About 4.6 million children go to primary school in Malawi, but only 8 percent of students finish secondary (中学的) school. More girls drop out than boys because of the dangerous road conditions.

Pop star Rihanna and Ofo, one of China’s bike-sharing companies, set up a project to help girls in Malawi not only finish their education, but also get to class on time and safely.

The project, called 1 KM Action, will go for five years. Thanks to Ofo, now Malawian girls have a way to get to school. The Clara Lionel Foundation(CLF), set up in 2012 by Rihanna in honor of (为向……表示敬意) her grandparents, provides(提供) scholarships for these young minds. Ofo will provide free bikes to those who win the scholarship.

Lots of Ofo bikes have been put into use and have got positive feedback(反馈) from students and teachers. “Thanks to Ofo, now I could get to school on time. I love it. I hope there will be more Ofo bikes in Malawi,” said one of the girl students.

By donating (捐赠) bikes and providing scholarships, Rihanna and Ofo hope the girls can continue (继续) their education. Rihanna said, “I’m so happy to work together with Ofo because it will help the young girls of Malawi get to school safely, cutting down those very long walks they make to and from school all alone.”

Ofo founder and CEO Dai Wei, who used to be a volunteer teacher in one of China’s poorest villages, said he was ready to help every student get a good education.

Xu Rujun with his classmates in Shanghai did something special this year. They worked in groups with traffic police at different crossroads in the city. Holding small red flags, the students helped keep order and stopped people from jaywalking (乱穿马路).

As part of the school project, Xu’s school has told its students to do more community work.

After the half day of exhausting (筋疲力尽的) work, Xu told himself not to jaywalk any more. “I think through community work, we get to help others and more importantly, we grow a sense of responsibility (责任感),” he said.

Community service is an important part of education for teenagers around the world. In the US and Canada, high school students need to finish 40 hours of community service before graduation (毕业). For those Americans who have finished 1,400 hours of community work. They can be awarded (奖励) nearly ¥5,000(33,000 yuan).

Chinese students today do more community work, too. For example, starting from 2010. Sichuan high school students have been asked to do 10 days of community work. It will become part of their school grade.

Qian Lijun, 16, and her classmates in Suzhou, Jiangsu went to a local elder care home this winter. They put Spring Festival couplets (对联) on the walls and cheered up the people living there.

Li Xiaotian, 15, of Anshan said he used to clear flyers(小广告) from telephone poles(电线杆)with his classmates. They brought tools, towels and buckets and worked for three hours under the summer sun. “It was tiring, but seeing the clean poles without ugly ads-we really felt proud,” he said.

John Smith, an office worker, lives in Washington. He inherited (继承) a million dollars when he was 23, but he wasn’t happy at all. When his college friends were looking for their jobs, he didn’t have to. Jack decided to living a simple life like everyone else. He gave $l0,000 of his money to a charity to help poor children live a better life. Today he is 36. He still wears cheap shoes and clothes and drives a small car only, but he is very happy. Up to now John has helped some children from poor countries all over the world, by sending them each $200 a month. The money was used for the children’s study, food, medicine and clothing. John receives a report each year on the children’s progress. They can write to each other, but usually the children do not speak English. When John first heard about these children, he wanted to help them. “It was nothing special,” he said. “Until I went to these countries and met the children I was helping, I didn’t know anything about their life.” Once John went to meet a little girl in Africa, he said that the meeting was very exciting. “When I met her, I felt very happy.” he said. “And I saw that the money was used for a good cause. It brought me happiness. I want to do everything I can to go on helping those children.”