XIANGHE, China — The BYU-Hawaii Concert Choir group that is touring China and Mongolia from May 7-29 included a performance at a small elementary school in this agricultural community of about 1,200 people approximately 50 miles outside of Beijing. They also toured a nearby apparel factory owned by an unusually generous man, which gave them insights into the rural villages that make up an estimated 85% of China's population.
At the two-story elementary school in this small farming community, residents and choir members surrounded the children on an unpaved playing field as the two respective groups took turns performing. The children particularly liked the Samoan folk song Minoi Minoi and accompanying slap dance that always gets local audiences participating, clapping along to the beat, and smiling.
The group visited the school surrounded by wheat fields at the suggestion of Tad Butt, a member of the BYU-Hawaii/Polynesian Cultural Center Presidents' Leadership Council of volunteer donors and president of Pioneer Oil with headquarters in Billings, Montana. Since Butt became friends with successful Hong Kong businessman John Ling about six years ago, he often tries to get Americans and others to make the drive from Beijing to learn of conditions at the school.
"John is a wonderful person who uses his money to build schools and hospitals, and do wonderful things; so my family and I became friends and have traveled to China many times. This school has become a special place. We've come here dozens of times and brought hundreds of people here" said Butt, whose company also helps support the school.
Ling said that in 1949 his family left Shanghai and established their businesses in Hong Kong. "Now it's time to come back and do something for this country. The international markets have opened up, and the people need help from outside" he said, noting he's been aiding the elementary school here financially for the past six years.
Ling said he also has a factory nearby that employs about 1,000 local workers, manufacturing clothing and apparel that's mostly shipped to America. "We have the best clientele in the United States, namely Ann Taylor, Nordstrom, Liz Claibourne. So, we're successful here, and we contribute some of the money back to help the area."
He explained that his factory helps provide a livelihood for rural girls, 18 and older. "The farmers here, their income is less than 2,000 RMB a year [about $250] to support the whole family, so the girls are a 'burden.' The boys can work in the fields. The monthly salary of the girls in our factory is almost about nine months of the father's salary, so they contribute to the family, which provides money to buy fertilizer, farm equipment and everything, so they have a better product and a better life."
"It's very interesting for people to come to China and see the Great Wall, but Tad also wants people to see the basic, true life in China" Ling said. He added he also supports a number of university students. "We want to help bring them up and be somebody later on."
When the BYU-Hawaii group arrived at Ling's factory, everyone was surprised at the beauty of the facilities and grounds. Employees lined the entranced and applauded as the group entered the airy cafeteria, where the choir presented an impromptu mini-concert for hundreds of the workers. They then took a tour past the dormitories, where some of the workers live, and into the actual factory, which was modern, clean, efficient — and very impressive.
A manager explained the workers spend eight hours a day on the job, from 8 to 5, with an hour off for lunch that's provided in the spacious company cafeteria. The lunch the choir group ate was delicious. The manager also explained Ling provides a matching dowry fund for single girls.
"The thing that makes him [Ling] the happiest is to make people happy" Butt told a group member.
"Today is also fulfillment in at least one of my dreams, in that the very first time I came here [to the school] and spent time with the little children my heart started to break when I thought about the things they needed to know to make them happy. I went home and said my prayers, and I had a dream that one day I would bring the [Mormon] Tabernacle Choir here. So today, at least in part, the 'Tabernacle Choir' is here from BYU-Hawaii."
"This once again reinforces for me how our Heavenly Father answers our prayers and how He cares about the children, even in the smallest communities in China" Butt added. "I know that there are special children here, and for some reason, I'm always drawn back to this place. It was beautiful to have the BYU-Hawaii students here to share."
— Photos by Mike Foley, (upper left): Xianghe school students; (middle-right): Tad Butt; (middle-left): John Ling; (bottom): talent exchange at the school.
