Chi Ma (2nd R) shares the computer sent to her from Liu Qibao, secretary of the Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, with his schoolmates. [Photo/Wu Chuanming]

CHENGDU - Chi Ma, a Tibetan intern in a company in the Chengdu High-tech Zone in this capital of Southwest China’s Sichuan province, cannot contain her excitement when she uses her new notebook computer.

“It is a gift from Uncle Liu Qibao, secretary of the Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China,” the 22-year-old says.

Chi, a handicapped student with the Zhonghe Vocational School in Chengdu, is a beneficiary of the “9+3” free education program in Sichuan.

In 2009, the province allocated more than 200 million yuan ($31 million) to launch the program providing free vocational education for Tibetan students in Sichuan for three yeas after they finish nine-year compulsory education.

Hailing from Zhangna village, Litang county in Sichuan’s Ganzi Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Chi is one of the first students of the program.

Her father died young and her mother is in poor health. Her elder sister and brother are farmers without much education.

Graduating from junior high school in 2009, she came to the vocational school in Chengdu as a student of the “9+3” program.

At first, she was not confident and did not dare to look at or talk with others.

“As everyone is kind to me, I am more confident and dare to stand on the stage and sing,” Zhi says.

Chi, who did not know how to operate a computer, studied hard. Now She can input 230 English letters per second and has got a mid-level computer operator certificate.

Earlier this year, she became an intern inputing data in the Chengdu company and received her first monthly salary of more than 1,000 yuan last month.

She purchased a cup for Liu showing her gratitude to the secretary for starting the program which has changed her fate.

“I hope Uncle Liu would use the cup to drink water so as to take a rest despite the busy schedule every day,” She says.

Moved by Chi, Liu purchased a notebook computer with his own money and sent the gift together with a letter to her on July 8.

In the letter, Liu showed appreciation for her plan to create her own business back in her home county after accumulating experience. She also encouraged her to work hard and create a rosy future with what she has learned.

After in-depth research, Liu proposed the launch of the “9+3” program in 2009 which has changed the fate of many Tibetan students like Chi.