On March 29, educators, alumni, scholars, and changemakers gathered at Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS) for the "A Bright Start for Every Child" Initiative conference. Co-hosted by PHBS and the China Development Research Foundation, the event brought together over 100 attendees—project leaders, faculty, students, alumni entrepreneurs, and philanthropists—working towards giving every child in rural China a bright, healthy beginning.

Lu Mai, former vice chairman of the China Development Research Foundation, shared the program’s practical logic and measurable impact. Drawing on neuroscience, behavioral science, and economics, he emphasized how vital early development is to a child’s long-term well-being. In China’s central and western rural regions, children aged 0–3 face significantly higher rates of developmental delays than the national average.The "A Bright Start for Every Child" Initiative, launched in 2015 in partnership with Nobel laureate James Heckman, has expanded to 24 counties across 10 provinces, reaching more than 70,000 children with the support of 113 scholars and professionals and 17 enterprises.

Three childcare instructors from Guizhou province offered moving reflections from their work—speaking not only as educators, but as community members and mothers themselves. They described how the initiative has reshaped the way families think about early education. Parents once unsure of how to nurture their children’s growth are now actively engaging in play, learning, and love. In homes once quiet and hesitant, laughter and discovery now thrive.

Discussions at the conference also explored how to expand the initiative’s reach—through volunteer recruitment, donation pathways, and long-term partnerships. The message was clear: investing in rural children is not an act of charity, but a national investment in future prosperity.

Li Yang, an academic at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, praised the initiative’s precision focus on children aged 0–3 and its scientific approach to fostering well-rounded individuals. Wang Yiming, vice chairman of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, echoed this sentiment, calling the initiative a model policy aligned with the national strategy of “investing in people.”

Hai Wen, founding dean of PHBS and vice chairman of the Peking University Council, emphasized the strong link between early childhood development and national competitiveness. He cited research from Stanford Professor Scott Rozelle showing that without education and nutrition before age three, even free access to high school cannot compensate for developmental gaps. 'Rural early education is not a luxury,' Hai noted. 'It is a necessity for China’s long-term development.'

PHBS alumni responded enthusiastically, pledging financial support and highlighting their ongoing work in rural education through initiatives such as the “Candlelight Action Plan” and the “Firefly Project.”

As the event concluded, PHBS leadership reaffirmed their commitment to social responsibility—a core value that has guided the school for over two decades. Through its partnership with the "A Bright Start for Every Child" Initiative, PHBS continues to bridge knowledge and care, policy and people—believing that through collaboration and commitment, a brighter future can be built for every child in rural China.