A group of underprivileged students in Pingtung County are trying to fund their afterschool tutorial sessions by selling self-grown vegetables. Now, with the help of civil groups, these students have made their first harvest and they say that if the practice proves to be lucrative enough to support their lessons, they will invite more underprivileged students to join them.

Twenty of the Kaoshu township students planted vegetables and are now harvesting their hard work since last December.

It is not a class project for school, but their way of making money as they all hope the vegetables they grew can be offered a good price at the market.

The groups of children are from disadvantaged families in Pingtung.

They would participate in after school programs offered by Pingtung county government with joint classes offered by civic groups.

However, the 10 hours session per week cost more than the subsidy, thus the children worked hard to harvest the vegetables so they can continue to participate in the after school program.

Rural areas often lack education resources with those children trying to help themselves without asking for handouts from the general public.

They said, if they have money left over, they would invite disadvantaged children from neighboring village to participate in the after school program too.