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.