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(July 13, 2004, People’s Great Hall, Beijing) Today, the donation ceremony of Project Hope – Wal-Mart Education Assistance Program for Farmer Children is successfully held in Beijing. During the ceremony, Mr. James Lee, Vice President of Wal-Mart China, represents the company to hand a check of RMB 660, 000 to Ms. Gu Xiaojin, Secretary General of China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF), which supports Project Hope – Wal-Mart Education Assistance Program for Farmer Children. 1000 farmer children in primary schools will receive sponsorship from Wal-Mart. Ms. Zhang Xiaolan, Secretary General of the Central Committee of All-China Youth Federation, Mr. Cassian Cheung, President of Wal-Mart China, and children representatives from Beijing Haidian District Xingzhi Experiment Primary School attend the donation ceremony.

With excessive labors in the rural areas, many farmer children move to cities with their parents to search for better future. About 20,000,000 children have become a unique group in the Chinese urbanization. According to a research, farmer children drop off from school at 9.3% rate and majority of them cannot afford to go to school at age of six. To respond to the governmental policy of every child is entitled to education and ensure more farmer children can benefit from education equalities and opportunities, CYDF launches “Project Hope – Supporting Farmer Children to Continue Education in the Urban Areas” in January 2004. “Project Hope – Supporting Farmer Children to Continue Education in the Urban Areas” not only is a never-ending program, but also is a milestone for the Project Hope.

Wal-Mart’s sponsorship will be used to cover the books and miscellaneous costs of primary school education for one year for 1000 children. Now, CYDF and Wal-Mart are identifying the sponsorship recipients. Considering the unique frequent relocation of farmer families, Wal-Mart China and CYDF announce following application criteria:
1. Proof of both parents are rural residents with one parent is working in the cities;
2. Applicant moves to city with their parents; applicant is studying in public or private primary schools in the city; applicant who has dropped off from school due to poverty will be considered as top priority;
3. Proof of financial difficulty that can not afford to continue education
4. Proof of permanent housing in the city, which has more than one-year duration;
5. Applicant does not have plans to transfer to other primary schools within a year;

Mr. Cassian Cheung, President of Wal-Mart China, states that supporting education is an important part of Wal-Mart’s Good Works because a country’s future is tightly related with education. With speedy and contiguous urban growth in China, more and more farmer workers rush to cities and they have become part of modern urbanization. However, many children from those farmer families still face education difficulties. Their difficulties have become a major focus in the society. Therefore, Wal-Mart is going to donate RMB660, 000 to sponsor 1000 children, which acknowledges Premier Wen Jiabao’s aspiration of “Under the Same Blue Sky, Experience Equal Opportunities” while he was visiting farmer children in their primary schools.

Ms. Zhang Xiaolan, Secretary General of the Central Committee of All-China Youth Federation, highly compliments Wal-Mart’s donation. She states the achievements of the Project Hope represent unity of love from our society. “Standing at the top of Fortune 500 and the most respected company, Wal-Mart’s community involvement has strongly demonstrated the company’s social commitment and responsibility. The issue of farmer children education has made top priority on Chinese government and the Party’s agendas. We believe donation from Wal-Mart will set a good example for businesses and individuals that care about education. Hopefully, in the near future, farmer children will be able to experience the same privilege as urban children in education equality and opportunities.”

Wal-Mart China also expresses that they will continue to support and care those 1000 children within next year, which includes organizing after-class activities, providing social practice opportunities, and inspiring others to care for them.

Attachments:

Beijing Xingzhi Experiment School Introduction
Student Representatives introduction from Beijing Xingzhi Experiment School