STUDENTS in the Liutan Primary School in the remote and mountainous Liutan Village in Lianping County, Guangdong, were happy to see their special friends from Shenzhen again this past weekend.

A group of 10 students and six teachers from the QSI International School of Shekou (QSI) made a follow-up visit to the 58 students in the primary school, bringing more than 120 books, sports equipments and materials for art education worth more than 15,000 yuan (US$1,857).

Besides playing games and sports activities with QSI students and teachers, students in the primary school had their first art lessons. Each student also received a brand new backpack filled with storybooks, toys and school supplies such as writing paper, pencils and rulers.

QSI students and teachers in three groups then visited homes in Liutan Village.

Laura Edwards, 12, from Germany, said this had been her second trip to help students in the Liutan Primary School.

"I'm very interested in visiting the students' homes and finding out how they live and what living conditions they have," Edwards said.

During the trip, QSI students and teachers also helped pay tuition fees of 18 Liutan junior and senior high school students with a total of 15,044 yuan donated by 18 QSI staff members and families.

Lin Yutian, 14, who is now studying in a high school in the county town, felt grateful for the financial support from QSI.

"Every year before school starts, I always see other students' parents go to school to pay their children's tuition fees. At this moment, I wonder where my tuition fee is," said Lin, who has five siblings and whose father died years ago.

She said this year she had been upset and disappointed until she heard QSI teachers and students would come to help them.

"The news was just like light and hope to us because the QSI is just like an angel who helps us take the first step in our lives," she said.

The QSI learned in October 2003 that many poor students in Liutan Village were about to drop out of school and decided to help.

QSI students and teachers made the first trip to the Liutan Primary School in November 2003 and donated more than 7,500 yuan in tuition fees for 17 students.

In the first quarter of this year, QSI students and teachers raised more than 34,200 yuan, and a group of 39 students visited the school again this year to help to build a library and donate sports equipment.

Editor: Wing