The Honghu Plan supports first-generation college students in China by providing mentorship and resources to help them overcome challenges and unlock their potential.
Born into an ordinary family, Ye Jiayi, a 24-year-old from Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, studied hard to get into university, eager to leave her hometown for a more promising career, a broader life, and the opportunity to contribute more to her family and society.
This is the story of millions of first-generation college students in China.
As the first college student in her family, Ye knew she would face more difficulties in decision-making and personal growth than many of her peers. Due to a lack of understanding about university majors and the absence of mentors to guide her, she only realized after starting university that she did not like her chosen field. Fortunately, she later joined the master's program in law at Zhejiang University, which she had longed for.
However, after reaching a major crossroads in her career, she once again felt uncertain. But this time, a public welfare project provided her with the guidance she needed.
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China Youth of Tomorrow (Honghu Youth), a social enterprise focused on educational equity, established its core talent development project, the Honghu Plan, in 2019.
In Chinese culture, "honghu" is a large swan with lofty aspirations. The Honghu Plan specifically supports first-generation college students in China — those whose immediate family members have not received higher education.
Ye remembers the feelings of inferiority she had growing up.
"The economic support my family could provide was limited, and I missed many learning opportunities, such as paid courses and forum activities," she said. "Thankfully, after becoming part of the Honghu Plan, I gained access to a wealth of resources."
Since joining the program at the beginning of 2023, Ye has benefited from seven months of free, systematic guidance, including a series of courses, mentor interactions, and peer community activities.
The courses covered fundamental skills like Office software and email writing, along with job-related topics such as resume writing and career planning.
Bridging gaps
Ye highlights the guidance from predecessors as the most valuable aspect of the program. Through a two-way selection and matching process between students and mentors, Ye had in-depth communications with five senior legal practitioners, including lawyers, a social activist, and a member of the local political consultative conference.
Zhao Yingjie, a partner at Lifeng Law Firm in Shanghai, is one of Ye's mentors. She not only provided Ye with career advice but also shared insights into the challenges women may face in the workplace and life, becoming what Ye describes as her "role model of women's strength".
Starting in a small town in Binzhou, Shandong province, Zhao progressed to the East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai and later attended Columbia University in the United States.
Referring to herself as a "small-town swot", Zhao believes the biggest challenge for first-generation college students is the information gap — they often lack family guidance and support beyond academics.
"In many places, before entering university, students only focus on doing homework and taking tests," Zhao explained. "During that phase, everything adheres to a standard answer with a singular goal in mind. However, once at university, everything changes — there are no fixed answers or standards anymore."
"For example, how to handle relationships with classmates, which student societies to join, what certifications to pursue, and what opportunities exist within the school and how to seize them. These all require guidance from experienced individuals or industry insiders," she added.
Helping idealistic and ambitious first-generation college students in China bridge such gaps and achieve personal growth is exactly the original intention and goal of the Honghu Plan, according to Wei Qiqi, co-founder of Honghu Youth.
While pursuing her master's degree in law at Harvard University in the US, Wei encountered the concept of "first-generation college students" and heard many inspiring stories of those who, after receiving help, gave back to society. She also noticed that, at the time, there were no organizations in China doing similar work.
According to a research report by Tsinghua University, from 2011 to 2021, the proportion of first-generation college students in undergraduate institutions across China was above 70 percent, compared to 30 to 40 percent in developed countries.
In response, Wei co-founded Honghu Youth and initiated the Honghu Plan.
"We don't want to define first-generation college students as poor or weak, but as individuals with high potential. We hope to highlight their strengths and capabilities," she said.
To date, the Honghu Plan has successfully completed four sessions, benefiting more than 400 students. Building on this foundation, the upgraded fifth session is currently underway, with 330 mentors and 223 students recruited, ensuring each student receives guidance from multiple mentors for comprehensive support.
Growing impact
Resources are limited, yet more young people are eager to receive such help.
Zhou Jiayi, a 22-year-old from Luoyang, Henan province, faced significant challenges. After failing the graduate school entrance exam twice, she no longer qualified for the Honghu Plan, which is limited to currently enrolled students.
However, her sincerity and perseverance impressed the interviewers, and she was exceptionally accepted as a volunteer for the program — a role usually reserved for past participants.
As a volunteer, Zhou is responsible for coordinating communication between 24 mentors and their students. While dedicating herself to giving and contributing, she also gained a great deal in return.
"The mentors are very kind. They treat both the students and volunteers equally and have given me a lot of advice and guidance, too," she said. "This project deserves and needs to be seen by more people."
Adhering to the philosophy of "running a charity like a startup", Wei and the other Honghu Youth executives recruited a new CEO in the summer of 2024 to further develop the Honghu Plan.
The new CEO, Li Shumin, hails from Shangqiu, Henan province. Before joining Honghu Youth, she spent 13 years working in operations at various major internet companies, gaining extensive experience in project management.
In her view, the Honghu Plan not only supports the personal dreams of first-generation college students but also offers a possible new approach to poverty alleviation. These students, she noted, are often more likely to give back to their families and society.
"First-generation college students have demonstrated their potential by excelling academically, becoming the educational pinnacle of their families. By helping them go further and higher, we create a ripple effect," Li explained. "It's akin to venture capital investment — we allocate resources to these individuals with the hope that they will elevate their families and even their communities. In this way, the underprivileged can feel hope, and social mobility will improve."
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However, she believes that Honghu Youth's efforts alone are not enough. One of the organization's next major tasks is raising social awareness about the importance of supporting first-generation college students.
Honghu Youth has reached out to sociology professors, sharing its collection of case studies and tracking the development and challenges faced by Honghu graduates to encourage comprehensive research.
They have also engaged more companies and individuals to offer students a wider range of courses, including AI literacy and psychological counseling. Additionally, efforts are underway to make some courses available online so that students who are not selected for the Honghu Plan can still access valuable support.
"For the past four or five years, we have focused on doing small yet impactful things. Now, we hope to grow bigger and stronger. This will allow us to help more people and also enhance resource equality among first-generation college students," she said.
