Jinjin Xu Founder/ President
2010-12
Hello, I am currently a junior at SAS Puxi.
I got the inspiration for this project simply from the fact that I LOVE eating eggs. When I was young I used to eat 3 eggs a day, and even now, I feel like my day does not begin until I've had my morning egg.
After I tried eggs my mom bought from farmers who raised their chickens in the countryside free range, store bought eggs just do not taste the same. At the same time, I noticed that there was a huge demand in shanghai for authentic, organic food- many of my neighbors were asking to buy those eggs from us! In Sophomore year, I also started to learn about micro finance. The process was fascinating and seemed to have changed many people's lives- yet I couldn't stop thinking that there might be an even better way to carry out the micro finance process. A way that does not include so much direct transaction of money because the farmers I've encountered are mostly uneducated and do not have a clear idea of mathematics and money. I also found out that micro finance foundations usually require a high interest rate so they can run the foundation- all that sounded unfair to me.
I wanted to help impoverished farmers who are trapped in the countryside, and lacking available opportunities, to achieve a reliable source of monthly income. Chickens are one of the easiest animals to raise as they do not require a lot of physical strength. Their produce is also immediate and reliable on a daily basis. Instead of directly giving farmers money, these chickens will be generating more money for the farmers- as if they are living banks! Through this, I'm hoping to help the woman, the retired elders, the disabled and the ambitions farmers learn how to run their own businesses and establishing a connection from their world to our community. Not only will our community be provided with healthy, organic eggs, but the students at our school will also have more awareness of the amount of poverty that still exists in China.
I had no idea this simple idea would turn into something feasible, and I am very thankful for all the support from the SAS community. Let's try and change the world one egg at a time!
Hello, I am currently a junior at SAS Puxi.
I got the inspiration for this project simply from the fact that I LOVE eating eggs. When I was young I used to eat 3 eggs a day, and even now, I feel like my day does not begin until I've had my morning egg.
After I tried eggs my mom bought from farmers who raised their chickens in the countryside free range, store bought eggs just do not taste the same. At the same time, I noticed that there was a huge demand in shanghai for authentic, organic food- many of my neighbors were asking to buy those eggs from us! In Sophomore year, I also started to learn about micro finance. The process was fascinating and seemed to have changed many people's lives- yet I couldn't stop thinking that there might be an even better way to carry out the micro finance process. A way that does not include so much direct transaction of money because the farmers I've encountered are mostly uneducated and do not have a clear idea of mathematics and money. I also found out that micro finance foundations usually require a high interest rate so they can run the foundation- all that sounded unfair to me.
I wanted to help impoverished farmers who are trapped in the countryside, and lacking available opportunities, to achieve a reliable source of monthly income. Chickens are one of the easiest animals to raise as they do not require a lot of physical strength. Their produce is also immediate and reliable on a daily basis. Instead of directly giving farmers money, these chickens will be generating more money for the farmers- as if they are living banks! Through this, I'm hoping to help the woman, the retired elders, the disabled and the ambitions farmers learn how to run their own businesses and establishing a connection from their world to our community. Not only will our community be provided with healthy, organic eggs, but the students at our school will also have more awareness of the amount of poverty that still exists in China.
I had no idea this simple idea would turn into something feasible, and I am very thankful for all the support from the SAS community. Let's try and change the world one egg at a time!
Tina Huang Vice President of Human Resources
2010-12
Hi! My name is Tina Huang and I am currently a junior at SAS Puxi.
I have been involved with EggsChange ever since it has been founded at our school by our lovely President Jinjin Xu. I am proud to say that I was able to watch this project grow from this idea that Jinjin told me she had and develop into what it is today. Not many people know the term "micro finance" and it comes as no surprise that students know about it even less. We as students in a private school live in an international community enclosed in our own little bubble. Many students often forget about the society outside of their own lives including the impoverished people that make up much of China's population. Yet with our project and club we are working to change that. We not only help to spread awareness about the situation of people but we reach out in a more tangible way. Different than fundraising or collecting donations simply to provide our with money, we are providing them with a way of sustaining themselves. The motivation to work comes from themselves, we simply provide the means.
My job at school is to facilitate egg deliveries in the Elementary and Middle School. Each week we receive a fresh shipment of eggs laid by our very own chickens. These eggs are then sold to the hungry teachers and parents at our very own SAS community. By purchasing our eggs, they are not only receiving nutritious and delicious eggs but each and every rmb spent goes right back to the farmers. It goes unsaid how happy I am to see people excited for our project and what it is we aim to do because though it may only be gradual, we are making a difference.
Hi! My name is Tina Huang and I am currently a junior at SAS Puxi.
I have been involved with EggsChange ever since it has been founded at our school by our lovely President Jinjin Xu. I am proud to say that I was able to watch this project grow from this idea that Jinjin told me she had and develop into what it is today. Not many people know the term "micro finance" and it comes as no surprise that students know about it even less. We as students in a private school live in an international community enclosed in our own little bubble. Many students often forget about the society outside of their own lives including the impoverished people that make up much of China's population. Yet with our project and club we are working to change that. We not only help to spread awareness about the situation of people but we reach out in a more tangible way. Different than fundraising or collecting donations simply to provide our with money, we are providing them with a way of sustaining themselves. The motivation to work comes from themselves, we simply provide the means.
My job at school is to facilitate egg deliveries in the Elementary and Middle School. Each week we receive a fresh shipment of eggs laid by our very own chickens. These eggs are then sold to the hungry teachers and parents at our very own SAS community. By purchasing our eggs, they are not only receiving nutritious and delicious eggs but each and every rmb spent goes right back to the farmers. It goes unsaid how happy I am to see people excited for our project and what it is we aim to do because though it may only be gradual, we are making a difference.
Weilin Tu Ye Vice President of External Affairs
Hi, my name is Weilin Tu Ye and I’m currently a Junior at SAS. I was born in Spain and I came to SAS Puxi in 7th grade. I started helping Eggschange when my friend Jin Jin asked me to help her start the club at school. I was in my sophomore year then and have been contributing my efforts to it ever since.
When I first heard of the project, Eggschange seemed like an extremely good idea. Eggschange would provide opportunities for poor farmers, and at the same time, we would supply organic eggs to our SAS community, making it a healthier community. What I think is so different about Eggschange is the fact that instead of giving simple donations to the farmers, we are giving them opportunities to work. Many charity organizations are frowned upon because they promote laziness in the people they help. We are different. Eggschange prides itself because it gives opportunities that the farmers can take advantage of. Most of the farmers we help are often the ones with no hope of rising through the social hierarchy. They lack education, and live in the rural province of Jiang Xi, where 97% of the province is forest. The pristine environment is horrible for urban development, but it is perfect for rural farming. We use this to our advantage and therefore our chickens are strong and happy; some of them can even fly! I know all this because I have been on two trips to visit the farmers in Jiang Xi. The farmers were all friendly and welcomed us into their house. Though they lived in ramshackle conditions, their will was strong and they aspired for a good education for their children so that they could have a good future. I have also gone to several fundraising events to spread the word on our project. At these events, we are received by frequent failures yet also by a large number of successes. However, I believe that the failures we encounter only make us stronger and teach us to cherish our successes.
At school, I help organize our student egg deliveries for high school teachers. I have also help promote Eggschange in our school community as well as outside. Eggschange has not only helped the farmers, but has also taught me a great many things and prepared me for the future. I hope to keep helping these farmers so their families can eventually rise from below the poverty line and into a brighter future.
When I first heard of the project, Eggschange seemed like an extremely good idea. Eggschange would provide opportunities for poor farmers, and at the same time, we would supply organic eggs to our SAS community, making it a healthier community. What I think is so different about Eggschange is the fact that instead of giving simple donations to the farmers, we are giving them opportunities to work. Many charity organizations are frowned upon because they promote laziness in the people they help. We are different. Eggschange prides itself because it gives opportunities that the farmers can take advantage of. Most of the farmers we help are often the ones with no hope of rising through the social hierarchy. They lack education, and live in the rural province of Jiang Xi, where 97% of the province is forest. The pristine environment is horrible for urban development, but it is perfect for rural farming. We use this to our advantage and therefore our chickens are strong and happy; some of them can even fly! I know all this because I have been on two trips to visit the farmers in Jiang Xi. The farmers were all friendly and welcomed us into their house. Though they lived in ramshackle conditions, their will was strong and they aspired for a good education for their children so that they could have a good future. I have also gone to several fundraising events to spread the word on our project. At these events, we are received by frequent failures yet also by a large number of successes. However, I believe that the failures we encounter only make us stronger and teach us to cherish our successes.
At school, I help organize our student egg deliveries for high school teachers. I have also help promote Eggschange in our school community as well as outside. Eggschange has not only helped the farmers, but has also taught me a great many things and prepared me for the future. I hope to keep helping these farmers so their families can eventually rise from below the poverty line and into a brighter future.
Carson Wong
hello i am carson
SO... things you can include in your introduction about yourself:
-name --- CARSON WONG
-basic info about urself ..interests...grade wtv --- I LIKE EGGS AND I AM INTERESTED IN EGGS and im in grade 11
-what you've done so far in eggschange/ why you like eggs:) years you have been in eggschange (ex. 2010-2011) --- I've been in eggschange since it began! I think. I remember when i was in Canada at my grandma's house for winter break just a little more than a year ago, doing nothing, and Jinjin sent me her million worded document on her plans for what EGGSCHANGE is now. It wasn't even named Eggschange yet then :). It was pretty amazing seeing what kind of personally driven and ambitious work she was doing to start this project even when she hadn't received any certainty that it would work and I believe most the club's success was because of it. I was actually a little bit confused to what exactly she was proposing to create, maybe because i never actually read the whole thing yet, but I got the very general idea and knew that if it could come into existence it would have to be something big. and now it ISS and im proud of what it has become and of jinjin and us and everyone and the chickens.
Like everyone should know, we give deserving and needy farmers the otherwise impossible opportunity to build themselves upon a steady income through their chickens and their EGGS, with the help of the kind buyers who have good taste. in eggs.
I am now an egg deliverer just like everyone else and I have had fun facilitating the first step of bringing our farmers' chickens' eggs to the cool buyers' kitchens and then to their stomachs. Except when i had walk to elementary for it. Its just really far, the buyers in elementary are just as cool
SO... things you can include in your introduction about yourself:
-name --- CARSON WONG
-basic info about urself ..interests...grade wtv --- I LIKE EGGS AND I AM INTERESTED IN EGGS and im in grade 11
-what you've done so far in eggschange/ why you like eggs:) years you have been in eggschange (ex. 2010-2011) --- I've been in eggschange since it began! I think. I remember when i was in Canada at my grandma's house for winter break just a little more than a year ago, doing nothing, and Jinjin sent me her million worded document on her plans for what EGGSCHANGE is now. It wasn't even named Eggschange yet then :). It was pretty amazing seeing what kind of personally driven and ambitious work she was doing to start this project even when she hadn't received any certainty that it would work and I believe most the club's success was because of it. I was actually a little bit confused to what exactly she was proposing to create, maybe because i never actually read the whole thing yet, but I got the very general idea and knew that if it could come into existence it would have to be something big. and now it ISS and im proud of what it has become and of jinjin and us and everyone and the chickens.
Like everyone should know, we give deserving and needy farmers the otherwise impossible opportunity to build themselves upon a steady income through their chickens and their EGGS, with the help of the kind buyers who have good taste. in eggs.
I am now an egg deliverer just like everyone else and I have had fun facilitating the first step of bringing our farmers' chickens' eggs to the cool buyers' kitchens and then to their stomachs. Except when i had walk to elementary for it. Its just really far, the buyers in elementary are just as cool
Michelle Xu
Hello! I'm Michelle Xu and I've been a contributor to Eggschange from 2010-2012. I'm currently a sophomore in Shanghai American School.
To be completely honest, the reason I joined Eggschange was not because of its purpose to improve lives or sell eggs, but because the wonderful president, Miss JinJin Xu, practically dragged me to join. Of course as time went on and meetings were held, I gradually became interested and came to a deeper understanding with the goals of eggschange.
I participated in the summer trip to JiangXi and it was pretty much the highlight of the month. We got to actually meet the farmers and be able to familiarize ourselves with their lives. It was on this trip that it struck me: We are truly making a difference in these people's lives.
Right now, my job in Eggschange is egg delivering. I deliver eggs every friday to the teachers and students of our school. Sometimes, my mum buys them because they are super tasty and yummy.
I no longer go to the meetings because JinJin needed my support. I go because I genuinely enjoy being a part of something so important and life-changing. It's crazy because not very many people realize that something as small as an egg can change lives.
To be completely honest, the reason I joined Eggschange was not because of its purpose to improve lives or sell eggs, but because the wonderful president, Miss JinJin Xu, practically dragged me to join. Of course as time went on and meetings were held, I gradually became interested and came to a deeper understanding with the goals of eggschange.
I participated in the summer trip to JiangXi and it was pretty much the highlight of the month. We got to actually meet the farmers and be able to familiarize ourselves with their lives. It was on this trip that it struck me: We are truly making a difference in these people's lives.
Right now, my job in Eggschange is egg delivering. I deliver eggs every friday to the teachers and students of our school. Sometimes, my mum buys them because they are super tasty and yummy.
I no longer go to the meetings because JinJin needed my support. I go because I genuinely enjoy being a part of something so important and life-changing. It's crazy because not very many people realize that something as small as an egg can change lives.
Naomi Chan
Years in Eggschange: 2010 - 2012 (tbc)
Hi there! My name is Naomi Chan, and I am currently a sophomore at SAS Puxi. I joined Eggschange the first year it was founded (2010). When I was first told about Eggschange, I was immediately drawn to the club thanks to both its uniqueness as well as its goals to help people through something as simple as eggs. I had been unclear about what exactly “micro-finance” was before I joined the club, but after I learned about how Eggschange doesn’t just blindly give money to farmers, but helps the farmers to make a living for themselves, I became a micro-finatic! (Get it? Sorry, it’s a bad joke.) I experienced an even deeper connection with Eggschange after venturing on a trip to visit the farmers in Jiangxi last summer. The summer trip was full of amazing memories and really strengthened my desire to do as much as I could to help the impoverished farmers through Eggschange. As international students, we are blessed to have many opportunities change our selfish perspectives and become more open-minded, but often we just stay inside school and our homes, unaware of what goes on in the rest of China. Eggschange happens to be one of those great opportunities that students should take up in order to truly make a difference in people’s lives.
So what do I do in Eggschange? Currently, I sell/deliver the farmers’ organic eggs to teachers and students in our school. Every Friday, I make sure that the delicious eggs of the farmers are delivered to the buyers so that the farmers will be able to support themselves. I am also helping to establish an international branch of Eggschange in a school in America. In the future, I hope to see Eggschange continue to successfully change the lives of impoverished farmers in China through the combined efforts of the farmers, students everywhere, and last but not least, the delicious and organic eggs!
Hi there! My name is Naomi Chan, and I am currently a sophomore at SAS Puxi. I joined Eggschange the first year it was founded (2010). When I was first told about Eggschange, I was immediately drawn to the club thanks to both its uniqueness as well as its goals to help people through something as simple as eggs. I had been unclear about what exactly “micro-finance” was before I joined the club, but after I learned about how Eggschange doesn’t just blindly give money to farmers, but helps the farmers to make a living for themselves, I became a micro-finatic! (Get it? Sorry, it’s a bad joke.) I experienced an even deeper connection with Eggschange after venturing on a trip to visit the farmers in Jiangxi last summer. The summer trip was full of amazing memories and really strengthened my desire to do as much as I could to help the impoverished farmers through Eggschange. As international students, we are blessed to have many opportunities change our selfish perspectives and become more open-minded, but often we just stay inside school and our homes, unaware of what goes on in the rest of China. Eggschange happens to be one of those great opportunities that students should take up in order to truly make a difference in people’s lives.
So what do I do in Eggschange? Currently, I sell/deliver the farmers’ organic eggs to teachers and students in our school. Every Friday, I make sure that the delicious eggs of the farmers are delivered to the buyers so that the farmers will be able to support themselves. I am also helping to establish an international branch of Eggschange in a school in America. In the future, I hope to see Eggschange continue to successfully change the lives of impoverished farmers in China through the combined efforts of the farmers, students everywhere, and last but not least, the delicious and organic eggs!
Adrienne Hugh
2011-2012
Hello, I am currently a sophomore at SAS.
When I joined Eggschange it had been gaining a lot of popularity and publicity. At first, the idea that eggs could help impoverished people seemed strange and faraway. However, it was an idea that intrigued me, and so I joined Eggschange without any solid knowledge of the club. As I continued to participate in Eggschange, I learnt a great deal about the club and the influence that it has on the lives of the farmers. Eggschange is different from the other clubs at SAS. The chickens that Eggschange provides for the farmers allows them to have a steady source of income. They are able to be independent; instead of relying on other people to donate money, they can rely on themselves and the chickens to earn money.
As a member of Eggschange my job is to deliver/sell eggs to the students and teachers of SAS Puxi. The money that is received from selling the eggs is then given back to the officers of Eggschange, who in turn give the money back to the farmers. I know that it is hard work, but hopefully Eggschange will be able to grow even more, and further improve the living conditions of the farmers.
Hello, I am currently a sophomore at SAS.
When I joined Eggschange it had been gaining a lot of popularity and publicity. At first, the idea that eggs could help impoverished people seemed strange and faraway. However, it was an idea that intrigued me, and so I joined Eggschange without any solid knowledge of the club. As I continued to participate in Eggschange, I learnt a great deal about the club and the influence that it has on the lives of the farmers. Eggschange is different from the other clubs at SAS. The chickens that Eggschange provides for the farmers allows them to have a steady source of income. They are able to be independent; instead of relying on other people to donate money, they can rely on themselves and the chickens to earn money.
As a member of Eggschange my job is to deliver/sell eggs to the students and teachers of SAS Puxi. The money that is received from selling the eggs is then given back to the officers of Eggschange, who in turn give the money back to the farmers. I know that it is hard work, but hopefully Eggschange will be able to grow even more, and further improve the living conditions of the farmers.
Julia Yoon
I'm Julia Yoon and I'm a sophomore this year. I like to eat eggs of all kinds, boiled, devilied, poached, scrambled, and fried, especially sunny-side-up. I heard of Eggschange through the Kinder Egg sales and decided to join since I love Kinder Eggs so much. I hope to contribute all I can to this club to help the club make more money and sell more eggs so that the farmers can receive more money too. It's all for a good cause :)
YouJi Han
My name is You Ji Han, I am a sophomore this year. I have joined Eggschange in my freshmen year and I really enjoy being in this club. I hope to help more farmers in the future. :)
Karsten Cao
Hi, I'm karsten. I witnessed JinJin start up this club.
Jennifer Chen
Hi, my name is Jennifer and I am a senior. I am from Taiwan and I like to read and sleep.
Zoe Kao
Hi, My name is Zoe and I am a senior. I am from Taiwan and I like anything that is related to art.
Hyo Yeun Kim
My name is Hyo Yeun Kim, and I’m a senior this year. I joined Eggschange since my Junior year.
I joined Eggschange because I thought the club had a great idea of helping out rural farmers by providing them with chickens so that they can raise eggs, and be able to sell them and get income.
I hope more farmers can get this help in the future!
I joined Eggschange because I thought the club had a great idea of helping out rural farmers by providing them with chickens so that they can raise eggs, and be able to sell them and get income.
I hope more farmers can get this help in the future!