The first workers' night school founded in 1947 played a vital role in equipping the working class with cultural knowledge and strengthening their social identity. After the Second World War, Hong Kong economy began to pick up gradually. However, life was particular difficult for the working class. Families with children struggled to make a living. Schools were limited and school fees were high, making education unaffordable for working class families. As a consequence, thousands of children could not go to school. The Education Advancement Society for Workers' Children in Hong Kong and Kowloon (later renamed as the Education Advancement Society for Workers in Hong Kong and Kowloon, or EASW), a group formed by several trade unions, established in 1946.