On August 12, Chinese women's soccer star Wang Frost embarked on her third overseas journey. In the midst of her busy schedule, she shared a heartwarming video on social media platforms, recording a small act of kindness during her preparation for the East Asian Cup in Qingdao: she sent her heartfelt graduation blessings to more than 60 "wind chasing girls" who are about to graduate from elementary school.
In the video, Wang Frost said with emotion to the "wind chasing girls": "How lucky you are to have met soccer in your youth. Now, you are about to spread your wings and fly to a wider world. May you always be accompanied by soccer in the days to come, and draw confidence and happiness from it!"
Behind the name "Chasing Wind Girls" is the "Chasing Wind Program" launched by Zhejiang Ant Public Welfare Foundation. Since its launch in July 2019, the program has joined hands with multiple partners and plans to support 100 girls' soccer teams in rural elementary school in the next five years, helping more rural girls realize their self-worth and broaden their education and development path through soccer. As of 2021, the program has covered 23 provinces across China, directly supported 60 rural elementary school girls' soccer teams and benefited more than 200 rural schools.
Ant Public Welfare Foundation recently announced the results of the "Wind Chaser Program" in the past three years. In addition to financial support, the program has donated 6,532 sets of jerseys, 2,735 pairs of shoes and 260 sets of soccer training equipment to 260 rural school girls' soccer teams, ensuring the girls' safety and professionalism in training. Dong Mengnan, goalkeeper of Yuanbao Primary School in Dafang County, Guizhou Province, said, "In the past, I didn't even have gloves to play soccer, but now with gloves and pads, I am no longer afraid of getting hurt during training."
In addition to the improvement of hardware facilities, the "Wind Chaser Program" also attaches importance to the cultivation of teachers. 120 village soccer coaches received a five-day professional training in Qiongzhong, Hainan in August 2020, and former China women's football head coach Ma Liangxiang and former player Gao Hong, as the "wind chaser mentor "Former Chinese women's soccer head coach Ma Liangxing and former player Gao Hong were taught scientific training methods. During the epidemic, the project also cooperated with the National Football Association's Vitality Rose Classroom mini-program on the Alipay APP to provide professional training courses for rural soccer coaches.
Last October was a proud moment for the Wind Chase girls. Wang Jiayue, from one of the first schools in the Wind Chaser Program, appeared on the big screen at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy. She led her team to victory in the Southwest Region of the Wind Chase League and was awarded the best player, holding the same trophy as Cairo. Wang Jiayue's story also captured the attention of fans around the world at the UEFA Nations League final. She and her four teammates from Yuanbao Primary School were selected by the Guangzhou Football Association to receive professional training in Guangzhou, where they will complete their studies from elementary school to university.
There are many other "wind chasing girls" like Wang Jiayue who have changed their destiny through soccer. Over the past three years, the "Wind Chaser Program" has helped 4,129 village soccer girls, of which 783 graduates have been given a better chance of junior high school education because of soccer, and 30 have been admitted to sports schools, youth training centers or soccer schools to receive professional training.
The story of Wang Jiayue, a "wind-chasing girl" from Bijie, Guizhou Province, shone on the big screen at the final of an international tournament and became the pride of village soccer girls.
