Scott No: 2979
Serial number: 1999-15
Values in set: 1
Denomination: 80 fen
Date of issue: 30 October 1999
Designers: Lu Tianjiao
Size: 30*40mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 40
Printing process: gravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

The commemorative stamp "The 10th Anniversary of the Hope Project" was issued on October 30, 1999, featuring one design by Lu Tianjiao and printed by the Beijing Printing Factory using the photogravure method. The Hope Project, initiated by the China Youth Development Foundation in 1989, marked its 10th anniversary in 1999. This stamp set commemorates this far-reaching social welfare initiative, highlighting the collective effort of society to support education and safeguard the dreams of rural children.

The Hope Project aims to assist underprivileged children who have dropped out of school, support the construction of rural Hope Primary Schools, and improve educational conditions in impoverished areas. It mobilizes extensive social resources for charitable donations to ensure that countless disadvantaged students can return to the classroom. The stamp features reading children as the central imagery, paired with the Hope Project logo and Deng Xiaoping's calligraphy inscription "Hope Project," conveying the belief that knowledge transforms destiny. It celebrates the selfless dedication and compassion for children's welfare across society.

Stamp Designs and Historical Contexts

The 10th Anniversary of the Hope Project

At the top of the image is the logo of the Hope Project and the inscription "Hope Project" written by Deng Xiaoping. Below, three children hold an open book together, with flowers adorning the surroundings. The three children represent students from impoverished areas across the country who have received financial aid, symbolizing their joint pursuit of knowledge and shared hope. Over the past decade, the Hope Project has raised substantial social donations, enabling many out-of-school children to return to education and supporting the construction of numerous Hope Primary Schools in remote rural areas, significantly advancing basic education in impoverished regions.

Artistic Design Features

The entire set of stamps features a decorative illustration style, with simple and vibrant imagery, fresh and warm colors, and pure, unadorned depictions of figures. The photogravure printing technique ensures translucent hues and clean, smooth lines. Each individual stamp boasts a distinct theme, seamlessly blending public welfare symbols, calligraphy by renowned figures, and images of schoolchildren into a cohesive design, making it a chronologically themed commemorative stamp dedicated to educational and public welfare causes.