China's biggest initiative to help poor rural children with their education, Project Hope, took receipt of a 120 million yuan (US$15 million) donation in Beijing Monday.

 

 

The funding was donated by the State Grid Corporation and be used to build 300 schools in poorer rural regions over three years. Of these the first 100 will be constructed this year.

 

Started by the China Youth Development Foundation in 1989 Project Hope has raised 3.2 billion yuan (US$400 million) and assisted 2.9 million rural schools.

 

More than 12,700 'schools of hope' have been set up around the country and over 30,000 rural teachers have received training.

 

A survey last year showed more than 86 percent of education officials and school principals agreed the building of schools required the most financial assistance.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2006)