Uyghur Education Fund
By Polarbeartutor
Who are Uyghurs?
The Uyghurs are Turkic-speaking Muslims from the Central Asian region.
The largest population live in China’s autonomous Xinjiang region, in the country’s north-west. The Uyghurs are one of a number of persecuted Muslim minorities in Xinjiang. Their history and rich culture stem from thousands of years ago, with an established kingdom in the 6th century.
The region’s name suggests the Uyghurs have autonomy and self-governance. But similar to Tibet, Xinjiang is a tightly controlled region of China.
China has overseen a hardline approach towards Muslim minorities living in Xinjiang, especially the Uyghurs. In recent years, the government has installed sophisticated surveillance technology across the region, and there has been a surge in police numbers. Muslim minorities are being arbitrarily arrested and imprisoned. It’s estimated around one million Uyghurs have been detained in what China calls “vocational training centres”.
The terrifying treatment of Uyghurs
It’s estimated that more than one million Uyghurs have been detained in what China calls “vocational training centres”. These purpose-built detention centres, which resembles concentration camps have been constructed in secrecy since 2017. A recent ABC investigation found 28 detention camps had expanded across Xinjiang as part of China’s step towards a modern genocide.
There is growing evidence of human rights violations inside the centres as well as reports of deaths in custody and forced labour. Members of the Uyghur diaspora have been reported as requesting “proof of life” from Beijing over disappeared family members back in Xinjiang. The Guardian recently reported an estimate that 80% of Uyghurs in Australia would have a relative who has disappeared into the camps. The reports are increasing day by day, and we need to do something about it.
How does our education fund operate?
We at PolarbearTutor aim to create a community beyond tutoring: providing Uyghur university students with a job opportunity to boost their finances, aiding the lack of education support for young Uyghur students, and through it all, funnelling our profits to an education fund - Uyghur Education Fund - to further award students who preform outstandingly academically. After all, it is through educational achievement that the Uyghur diaspora can hope to help those detained.
Through using our services you unknowingly contribute to our Fund. Each lesson you pay for, a portion of that payment - usually 15 to 20% - goes straight to this fund, while the rest goes to the tutor. Think of it as a hidden donation each time you use our services.
So far we have fundraised more than $3,000, and we are reaching for more!
