“ I am a teacher dismissed 20 years ago. When I got the donation of 4000RMB from Tongwei Group, I was deeply moved to tears. My family and I will treasure the love and care from Tongwei people.” A dismissed teacher named Li Linbing wrote so in a letter which moved the guests and journalists present. On January 14th, the press conference of “Candle Burning Activity” was held by Southern Weekend, China Red Cross Foundation and Tongwei Group in the News Release Hall of China Red Cross Association in Beijing. Kou Shuqian, writer of “the Substitute Teachers in the Countryside” presented the activity. Zhu Wenjing, representative of substitute teachers, introduced the harsh days the dismissed teachers had endured and the sad present situation and expressed thanks to Southern Weekend Newspaper, China Red Cross Foundation and Tongwei Group.

Since Southern Weekend reported the living condition of substitute teachers in 2005, the newspaper tries to help them not only through media but also in practice. The “Candle Burning Activity” was sponsored by Ping An Insurance Group and Tongwei Group and absorbed more than 500 people’s donation. At the beginning of the year, as the deadline of the dismissing of substitute teachers was approaching, the fate of them attracted much attention of the general public. Organizing parties including Tongwei Group appealed that enterprises and general publishc should take part in “Candle Burning Activity” so as to help those teachers to rebuild their confidence in finding new jobs. It is known that the activity will continue to collect donations to help more than 200 substitute teachers for their training and entrepreneurship.