About Us

Founder’s Letter

A promise made in a mountain village, carried across the world — and returned to the children who need it most.

Born in a remote and underdeveloped rural village in northern China, I grew up in a family facing deep poverty. I wore patched clothes through middle school and lived on coarse corn meals. From an early age, I started working in the fields—long days of farm labor followed by off-season odd jobs to help support my family. With little time to play and a strong awareness of hardship, I made a promise to myself: I would pursue education as the path to change my destiny.

That promise carried me from the countryside to the city, from Beijing to Los Angeles, and from a small regional teacher’s college to a provincial university, and eventually to graduate studies in the United States and an academic exchange program in Taiwan. Over the decades, I have grown from a girl with limited horizons into someone who seeks to understand the world and the deeper meaning of life. My steps have never stopped.

It is from this journey that the inspiration for the Equal Education Foundation was born. I know firsthand how transformative access to education can be—how it can open doors, expand horizons, and change the trajectory of a life. Through this foundation, I hope to support children in disadvantaged communities who, like me, grew up with few resources but big dreams.

My vision is simple and unwavering: to give every child the opportunity to learn, to grow, and to imagine a brighter future. I am committed to building programs that provide not only education, but also hope and possibility.

Thank you for joining me on this mission. Together, we can help more children step into a world of greater opportunity and dignity.

— Xixia (Julie) Zhao, Founder

The People Behind the Mission

Our Team

Educators, coaches, and counselors united by a single belief: that education is the most fundamental force for changing lives.

Xixia (Julie) Zhao, Founder
Founder
Xixia (Julie) Zhao

Introduction

Julie has over ten years of teaching experience in China, spanning elementary, middle, and high school education, as well as language training programs. After settling in the United States, she has actively participated in U.S.–China language and cultural exchange initiatives and volunteer programs.

Her challenging childhood, combined with her rich educational background and practical teaching experience, provides a solid foundation for the mission of the Equal Education Foundation. Julie and the Foundation are committed to providing children from low-income families with more learning resources and opportunities, expanding the possibilities for their future.

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Ming-Wang Chen, Co-Founder
Co-Founder
Ming-Wang Chen

Introduction

I was born in Anhua County, Hunan Province—once designated as a nationally impoverished region. Growing up there, I came to understand at an early age how precious educational opportunities are in economically underdeveloped rural communities, and how profoundly access to education can shape an individual’s life trajectory. Through documentaries such as Chinese Doctors: Fighting the Pandemic and We Are All MVPs, I explored the dilemmas and choices faced by individuals in contemporary society.

These experiences have brought me into close contact with people from all walks of life, and have given me a deep understanding of the immense obstacles faced by disadvantaged communities in accessing quality education. I firmly believe that education is the most fundamental force for changing lives. With this conviction, I am committed to dedicating myself to the mission of the Foundation.

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Xiao-Ping Kuang, Education Consultant
Education Consultant
Xiao-Ping Kuang

Introduction

Kuang Xiaoping, a certified Positive Discipline instructor in the United States, is one of the founders of the Lumina Global Women’s Club. As a family relationship and parenting education coach, she has authored parenting books including Positive Parenting and Cultivating Future CEOs. Specializing in female and child psychology alongside positive psychology, she has lectured across multiple countries and regions including the U.S., Japan, and China, guiding countless families through marital and parenting challenges.

She is passionate about public welfare and cares deeply for critically ill children in China. She has raised funds for Chinese children with leukemia through lectures and donated her royalties to the cause. Annually, she donates to underprivileged children in South Africa through American charities, conducts public welfare lectures and fundraising events across the United States, and organizes volunteer trips for children to neighboring countries like Mexico to support local children’s education.

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Yuan-Yuan Dai, Psychology Consultant
Psychology Consultant
Yuan-Yuan Dai

Introduction

Driven by a growing fascination with human connections and societal dynamics, I encountered the realm of psychology, where I resolved to pursue it professionally. Along this path, I rediscovered myself, gained self-awareness, and strengthened my resolve. I apply my knowledge across diverse fields, striving to support those whose paths cross mine. They say becoming an exceptional counselor requires tempering one’s own life experience—letting life influence life.

No matter how polished the language or sophisticated the techniques, human relationships ultimately hinge on authentic connections between people. For children of our generation, material and educational deficiencies may no longer be the primary issues; what they crave most is emotional connection. Psychological issues rooted in human relationships trace back to childhood. Thus, on this path, I’ve disciplined myself to build a solid foundation in child and adolescent developmental psychology—only then can we trace the roots of adult struggles. Nurturing a person’s childhood is nurturing their entire life.

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Whether you give your time or your support, you help a child step into a world of greater opportunity and dignity.

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