Foundation helps make gap-year dreams come true

The Gap Year Foundation was begun in 2014 by a group of people including Qiao Xinyu and several businesses with the goal of spreading the concept of the year-off sabbatical break in China. The foundation set about helping to fund young people who wanted to take part.

The foundation, which works with undergraduates, master's and doctoral students at Chinese universities aged 18-28, was the first of its kind in the country.

It encourages applicants seeking funding to detail their plans for their gap year, whether they involve volunteering, internships, traveling or something else.

The foundation then selects around 10 people that it will support financially and provides them with funding ranging from 5,000 yuan ($760) to 50,000 yuan.

The donors who support the charitable foundation hope the idea of a gap year will gain traction in China and that such breaks will help nurture a sense of independence, innovation and responsibility among the young Chinese people taking part.

In 2015, the foundation received a total of 130 applications, of which eight were selected and supported. Funded applicants took part in various gap-year activities - including one who went on a nationwide cycling trip, another who helped build a school in Kenya, a student who went to Australia on a working holiday and one who volunteered in India.

In addition to offering financial support, the foundation plans to invite mentors - including teachers, entrepreneurs and people who are rich in gap-year experience - to offer guidance to the selected applicants, according to Gu Zhengzheng, director of the foundation's public promotion department.

"The mentors will be able to offer help, not only during the gap year when they will ensure applicants get the most from their experience but also later by giving suggestions about life and career plans that contribute to the growth of young people."