Hu Xiaoji, a 20-year-old woman, was recently elected the head of the villagers' committee of Waidang Village, Yongjia County, East China's Zhejiang Province through secret ballot. She then became one of the youngest village heads in China.

Waidang Village is Hu's hometown. As the most remote mountain village in the locality, it has more than 500 villagers, but more than half of them have been away from home to be a migrant worker in other places.

"Frankly speaking, I feel the pressure to be a good village head. It pushes me to make an effort to become a more successful leader. I will ask for advice from local elderly people, Party members and other members of the villagers' committee to develop our village as soon as possible," Hu Xiaoji (L) said.[Qianjiang Evening News]

On April 17, altogether 353 villagers exercised their right to vote. Among the three candidates, Hu won with 202 votes. She was surprised. "I am really excited. I never thought the villagers would put so much confidence in such a young person," she said.

Wish to Change Hometown

"I had the idea of becoming a village head when I was in school. I left my hometown where my parents were when I was still very young. Every time I came back, I found very little change in people's lives here. So I decided to do something for my hometown after graduation," said Hu Xiaoji.

Hu began to read books on rural management and found time to visit many households in her hometown during the school days. She also made an idol of Zhang Wenqiong, a village head in the neighboring village. Zhang held a master's degree obtained abroad. Under Zhang's leadership, local villagers found new ways of getting rich. Hu admired Zhang very much.

Now, Hu is doing a course in administrative management through distance education. She hopes to learn more to help her future work.

Support from Parents

"I was very surprised when my daughter told me that she wanted to join the election for our village head," said Hu's father Hu Yonglei, who left Waidang Village in 1991 to start his own business.

"She is an outgoing girl and can bear hardships. However, she is still young and lacks social experiences," Hu's father added.

Hu's parents felt surprised again when Hu won the election. "Since she received trust from most of the villagers, we have no reason not to believe in her. We will fully support her if she encounters difficulties," Hu's father said.

Plans for Serving Villagers

On April 23, Hu Xiaoji submitted her three-year plan to Xunzhai Town that Waidang Village belongs to.

Her first plan was to make cable television accessible to villagers so as to open a window for them to know more about the outside world. She also decided to have road lamps built in the village and build a road to the foot of the mountain. Industries she hopes to develop are that of planting and farming.

"Frankly speaking, I feel the pressure to be a good village head. It pushes me to make an effort to become a more successful leader. I will ask for advice from local elderly people, Party members and other members of the villagers' committee to develop our village as soon as possible," Hu Xiaoji said.