On December 16, a bilingual two-episode short video series titled "Her Beijing Story: Moving Forward for Love" was officially released. Co-produced by Beijing Women's International Center and CRI Online under the supervision of Beijing Women's Federation, the videos tell the inspiring story of Menuka Bhattarai (whose Chinese name is "Bai Xiaomei"), a Nepalese girl studying in Beijing. The series features the experiences of a woman who works, studies and lives in the city, presenting the significant progress made in advancing women's rights in China through a small perspective.

Menuka's Chinese name, Bai Xiaomei (which literally means "white, small plum flower"), was given to her by Li Hongmei, the initiator of the "Study Assistance Program for Impoverished Girls in Nepal". The name was derived from a quote from Jingshi Xianwen (a book collecting philosophy quotes, compiled during the Ming Dynasty) - "The sharp edge of a sword is honed through grinding, and the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold." This phrase encourages her to persevere like a resilient plum blossom. Another name she carries, "Mulan Girl", was derived from the "Mulan POWER" Charity Fund.

Co-founded by Beijing Women and Children Development Foundation and Beijing Women's International Center with the support of Beijing Women's Federation, the "Mulan POWER" Charity Fund aims to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted at the World Conference on Women in 1995.

The fund seeks to pool resources from various parties to connect the power of women globally and promote communication and collaboration, striving for gender equality and the advancement of women's development goals. The first project supported by the fund is the "Study Assistance Program for Impoverished Girls in Nepal", which provides financial assistance for high school education to disadvantaged girls in Nepal through Chinese non-governmental caregivers. Menuka is one of the first nine Nepalese girls benefiting from the project. Those receiving assistance from the "Mulan POWER" Charity Fund are referred to as "Mulan Girls".

Growing up in a small village in Nepal, Menuka has always been hardworking and studious. Facing her family's financial difficulties, she was on the verge of dropping out of high school when assistance from the "Mulan POWER" Charity Fund came to her rescue. The financial support allowed her to complete her high school education and learn Chinese. Upon graduation, the project team assisted her in applying to study at universities in China and provided financial support, including tuition fees. In 2022, Menuka was successfully admitted to the Clinical Medicine major at the Capital Medical University.

In an environment filled with love and support, Menuka aspires to give back to the Chinese people who have welcomed her warmly. By volunteering at the Petroleum Symbiosis Compound in Haidian District, she has gained insights into the governance model of "collaboration, integration, participation, and common interests" among the governments, social organizations, and residents. Inspired by the spirit of Chinese women, marked by self-esteem, self-confidence, self-reliance, and self-improvement, her dream has been rekindled. She hopes to become a messenger for friendly exchanges between China and Nepal through her endeavors.

(Source: CRI Online)