In Qingpu's Zhujiajiao, two schools located just minutes apart forged a connection through a Special Olympics Unified Running event, embarking on a six-year journey of philanthropic collaboration. This "grassroots charity" story, which began in 2019, may not have started with grand gestures, but it has blossomed into something extraordinary through steadfast dedication.
Hongrun Boyuan School and Zhujiajiao Special Education School—one a mainstream high school, the other a special education institution—have evolved from initial event-based cooperation to regular mutual support, charting a path of reciprocal growth and shared commitment in public service.
Origins: A Special Olympics Unified Run Opened Two School Doors
In 2019, the Shanghai Special Olympics Unified Run brought the two schools together. The initial contact was tinged with a degree of unfamiliarity and cautious exploration—teachers from Hongrun Boyuan later admitted they hadn't even known such a "treasure of a school" existed so close by.
At the start of the collaboration, both sides held somewhat "utilitarian" expectations: they hoped to achieve good results in the competition. But when the students from the special education school stepped onto the Hongrun Boyuan campus for the first time, something quietly shifted.
"The children returned from training incredibly happy and excited, saying that everything they saw on the Hongrun campus felt like a completely different world to them," recalled Mr. Wang Lijun, Deputy Director of Moral Education at Zhujiajiao Special Education School.
What moved people most was the scene after training in the evening: the children playing innocently under the campus lights, comparing shadows and stepping on them. In that moment, the teachers realized: "Our children are not so different after all"—they too need to step outside their school gates and see the broader world.
Transition: From Competition to Life Companionship
Watching the children's joy as they played basketball and skateboarded on the sports field, teachers from both schools instinctively shifted their focus.
"The competition isn't what matters—it's just an opportunity," reflected a teacher from Hongrun Boyuan. They realized that enabling special needs students to experience a broader world and receive positive feedback through genuine social interactions held far greater value than competitive achievements.
The training rhythm was adjusted accordingly: free play was prioritized before structured exercises, break times were extended, and basketball interactions were incorporated. This shift brought unexpected rewards: our students began stepping into the role of "big brothers and sisters" during activities, demonstrating a sense of responsibility and dedication rarely seen in their daily lives.
"The change in identity sparked an awakening of responsibility in them," one teacher remarked with emotion. And this awakening is precisely the most precious outcome of education.
Perseverance: Reconnecting Across the Pandemic
The pandemic disrupted offline exchanges, but it could not sever the bond between the two schools. When the Special Olympics Unified Run resumed in 2023, it felt like a reunion of old friends—the emotions that had been quietly accumulating were instantly rekindled.
What mattered more was that this reunion led to a deeper collaboration. On Children's Day in 2024, students from Hongrun Boyuan were invited to perform the play *Little Gecko Looking for Its Tail* at the special education school, marking the evolution of their relationship from occasional events to regular, sustained cooperation.
Elevation: From Campus Connections to Social Engagement
The true breakthrough came with the establishment of the "Nice2CU" student club. This student-initiated and self-managed organization systematized and institutionalized the collaboration between the two schools.
Operating on a model of "regular companionship + skill development + social integration," the club organizes biweekly activities ranging from coffee making and handicrafts to interactive games and tea ceremony experiences, making companionship a consistent practice.
During the 2024 "Building Shanghai" project-based learning initiative, students from both schools joined hands to host a public roadshow at Qingpu Wanda Mall. Students from the special education school personally brewed coffee and sold it to strangers, completing the transition from simulated environments to real-world social engagement.
"When they handed over that first cup of coffee, the children's hands were trembling," recalled Mr. Wang Lijun, describing the scene. "But when they heard the feedback, 'It tastes great,' the confidence shining in their eyes was truly moving."
Revelation: The Essence of Philanthropy is Mutual Enrichment
What has six years of persistence brought?
For the special education students, it has provided opportunities to step out of enclosed spaces and experience real society, building self-confidence through equal interaction.
For Hongrun students, it has shattered stereotypes, teaching them care and respect while accelerating their growth through taking responsibility.
"I originally thought they were unwilling to communicate, but through contact, I discovered they deeply desire integration and hope to be treated equally," shared Yang, president of the Nice2CU club, describing his personal transformation.
For the guiding teachers from both schools, witnessing this process of lives influencing lives has allowed them to rediscover the meaning of education.
For the two institutions, it has paved a philanthropic model characterized by "small deeds, long-term commitment, and regular practice," allowing change to unfold through steady, deep-flowing dedication.
The Future: Letting the Stream Flow On
Today, the collaboration between the two schools has entered a new phase. The number of participating students has grown from 4 to 10, with a broader range of grade levels and a more balanced gender representation. In the 2025 "Building Shanghai" project, the partnership will continue to deepen, exploring how behavioral patterns within the autistic community can offer insights for mainstream society.
"We don’t aim for one-time high-profile events. Instead, we focus on small, consistent actions—the key is to sustain, persist, and do it well." This is the shared conviction of teachers from both schools.
From October 2019 to October 2025, a full cycle is about to be completed. What began as a collaboration born of geographic proximity has now evolved into a practice of educational philosophy—one that emphasizes the importance of attentiveness in recognizing the unique qualities of every individual.
In an era obsessed with quick results, these two schools have spent six years embodying the true essence of "grassroots philanthropy." It is not a grand, distant narrative, but a quiet, steadfast commitment nurtured in the corners of campus life. It is not a one-way act of giving, but a mutual journey of warmth and growth.
Perhaps, this is what education should truly be—illuminating one another through companionship, and growing together through perseverance.
