Academy Beijing
Mentor Walk Asia
Message Coach Beijing
Tesla Women’s Club Beijing
Western Academy of Beijing
WeWorkingWomen
Embassies
Australian Embassy in China
British Embassy Beijing
Embassy of Canada to China
Embassy of Germany in China
New Zealand Embassy to China
The Ching Tien Foundation for Women continues to support young women from China as well as young women from other Asian countries.
EGRC in the Media
January 7, 2008 – Interview on the CBC Radio One The Early Edition and Anthony Germain Report from Gansu
A Vancouver woman is making a vital and profound difference in the lives of poor female students in Northern China
May 9, 2009 – Interview on CBC TV National News
“She was brought up in China’s cultural revolution and denied an education. Years later, as an adult living in Canada, Tien Ching decided to do her part to make sure girls in rural China get the education she missed.” Peter Mansbridge
July 1, 2009 – Xinhua News Agency
Love across Pacific – “Vancouver mom” sponsors 165 underprivileged Chinese university girls – Zhao Qing, Yang Shilong
May 27, 2011 – The Toronto Star
Saving the girls of rural China – Bill Schiller
December 25, 2011 – Globe and Mail
By educating girls, a charity changes lives in rural China
July 8, 2012 – China Daily
One step at a time – Canada’s Tien Ching puts her money where her heart is, reaching out to educate girls in rural China – Mei Jia
May 6, 2021 – South China Morning Post
Non-profit that empowers rural Chinese women through education celebrated in portraits of some of those it has helped
August 11, 2020 – RADII
Help This NGO Change Girls’ Lives in Rural China – Mayura Jain
November 13, 2017 – Sixth Tone
Changing Rural Education, One Girl at a Time – By funding schooling for young women, NGO hopes to chip away at gender inequality in the Chinese countryside. – Cai Yiwen