Before I joined the Transparent Fish Community, I had already heard of many aiding projects supported by The Ping & Amy Chao Family Foundation in Gansu and Sichan provinces. As I visited many other NGOs who got help from Transparent Fish, I felt it was a good platform committing to offer aid to those with need. As a new starter, I really hope I can learn a lot from experienced NGOs and help convey my affection to those in need.

Anhui Farmers' Cooperative is an organization for farmers' rights, and has undertaken several community development projects. 

It has been nearly half a year since we had the idea to build a cultural courtyard. In the process of construction, many stories were moved. The participation of seniors and children made me feel united and warm.

Sand, building stones, and children putting bricks together. 

The aged also joined the process of putting bricks in order to be put on concrete after we paved the place with broken bricks instead of building stones.

An agitator, a handcart, and a polisher. 

It looks very different. Several days ago, an old man came to help. Unfortunately, he suddenly passed away. It was not possible for the old man to ever walk on the cement ground and see us dancing on it.

I was deeply touched by the large family. Each one in the family is so sweet.. We will remember our smiles, sweat, and songs forever.

At 9:30 pm on May 15, 2012  “Sing for Workers”, a New Workers Art Ensemble, arrived in Fuyang, Anhui Province.



Fuyang is a city with a population of 10 million. Notorious events such as the “White House death sentence”, tainted-milk scandal, and farmers petition, have caused high public attention. On the other hand, the struggles show the local people’s admirable courage to fight against injustices in society.



It did not occur to us that our planned public performance was canceled by the government without any reason. The performance had been approved by Anhui Province Non-government Organization Administration and Anhui Province Social Work Association. It was noted as a non-profit and positive public activity. What did the government think?



We had prepared and looked forward to our performance for a long time, but when the unexpected result came to us, we were very disappointed. We sang in the street and it felt great, no one could stop us from singing.



On the morning of May 16, we were invited to participate in the 14th anniversary celebration of Nan Tang Xing Farmer Cooperative. We decided to put our stage here. The construction site, firm, and farmlands belonged with our image on stage.



Yang Yunbiao, director-general of Nan Tang Xing Farmer Cooperative, made a speech. He recalled the struggling history of our cooperative. He had mobilized all the members and villagers to build a cooperative monument which was used to remember the history of fighting for dreams.

Today I stood here and thought of what we were 14 years ago. At that time there were unreasonable charges and mistaken arrests in each village. Villagers petitioned the government but were hurt instead…


That was why we founded a cooperative. We never forgot the history and clearly remembered those comrades who fought with us. They are: Tang Dianlin, Tang Wanwei, Liu Junyun, Tangjin Gang, Tang Dianhua, Tang Jinfu, Zhang Wenhua, Wang Xiuhua, Tan Zixia, Dang Yongju, Zhao Keling, Yang Ganli, Jia Hongying, Zhang Yong, Wang Silin, Wang Shaocheng, Wu Shibin, Ning Kesheng, Zhang Yubin, Chen Yuying, Wang Sihai,Xu Yulong, Liu Shiguang, Liu Jianchun, Yang Baochao, Liu Xiubang, Gao Shiyou, Liu Yuxi, Liu Yulian, Zhang Jinxi, Zhang Hengqin, and Zhang Xuesheng.


Many of them left from the cooperative for various reasons.


We will never forget their great effort and struggle for rights.


I remembered our best honored friend Liu Laoshi and how we shared our new career as the Senior Association and Women Art Team.


It was a great challenge to sing songs with smiles on our faces when we did not wipe tears from our faces.


Although there was no money, audio, or locations, we had passion, spirits of sacrifice, and communication at that time. That was enough for us.

Anhui Farmers' Cooperative is an organization for farmers' rights, and has undertaken several community development projects. To read more about Anhui Farmers' Cooperative, click here.

Yubiao writes the following poem about their successes in the past year: 

The hearts of kind people are boiling in the hot summer.
Our unyielding footprints are left in green farmlands…
Remember our tears falling for rights
Remember our courage fighting for votes
Remember our unity in the local police station
Remember our joy electing the top 10 good daughters-in-law
Remember our warm hearts for donation
Remember our solemnity in memorial ceremony
Remember our laughs in the farms
Remember our excellent performances in temple fairs
Remember our delight in extra meetings
Remember our endeavors and sweat

Yet we have not forgotten the building finance scandal, the shame of our jerry-built project, and the bad behavior done to the office facilities. These lessons will remain close to our hearts forever, because they are precious
treasures.
 
Many members stood in silence as they saw slides of our cooperative. They all began reminiscing, reliving the past memories. It wasn't easy for us to endure fourteen years of constant trial.

The day the monument was unveiled was one that would be well worth remembering. The monument shelters our memories and hope. It stands firm as our spirit support. It allowed us to believe that our cooperative would get better
and better...